Hello Mr. Cornwell. I know that your not in the habit of taking people’s ideas esp. fans. But for the next Sharpe book – what if you turn the tables on Sharpe. Sounds odd yes, but please bear with me. Now obviously historically the French in the Peninsula War did not use rifled firearms and thus were always harassed by our boys is green, always fired on from outside musket range etc… What you invent an elite, special battalion, or company of French marksmen – all armed with rifled arms. ‘The Rifles of the Emperor’s or something, and as Sharpe and Harper end up in a redcoat battalion – they would be unable to match firepower with firepower. Sharpe would then have to fight against rifles! He could learn lessons make friends etc…Now I know again, nothing like that would happen as Napoleon hated rifles. But we must remember in WWII Hitler’s guys invented a new rifle (the first true assault rifle) the STG44, Hitler hated the idea. His boys made it anyway and when Hitler found out how effective the gun was he gave his blessing. Maybe Napoleon could have done the same if it was not for the South Essex giving the French marksmen a bloody nose. What do you think? Thanks for you time. Andrew