Dear Bernard, I just discovered this site and decided to drop you a line. I either own or have read almost all of your books and enjoyed them greatly. I also eagerly await the next Sharpe, saxon or sailing story. I realise that I am quibbling, but the Starbuck novels were my least favorite. You often lapsed into British idiom which bounced me from “living” the story ino “reading” it. Specifically, references to the “verge” of roads and a “battalion” appearing instead of “regiment”. I did get a kick out of your having Starbuck given a savage revolver for his use. they are great collectibles, but if I had owned one in 1861 (and owned other pistols), I would have given it away too. Also, although I know the Napoleonic British infantry did it, I can very rarely fire my Brown Bess replica at three rounds per minute, and never for more than a minute. Thanks for all the past and future hours of reading, Jack Bogan