Dear Mr. Cornwell

I would like to pass on the following story involving my father and your books. I first bought Sharpes Seige. I hadn’t read or even heard of the Sharpes series before then. Anyway I read it and passed it on to my father whose health was in a period of decline. He read and very much enjoyed. Soon after that I had bought all of the existing books and my father would always get first read. As his world got smaller and smaller because of health reasons he still enjoyed the adventures of Sharpe. Near the end of his life he got depressed. And despondent. To try and encourage him I would tell him there was to be a new Sharpes book coming out soon. And when it did his eyes would light up in anticipation.

I am not sure you realize how much your books have meant to your readers. To my father it was one of the few things he could still enjoy. And enjoy he did! He passed away in 2007.

I hope your health improves. I had always thought as you got older there were 2 chairs you never wanted to sit in. The dentist and the ones in a lawyers office!

Cheers

Colin Lockhart