Dear Mr. Cornwell,
I came to your work rather late, but am making up for it with an appetite that exceeds even that of Patrick Harper in his Dublin years, having just zipped through the entire Sharpe series in one go (just as I did with the Hornblower series, which I think you'll appreciate). I have a couple of questions; if they are subjects you plan to address in future novels or short stories, feel free to ignore! (1) Did you imagine Sharpe eventually reconciling with "Sweet William" Frederickson? I can certainly imagine them sharing one more adventure---perhaps in the US. (By the way, did I miss something, or did Frederickson tell Sharpe to call him "Bill" the first time they met, but thereafter Sharpe always called him "William"?) (2) How do you see Sharpe dealing with Antonia? While the decision to leave his daughter with relatives in Spain is certainly understandable, the fact that Lucille chided him about this at least suggests that, out of remorse or under pressure from her, he would have at least written to Ramon regarding Antonia (even if it was just to indicate he had no intention to reclaim her). In any case, Sharpe's relationship with his daughter seems unresolved. (3) Did Dally survive Waterloo? I'm rooting for him! (It was so sad to read about poor Dan Hagman!) (4) What ultimately became of Sharpe's wife Jane is, of course, something that has tantalized many of your readers. I definitely see a book in there somewhere . . . Once again, let me express my profound thanks for delivering such a superb series, and for creating such a memorable character---there are not enough heroes in literature today. On to Starbuck!
Chris Nelson