Dear Bernard, Firstly let me say how shocked I was to learn thast you have been unwell.I must have my head in the sand because it seems to have been well known, but I only found out when I read that you had recovered. Let me add my own good wishes and I hope you are back to 100% now and stay that way for a long time. Secondly reading ‘The Pale Horseman’ I suddenly thought that I didn’t like Uthred. He’s seems to be not a very nice person. No loyalty except to himself and the side that’s winning. Is this how you meant him to come across or is it just me? Thirdly and lastly, I hate to try and correct the master about his own works, however in a recent answer to a question you said that you first killed an ensign in Sharpe’s Gold. But didn’t Ensign Denny die while helping Sharpe and Harper win the eagle in Sharpe’s Eagle, your first book? All the best for your continuing good health, Ed