Dear Bernard, First of all, as ever, keep on writing, your books are amazing. Other authors send me to sleep. While reading them I’ve found that the term ‘Fate is inescapable’ is a common occurrence, is it a personally held belief that is reflected in your writing?

Secondly, I was wondering whether you could give me a few words about ‘Man of Honour’ by Iain Gale. While reading the synopsis it refers to the Peninsula War, which I thought referred to the Spanish engagements during the Napoleonic Wars, however the book is set in 1704. It also refers to the British army in 1704. I’m not an historian, but didn’t the unification occur in 1707? My other fear was that (with the deepest respect to mister Gale) it would be a bit of a rip off of Sharpe and Harper. I’m really looking forward to the next Saxon book. I’d like to see the priest Beocca do some more heroics! I think you are very lucky knowing some details of your ancestry that far back. All I know of my family is limited to a few generations. My Great Grandfather on my father’s side came to England from Ireland at the turn of the last century and died in the First World War, his son (Granddad) was then raised in an orphanage and went on to the Army and then the Second World War (Quite similar to Sharpe actually, except no commission). My mother’s side are all English as far as I know. Anyway, this all boils down to the fact that your books really lend a sense of heritage to those who know their ancestors have been here for many hundreds of years but know little else, so thank you.

P.S. How did you come to find out about your ancestry? I think I’d like to explore my Irish roots a little. Thanks again for all the books! Warm regards Samuel Oakes (maybe a cameo Cornwell character one day? I know the list is ever lengthening!)