Dear Bernard,
I was never much of a reader until I found Sharpe’s Tiger, then I found everything I ever wanted. I was a teenager at the time and not much in my life had gone according to plan. I always loved history, but I never read books that spoke to me in a way I could visualize and believe in until your Sharpe series entered my collection. I have read each book several times and finally convinced my wife she too needed to share in this experience. My favorite characters are Sharpe, Harper, Derfel, Thomas, and Uhtred, thought I feel he is too arrogant at times, but I get it. If you were to rank your favorite characters, how would you rank your favorites?
My wife did finally listen to every Sharpe book with me. Just a few weeks ago we finished the last book together. Even though they have a “happy” ending, we were deeply saddened at the prospect of ending the series that entertained our stressful work nights, road trips, and entertained our weekends for the past year. I must say, my wife was so sickened by Hakeswill, she forced me to give away the plot a few times by threatening me she wouldn’t continue listening. I told her she had truly found a gem in a book when she so vehemently opposed a character…you can’t have a good hero without the villain.
Three summers ago, Derfel’s narration was the soundtrack to painting the exterior of our house. We cried when Derfel cried for Dian…we even paused the book. Your books are more than stories to us, we can look back at our time together and anchor your stories to significant parts of our life together. You have imprinted a great and positive series of memories for us that have fused your stories with the story of our life…you possess and have shared a great gift.
Our son (who is 7) thinks every book we listen to is Sharpe, and while he isn’t the first person in the house to ask for your stories, even he leans in to hear what is happening and finds similarities. He feels he is written into Patrick Harper’s character since Patrick is his middle name. In another ten years, maybe he will be like me at 17 and find great stories and a dear friend in the Sharpe series too.
In “Sharpe’s Company,” when Wellington says, “If Wellington had had 1,000 Sharpes, the city might be his,” I often chuckle, because I think I’ve listened to your books nearly 1,000 times, so by now, the city is his.
Thank you for every word.
Sincerely,
Clay Schaeffer