Dear Mr. Cornwell: Recently, some of your fans have suggested post-Waterloo, post-Devil adventures for Sharpe. Permit me to dissent from this view. I believe that there comes a point when a series has run its course and it’s time to put the captstone on and go on to other things. By my estimation, Sharpe has about four more good novels left after Escape:&landers, Rolica/Vimeiro, Albuera, and San Sebastian. But I see little prospect for any really good adventures after Devil. The post-Waterloo world was, from a military history point of view, pretty boring, with nothing of any interest until the 1st Afghan War in 1840. By then, Sharpe would be 63! I would hate to see you write any Sharpe novels falling below your usual excellent standards, just to keep the character going. And how many other ficticious characters have had a 24-novel run? Waterloo, Sharpe’s biggest battle, was a fitting climax to his career, and Devil was an epilogue and a chance to say goodbye. But for my money, let’s leave the poor man on the farm after Devil. He deserves the rest. Sincerely, Alan Kempner