I have been reading your Sharpe novels for the last two years or so and always read the Historical Notes at the end of each book. I have finished Sharpe’s Havoc a couple of days ago and your reference to A History of the Peninsular War reminded me of a news item I heard on radio five live a few weeks ago. A copy of the second volume ( the one you refer to ) was recently returned to a library in America ( the name of the state escapes me )by the descendants of a soldier who “borrowed” the book from a public library during The American War of Independence in 1859- ie 150 years overdue! The person who returned the book did so on the proviso that they would not be fined! Regards Geoff Kearsley Ormskirk Lancashire