Dear Mr Cornwell, I am a keen reader of the Sharpe novels as well as pretty much every other series you have written. My name is Ross Jones and I am currently in my second year studying History in the University of Glamorgan, Wales. Due to your Sharpe books, I have gained a large interest in the Napoleonic Wars and am in the process of research for an Independent Study for my course that I am completing on popular portrayals of Napoleon Bonaparte,including both fictional, and academic views. I have included Balzac’s Les Chouans and would, by your leave, include the Sharpe novels as examples, and case studies if you will. I was hoping that if you could spare me a few minutes of your time, you could possibly share with me the sources you used in your portrayal of Napoleon Bonaparte, and your characters’ attitudes towards him. Thank you very much for your time, yours most sincerely, Ross Jones