Dear Bernard First please allow me to with you a merry christmas and happy new year. Second In regard to your Starbuck novels and Sharpe s son Patrick Lassan. I wondered if you had thought of giving him his own spin off novel about the French war in Mexico ? Are you aware ( if you are) and have you ever been tempted by the fight at Camerone 45 men against 2000 !

While in regards to Starbuck himself you have said the next book would be about Fredricksburg but as there is a gap between that fight and Chancellorsville would you ever consider getting Starbuck west to the battle of Stones River (as there would be enough time to get him there and back) its about time you sent Starbuck west in JMO??? Yours sincerely Geraint

P.S In terms of books for a winters read I can recommend two that might be worth your time. The Last Valley by Martin Windrow on Dien Bien Phu and Dan Snow’s Death or Victory on Siege of Quebec.