Dear Bernard, I have just read ‘The Fort’ and had to email you to say that I thought it was absolutely brilliant! I must admit that I knew very little about the war of independence before, but I am now determined to learn more. I had no idea that the French played such a big part: the American films certainly keep that one quiet! I find Longfellow’s poem quite interesting. Perhaps it’s poem about what Revere could have been had his actions lived up to his intentions: A message to Americans: ‘don’t be the real Revere, be the one in the poem!’ But of course I am just speculating about something I know very little about. Thank you for opening my eyes. Gareth