Dear Mr. Cornwell.
A brief note to thank you for your most excellent writings which I have (ashamedly) only recently begun to enjoy.

I am an ex-pat Brit living in Canada and was born on what was the northern edge of the kingdom of Wessex in the town of Abingdon, Berks (just down the road from the MG factory), although the town is now in Oxon. I served with both battalions of the Wessex Regiment from 1981-1990, as well as with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment. All of which units now, of course, are part of the Rifles.

I was reminded just what a small world it is a few years ago when a fellow ex-pat came to serve in my Canadian Army unit (4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group). He had formerly served in the 3rd Bn The Royal Green Jackets, which of course perpetuated the 95th Rifles. Albeit prior to the rash of amalgamations our units had no shared history, we’d be wearing the same cap badge were we still serving in the British Army today.

While on operations in Afghanistan two years ago, I was able to watch the entire Sharpe’s Rifles series on DVD and thoroughly enjoyed it. Somehow I had never seen the programs before. I have to say that I was entirely captivated both at the quality of the characters and the quality of the stories. I have since watched the series several times more and finally this year began the series of books beginning with “Sharpe’s Tiger”. My wife recently purchased “Sharpe’s Triumph” and “Sharpe’s Fortress”. Having just completed “Triumph”, I am determined to read the remainder in chronological order. If I may say, I found them to be excellent reads, thoroughly entertaining and quite educational.

While I cannot claim similar victories or experiences to Richard Sharpe (or, indeed, anything close to an approximation thereof), I certainly can identify with his character and perhaps some of his trials in life. My own beginning in life, although not quite as lowly as Sharpe’s, was still sketchy to say the least and the British Army helped me a great deal in both attaining a claim to manhood and character. I was also selected for a lieutenancy from the rank of sergeant in 1989, only to have that shot down by my commanding officer’s successor once he heard I’d plans to emigrate. But I went up through the ranks in the Canadian Army and was commissioned in 2000 from Regimental Sergeant Major to Captain (as my former Queen’s Own Rifles CO told me at the time: “Like going from being ‘king of the shit’ to being ‘shit of the king’” – few truer words were ever uttered!). But, above all, it was your description of Sharpe rather enjoying being a “square peg” that I both identified with and enjoyed. I have always been rather a square peg myself; entirely non-conformist, utterly disdainful of the over-privileged, and quite used to having to fight tooth and nail either for what  I need in life or for the values that I hold dear. That I am now a senior officer in the Canadian Army makes me something of an anomaly (which I secretly enjoy for its own sake, especially in the company of my fellow senior officers!), but which also gives me both a unique understanding of the non-commissioned ranks and an abiding affinity for them, together which form a privilege all of their own.

I thoroughly look forward to many more great reads as I pursue Sharpe’ through his trials and fortunes. After that, I’ll get into your books set in the days of the Anglo-Saxons, another topic close to my heart. Albeit that I am very much a “Jonny-come-lately”, I nevertheless thank you so much for these great works.

My sincere thanks and best regards,

Russ Meades