Dear Bernard Thank you for your kindness in selecting my novel “House of Suns” as your Christmas book selection in the Sunday Mail. I was absolutely stunned. A friend dropped me an email that morning, and a quick call to my mum (who had a copy of the paper) confirmed that my friend wasn’t winding me up. I’ve come rather late to your books. My wife and I had devoured the Sharpe DVDs (we’d come late to those as well, living as we did in Holland until recently) and I finally decided that I really ought to check out the books themselves. I bought Sharpe’s Fury earlier this year, read it in a blast of enjoyment and immediately went out and bought Sharpe’s Fortress. Long before I heard of your book recommendation, Azincourt was on my Christmas list – I got it, as well! It’s still sitting under the Christmas tree, in-fact… I’d like to wish you all the best for 2009. In the meantime I’m going to enjoy catching up with your books. Once again, thanks for your kindness – it really did mean a lot. best wishes, Al Reynolds