Dear Mr.Cornwell, I am one of what must be a very rare breed of readers who have only lately come to an appreciation of your fine historical fiction writing. I recently read Stonehenge, and Waterloo, and I consider them as good as any work in their genre that I have seen. If I may presume to trouble you with a (no doubt) silly qestion: in Waterloo, the battle scene description was satisfyingly gripping, and in some ways reminded me of the account presented by Victor Hugo in Les Miserables. I was hoping to find mention of that chapter in your notes at the back of your fine book, but, not finding any, I imagined that in your own view M. Hugo’s depiction was not worthy of inclusion in your list of worthwhile references, possibly because it is more fictitious than factual. Am I justified in this assumption, or is it the case that the French author’s account elides material facts that would have been appropriate for the events as you described them? Thank you for your patience, and I intend to read more deeply into the great canon of your writings. Respectfully yours, M.Bart