Dear Bernard, Wow! I cant believe that I took so long to grab hold of the Sharpe books! Ive only done so recently and I have read two (Triumph and Rifles) and have just finished Chapter One of Havoc and already that heartbreaking bridge collapse scene has me well and truly hooked and thinking about the sheer horrible truths of war. Just wanted to ask a question, Ive seen some people who have labelled your work “historically biased” and some even say you must hate the French! I hope I am right in saying any views of characters in your books are just those of your characters and not yours personally, for you do not seem to be the kind of man to hate for no reason! It was just I found some of the remarks offensive and they weren’t even about me! I take it to be just characteristic views of what many an Englishman would have felt for any of Napoleon’s army back in those long and bloody wars. Am I right? Keep on writing these books and I hope it isn’t too long until another new Sharpie lad! Thanks Mr Cornwell, from Matt Rabjohns