Dear Mr. Cornwell, I am a great fan of your Sharpe series books, having read them all. Your series stirred within me a passionate interest in the history of the Napoleanic Wars. My only geographic or other connection with some of Wellington’s heroes unfortunately is the proximity of my home here in New Orleans to one of their battlefields. I believe that many of the fighting units you reference in your series were involved in what some have referred to as something along the lines of the “Napoleonic Era Gallipoli”. i.e., “The Battle of New Orleans.” I have always felt that the citizens of the United States have never fully appreciated the international benifits and significance of that one battle for our young nation. Indeed, the battlefield is treated much as a minor footnote by visitors here, if they are aware of it at all. Do you know if any of the units Sharpe would have been involved with fought there? As well, have you ever considered the possiblity of having New Orleans in December, 1804 and January, 1805 as the scene of one of your Sharpe tales, were the timing not to conflict with the existing timeline of the series? The cast of historic characters involved and the drama and tragedy surrounding that surprizing defeat would not only establish a unique connection between your series and so many avid fans in the States, but it might even stir great interest in our oft-forgotten and poorly understood local field of battle… Such interest would all the more be welcome here were it to entice some of your many fans to travel to our fair city in these times of our struggle to recover as a community. Thank you so much for your obvious devotion to your craft and for your passion for your subject. Rick Miller