Hello, not entirely sure why I’m telling you this but only hope that it gives you some well deserved satisfaction that your books have done more than be of entertainment value. My late father, a hard working man who spent his time as an engineer working out of fishing docks then later in life working long, hard hours as an industrial fitter was never a “big reader”, he wasn’t into reading much other than a newspaper until much later in life, what would turn out to be the last number of years of his life thanks to cancer. The books that got him into reading… you’ve guessed it, the Sharpe books! He read them all (that were published at the time – he passed away in 2013). Now… as a chip off the old block, I’ve never been a “big reader” either & im now a 41 year old firefighter in south Manchester. Over the last few years I’ve tentatively given reading another go & the books that have got me into it… again, you’ve guessed it.. the sharpe books! I didn’t start reading them “because my dad did”, in fact I didn’t know that the same books that I was finding hard to put down were the same books that got my dad into reading too.. perhaps there’s something in our DNA that connects our reading habits. I’ve been reading them in chronological order and am just starting to read Sharpes Eagle. The books I’m reading are the same books my dad held in his hands and there’s something emotional about thumbing those pages, seeing the odd mark or smudge that must have been caused by him, reading the same stories and feeling a connection to My dad that I haven’t done in years. So for that, I wanted to thank you. Who’s have thought the power of reading could provoke so much feeling and emotion. I look forward to continuing Sharpes adventures! I remember watching the series with my dad when I was younger and can now appreciate the fuller stories within the books but I do think the earlier part of Sharpes story would make for a fantastic new series if told in line with the books..
Steve