Have just finished The Fort. As with all of your books I read the Historical Note first. Why did Penobscot ring such a bell with me. It took ten seconds when I realised that the fiancee later husband of Major Margaret “Hotlips” Houlihan MASH 4077 was Leut Col Donald Penobscott (extra “T”- legal reasons? or is Penobscott a known surname) MASH was a Korean War comedy/drama written in the late 80’s but everyone knew it was really about the Vietnam War. To quote “we were literally in Korea but figuratively in Vietnam” (The Complete Book of M*A*S*H) As Vietnam was not one of America’s finest hours did the writers of which there were many decide to have another dig at American failures ?. At least we can perhaps be assured that Hollywood would not dream of making a film or TV drama about Ft George. They are quite adept at altering history e.g. U531 and The Patriot which so incensed Prof Richard Holmes that he made a programme about the American War of Independence.

Keith Robjent