Dear Mr Cornwell I write with the single purpose of stating my sincere thanks for your unselfish employment of a quite unique professional gift; your skilful provision of joy through the escapism from the daily grind into a world of historic literary adventure is remarkable. Unfortunately though (for you) I am unable to curtail my praise for your work in one simple paragraph! Aged eighteen I obtained an A level in English Literature (achieved sadly, without the turning of a single page), it took me a further ten years before I was converted to the pleasure of reading a book. I do not entirely blame my dislike of reading upon my teachers, although they did much to confirm my scepticism as to the purpose of a book being anything more than a source of reference. Dyslexia and the video tape were the other major factors in the demise of my literary studies. The dyslexia simply drove me towards the easier method of absorption and Jonathan Millers fantastic direction consequently allowed me to commit enough visual Shakespearean evidence to memory in order to obtain an examination pass. Were your texts to have been part of the syllabus things may have been very different although I fear the Sharpe TV series would also have undoubtedly tempted me to question the necessity for reading. Why and when one should discover reading for pleasure remains an enigma to me. What I do know is that the difference between a schools compulsory text and the pages which one discovers have the power to unlock the endless imaginary capacity of the reader, is a demarcation teachers fail to teach and compulsory syllabi, by their nature, simply ignore. Sadly for me the History syllabus was also changed in the early 80s with the educational emphasis shifting to post 1945. I realized at that time that my interest lay more towards the Greek mythology (rather than the Pathe News) end of the historic spectrum! You are the third author I have found since starting reading for pleasure and the only historic novelist. I have developed the habit of total authorship consumption in that upon finding an author I like, I read all of their work before moving to another. Although this is very good news for the author concerned (both fiscally as well as appreciatively) it is also worrying as I maybe displaying early signs of OCD, a concern that is supported by my annoyance at finding HarperCollinss error in their 'also by' list in the front of every paperback, (placing Ss Eagle before Ss Havoc) the only benefit being the happy and timeless re-incarnation of Gataker when you follow their chronological order. I found Sharpes Tiger at Heathrow airport in August, waiting to board a plane for India where I ride a Royal Enfield motorcycle once or twice a year in order to cleanse my artificial world of investment banking. Little did I know that your novel would introduce me to a history so relevant and so vivid. Arthur Wellesley is a relative on my mothers side and the region around Mysore one I know well. Your India trilogy has been a fascinating education for me having only been previously aware of Wellingtons achievements in Europe where am now with Ss Escape. Despite the sad embarkation of Ss Trafalgar, a novel I regard as one of your finest I have so far had the pleasure to read. I now ride through Kerala and Tamil Nadu with an added perspective, it is not hard to imagine McCandlas scouting the same tracks as much of the countryside and way of life has changed very little in the last two centuries. In March I will visit Seringapatam for the first time and shall try to find the site of Wellingtons first and only defeat! I hope this longwinded appreciation successfully achieves my aim to explain my thanks for your recent impact on my life. You have opened doors in my imagination and filled precious gaps in my historical knowledge. Moreover you have re-enforced my belief that the finest Storytellers are some of the most valuable members of the human race. Kind regards and best wishes for a healthy and peaceful 2007 Jeremy Adam
Thank you Jeremy.