Dear Mr Cornwell

Firstly, thank you for your creative inspiration. My question is in part to be absolutely sure that memory serves me well. Could you clarify with a little added detail, the origin of the story that leads Sharpe to save the life of the future Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley.

Is this linked to a genuine gap in the recorded history of Wellesley or a necessary invented gap which allows you to introduce Sharpe?

I thank you once more sir for your creative inspiration as well as any time you might spend answering my enquiry.

Kind regards

John Barton