Mr. Cornwell!!

Sir, first let me say that I’ve only seen the Sharpe films and never read any of the books. So those characters are the ones that I see in my head when I think of the world of Sharpe.

That having been said, since we’ve all pretty much been in hibernation since this virus came along and since I too have retired, I’m on a quest to read authors that I’ve never read before. So…in that respect and having just watched all of the Sharpe films again for the first time in at least 10 years on BritBox….I’m going to get and read ‘Sharpe’s Company’. Yes, I know that I SHOULD read them in order. :-) But 1982 having been a very creative year for me and that being the year that it was published…..and ‘Sharpe’s Company’ seems to have all of my favorite characters in it and has great action, I’m going with that. :-)

After that round about way of getting to it, I have a question. I’ve seen all of the Sharpe films as mentioned. I’ve seen all of current seasons of ‘The Last Kingdom’. I’ve seen movies and then read the books upon which they were based. But for some reason, I am a bit apprehensive about reading of characters for which I have grown attached only from seeing them on film. Sharpe and Harper in my head are Sean Bean and Daragh O’Malley. (Side note….I had forgotten what a wonderful voice that John Tams has and have bought all of his solo albums just in the past week) Do you encounter much of that? Your characters becoming so ingrained in someone’s mind visually that there might even be a reluctance to ‘see’ them literally? To ‘see’ them not as on they are on screen but as they are written? I don’t know if I’m making any sense here so please forgive me if I am not.

In any case, may I take a moment to thank you for creating such wonderful characters. Not only the Sharpe characters but also the ‘Last Kingdom’ characters and I’m sure so many others with which so many other readers are acquainted.

Regards,

Gene O’Brien