I think it was in Sharpe’s Honour, that you expressed regret about killing off Hakeswill.  And you gave an excellent reason.

Was there an actual good guy in the Sharpe series, where you’ve perhaps after the book was published, thought “I wish i hadn’t killed him, he would’ve been useful in this next book…..”

Also having just re-read Sharpe’s Company.  I admire something you’ve said in the Historical note.

“History is a great General”

I have actually been guilty of something similar.  To the historians who judged Wellington.  Until I watched this 12 part series on 2nd World War.

I refer to how people have judged Prime Minister Chamberlain for his “appeasement policy”.

But the narrator raised the following points…

1) Most Brits who remembered the 1st World War, wanted to avoid another war with Germany at all costs.

2) Only Churchill was speaking out against Hitler and his regime at that time and his popularity was at an all time low in the 30s.

3) From what the British could see up until the invasion of Czechoslovakia, Hitler was only “righting the wrongs of Versaille.”

4) History shows Churchill to be right, but considering the other points, without the benefit of hindsight, what would you have done differently?

Not so relevant to Sharpe but i feel it supports the point you made about “History being a great General.”

It certainly changed the way i thought of Mr Chamberlain.  Did you see that series? What did you think of those points? (If you don’t mind me asking)

Lee