Mr. Cornwell, first let me say how much I enjoyed Sharpe’s Fury. I was glad to see Sharpe using his rifle to good effect, something I’ve been hoping to see more of. I was also pleasantly surprised that you actually included the lyrics to “Hearts of Oak” in the dialogue, a nice touch. Plus, the description of the Battle of Barrosa was exciting and breathless, making for a memorable read. Second, I’ve been meaning to ask you about an aspect of your research. Considering how realistically you write about what swords, bullets, etc. can do to the human body, what are your sources for this area of military history? You must be doing something right, because back in high school, I asked my history teacher (who also has a degree in psychology) about the head wound Will Skeat receives at Crecy. He explained scientifically how Skeat could have suffered the effects from the blow as you described them. Keep up the good work.
Jonathan Steplyk