Dear Mr. Cornwell; Are you familiar with the name Lord Hardinge of Lahore? His military exploits follow very closely the derring-do of Richard Sharpe, except his visit to India came at the other end of his career. I am lucky enough to own a Georgian silver teapot engraved ‘To Colonel Sir Henry Hardinge’. He was Wellington’s successor as Commander-in Chief, Horseguards, and led the British forces at the time of ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’. A most interesting character; the teapot has on it’s lid the French Eagle(Talavera?) and an oak leaf signifying Hardinge’s service with the Prussians at the time of the Battle of Waterloo. He lost a hand at the scrap at Ligny with the French. A very interesting fellow! I’m glad you included the battle of The Duoro in the last ‘Sharpe’ epic; it completed the double act that they performed throughout the Peninsular campaign! Regards, Jim Davies, Cairns, Australia.