Dear Mr Cornwell, I would like you to know how much I have enjoyed your books since I first discovered them. I say discovered but actually I was in hospital when I was 18 or 19 (I’m now 41), recovering from an appendix operation, when my brother gave me 2 books of short stories. Each contained a Sharpe novel, Sharpes Gold and Sharpes Eagle. I enjoyed them very much and have since read the whole series, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The other series I enjoyed were The Starbuck Chronicles, The Grail Quest and now the Saxon Stories – keep up the good work! You said that you named Richard Sharpe after the English rugby union scrum half in the 60’s. Well my step father Glyn Davidge (Newport, Wales and the British Lions) played against him when Wales played England. I think that they were also on the same Lions tour to South Africa in 1962. Any chance of naming one of your characters after him?! Simon Haslett