For want of something to read recently I turned to the Starbuck Chronicles. I’ve had them for sometime but because of comments from other readers wanting more I had put off starting them. Well they were brilliant, the battle scenes up there with the best you have written. So Mr C get on with some more PLEEEASE. Also I noticed in The Bloody Ground a mention of one General Hooker of whom I once read some trivia. General Hooker used to cart around on campaign a wagonload of shall we call them ‘Loose women’. Whenever anyone asked who these women were the troops replied ‘They’re Hookers’ hence the term came to the American language. Not sure how much truth there is in it but it’s a good story. Speaking of language I couldn’t but notice the American spelling in the Starbuck books. Does the language differ depending about what you have written (Sharpe, Archer Arthur etc were all in UK English) or was the bookstore I got them from ill supplied? Do you write being based in America in US or UK English and you rely on the publishers to supply the correct version to wherever? Congratulations on the award in Canada I agree you are too young for a lifetime award, much too much living and writing to do (Starbuck for instance). A Knighthood at least would be much better and much more merited than some who have had them. Changing the subject completely do you see England reviving under Captain Wilkinson? Now there’s a name for a character and he must have a razor edge to his sword. Regards as ever Nigel James