Dear Mr. Cornwell,

I am an avid reader of the Sharpe series, to the point, occasionally, of rereading some, particularly Sharpe’s Waterloo. I own the Fontana paperback edition (1991). I am hoping that you might clear something up for me. On the top of page 232, there is this exchange between Sgt Harper and Sharpe:

Harper: “The Germans will be here by early afternoon, eh? Where will they come from? ‘From over there’, Sharpe pointed to the west, …beyond the left flank of Wellington’s line.”.

I was under the impression that Blucher’s forces were east (not west) of Wellington’s, near Wavre. after the battle of Ligny. This seems to be confirmed by Sharpe’s reference to “beyond the left flank” of Wellington. Is it possible that the use of “west” here is an editing error, or am I confused and mistaken?

Hoping to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Russell Copeman

Montreal, Canada