After reading the latest Uhtred installment, I experienced an urge to re-read the Starbuck Chronicles, so did just that. I just wanted to point out what a wonderful series this is! I think perhaps Starbuck is your most thoughtful character, which I greatly enjoy, and with a supporting cast of other great characters like Truslow, Pecker, Swynyard and Blythe it’s right up there with your best work. I know it’s unlikely we’ll ever see this series finished and I can understand you not wanting to take a backwards step to do so – but it’s a real shame it’s been left unfinished.

Sharpe’s old man… a smuggler who _might_ be a fictional character? Crikey. Time for another guess – how about Dirk Hatteraick from Walter Scott’s “Guy Mannering”? Fictional smuggler, but reputed to be based upon the real smuggler Captain Yawkins.

Phil Dean