Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I am writing you after having finished Sharpe’s Enemy.
Although I have seen by the amount of comments you have recieved that you are widely appreciated, I find myself compelled to send you my reactions on your novel.
Sharpe’s Enemy has to be one of the great, recent historical novels. Apart from the excellent historical background, your command of character, motivation and insight into human nature is tremendous. Not since Charles Dickens have I read such dramatic insight into people and even the hinted background of 19th century England.
The personage of Richard Sharpe is a real hero to rival Horatio Hornblower or the much beloved actors Errol Flynn and David Niven combined. The secondary characters are understandable and believable (I can’t help loving Sergeant Harper). And Hakeswill is utterly corrupted and terrifying.
I won’t go on forever, but believe me when I say, I have a new favorite author after just one book.
Sincerely,
Ashton Fisher