My first experience with your writing was the Sharpe books. As an ex-rifleman myself (although US), I was curious — and I’ve enjoyed them all. Then I found Azincourt, which is terrific, and am now caught up with the Saxon stories. Uhtred is one of the few fictional characters I’ve met who conveys the feeling of excitement and achievement that can be found in combat — even with Sharpe, the feeling one has is that he fights for security, promotion, etc., but not for the love of it. Uhtred, yes. I’m a psychologist now, and I’ve just run across a statement by a combat veteran who then turned to mountaineering: “Life after war is boring.” Sharpe may retire contentedly to a farm, but I couldn’t imagine Uhtred doing so. What do you think (if it’s not too impertinent a question)?

Peter Suedfeld