Richard Sharpe
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Major Richard Sharpe is a fictional character. He is the main character in a series of books written by Bernard Cornwell. Many of the books have been made into television movies, where the stories were told in a different order from the books. Sharpe's story is set during the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe has a series of "sword waving" adventures.
So far, the writer has written 21 books, from "Sharpe's Tiger" to "Sharpe's Devil". The first book is set in the year 1799, while the last is set in the years 1820 to 1821. There were also three short stories set between other books. All the stories cover the Napoleonic Wars, as well as a prelude in India detailing Sharpe's rise to the rank of Ensign. The final book looks at Sharpe on a mission to rescue his old friend, the Spanish Captain General Don Blas Vivar, in Chile.
Books and short stories
[change | change source]Here is the order of the books and short stories, with the year the story is set:
| Story Name | Year |
| Sharpe's Tiger | 1799 |
| Sharpe's Triumph | 1803 |
| Sharpe's Fortress | 1803 |
| Sharpe's Trafalgar | 1805 |
| Sharpe's Prey | 1807 |
| Sharpe's Rifles | 1809 |
| Sharpe's Havoc | 1809 |
| Sharpe's Eagle | 1809 |
| Sharpe's Gold | 1810 |
| Sharpe's Escape | 1810 |
| Sharpe's Fury | 1811 |
| Sharpe's Battle | 1811 |
| Sharpe's Company | 1812 |
| Sharpe's Sword | 1812 |
| Sharpe's Skirmish
(A short story) |
1812 |
| Sharpe's Enemy | 1812 |
| Sharpe's Honour | 1813 |
| Sharpe's Regiment | 1813 |
| Sharpe's Christmas
(A short story) |
1813 |
| Sharpe's Siege | 1814 |
| Sharpe's Revenge | 1814 |
| Sharpe's Waterloo | 1815 |
| Sharpe's Ransom
(A short story) |
1815 |
| Sharpe's Devil | 1820 – 1821 |
Film story
[change | change source]Born in London to a poor mother, Sharpe spent most of his youth in the inner city of London. When he killed someone, he went away to Yorkshire. He then joined a British line battalion, a regiment in the British Army. He was sent to India, where he saved the Duke of Wellington's life. For this, he was given a field commission to the rank of Lieutenant. He was then transferred to a Highland regiment, where he was not wanted, and was transferred into the 95th Rifles at Shorncliffe back in England. The 95th Rifles was then sent to northern Spain with General Moore's army. It was in Spain that he became friends with Patrick Harper.
In the latest adventure "Sharpe's Challenge", Sharpe and Harper go to India to fight some villains.
References
[change | change source]- Adkin, Mark. The Sharpe Companion: A Detailed Historical and Military Guide to Bernard Cornwell’s Bestselling Series of Sharpe Novels. London; New York: Harper Collins, 1998. ISBN 0002558173, ISBN 0002571587, ISBN 0060738146.
- Adkin, Mark. The Sharpe Companion: Early Years. London; New York: Harper Collins, 2003. ISBN 0007144822, ISBN 0060738146.
- Bluth, B. J. Marching With Sharpe. London; New York: Harper Collins, 2001. ISBN 0004145364, ISBN 0004145372.