Dear Bernard,

Having read all your historical novels, (my favourite is Sharpe), and in eager anticipation of the release of Waterloo, I did some ‘prep’, by reading Johnny Kincaid’s two books and Edward Costello’s memoirs.

Having read at least four factual novels on Waterloo, plus An Infamous Army and, of course Sharpe’s Waterloo, I was curious as to how your book would go.

Well it duly arrived on my Kindle whilst I was sunning my self in the South of France, so I put down Vol. 2 of General Napier’s History of the Peninsular War and went straight to it.

Within the first twenty pages I was learning stuff I didn’t know, which was a good start, after which I couldn’t put it down, and within three days it was done.

I think you have covered the battle, and the controversies surrounding it in a masterful and succinct manner in your own inimitable style. After all, how many writers in a factual book, would use the expression ‘frenchified’ when describing Boney’s change of name? Excellent.

I shall be looking forward to the next Uhtred story and hopefully another Sharpe in the not to distant future. Keep up your brilliant work.

Regards

John Hill

Have you read Napier’s History? He’s not one to sit on the fence when it comes to an opinion, particularly about our Spanish allies.