Mr. Cornwell
First I would like to thank you, it is because of you that I can speak passable english. I used to skip english school to watch the sharpe series on the telly which led me to your books. Being a bookworm I forced my self to learn the language so I could read the original versions (i have little faith in translators I am afraid) and for that thank you again.
And now to the fate part. I am currently studying italian literature and culture in uni and in order to pass my history classes I had to write 2 papers. The first was on the Norman occupation of the southern Italy and the second one was on Napoleons campaigns in Italy. The first one led me to read your Saxon stories and well the second one was chosen mainly because your Sharpe series made me a napoleonic era afficionado. I aced both!
And at last a couple of questions if you wouldn’t mind. Why do both your heroes in those above mentioned series have so much trouble holding on to a woman? In fact why every female character that forms an attachment with them and is somewhat interesting ends up in the grave? Also how come both protagonists have Irish “sidekicks” that offer (to some extend) comic relief?

My sincere apologies if the questions have been asked numerous times but I could not track down the answers.
Vivi Sereti