Dear Bernard I’ve been a big fan of yours for over a decade, getting into Sharpe first, before expanding into other eras of yours. Weirdly, I read “Sharpe’s Devil” first! I’ve read all the Sharpe’s except “Regiment” for some reason, I’ve never got around to that one. Must read it soon, as its probably a cracker. I got into the films at the same time, and obviously Sean Bean was so incredibly potent in that role, that I’m sure that a lot of people picture him in their head when reading the books. I’ve managed to break that habit, so now picture the “proper” Sharpe, all black hair and permanently pissed off expression! Pardon my French! I have a friend here in Oxford who loves Sean Bean, loves the Sharpe films, but shockingly HADN’T READ ANY OF THE BOOKS! So, I bought her “Enemy” to get stuck into, which she is enjoying. As much as I love Sharpe, I do think these Saxon ones (of which I’ve read the first four, so far)are your best. I’m a Pagan myself, and am most interested in Norse Mythology and find it staggering that man like yourself, who I know is a total Atheist can create such a convincing belief-system for your characters. A stunning feat of imagination! I have two questions for you. I’m currently re-reading “Sharpe’s Siege”, a tremendous yarn, but I recall reading that that one was your favourite Sharpe. Is it still, or has a more recent installment supplanted it? Secondly, perhaps the most important question of all; Sharpe, Uhtred, Nick Hook, Thomas of Hookton, Patrick Harper or Steapa, which of these men is the hardest?! (Personally I’d say Steapa (my favourite character, by the way!). He’s quite a monster, isn’t he? Thank you for literally hundreds of hours of entertainment over the years! There’ll be many more, no doubt! All the best Matt in Oxford