Dear Bernard In response to the query about Fitzgibbon and the bloody boys I can recommend the book Veteran of 1812 the Life of James Fitzgibbon by Mary Fitzgibbon. His is slightly similar to a mix of Sharpe and Harper. Self taught Irishman who wanted to be an officer and like Shapre with Wellington he had Brock as his patron.######## In regards to your mention of Shapre and that he might get to the east coast. Do you know of any good recommendations about those campaigns since sadly most British historys merely concentrate on Wellingtons battles. btw does that mean Sharpe might be at the actions of Sangutum and Valencay and Castalla against Suchet. It was always a great what if for me on whether he would have done as good against Wellington as opposed to Blake. And can you give a clue on what the next Sharpe book will be set around (Albuera????) #################### In regards to Starbuck like others I got excited at the thought of Stabuck going west and to tempt you even further Six Armies in Tennesse The Chickamauga and Chattanooga campaigns by Steven E Woodworth and Decsision in the West Campaign of 1864 by Albert Castel. There have been (in both fact and fiction) so many volumes about the Eastern fighting I was wondering if will we see Starbuck instead not with Grant and Lee but with Sherman/Johnston dance of death in Georgia. Geraint