Lord Winterborne's Fantasy

Although the Fantasy genre is something of a forte for me, I am active in all forms of the fictitious narrative. A good work of fiction means more to the Lord Winterborne than any palace of gold, or even the love of a soft woman. That is why from time to time I will write the odd review that is outside of what I consider to be the realm of fantasy (see Second Issue: The History of Fantasy).
 
Historic-fiction is another love of mine, so this week I will be reviewing the Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell. As it were, I'm not going to review the whole series (there are twenty books in it), but I will introduce you to the first book: Sharpes Tiger.

Bernard Cornwell is an Englishman in New York. (Well, Massachusetts- close enough!). Originally from London, where he worked as a journalist in newspapers and television, Cornwell is now a resident of the United States and lives with his American wife in Cape Cod. He is the acclaimed author of the Nathaniel Starbuck Chronicles, about American Civil War; the Warlord Trilogy, about Arthurian England; and, most recently, Stonehenge 2000 B.C.: A Novel and The Archer's Tale.

The Sharpe series is set mainly during the Napoleonic Wars, and each tome is a fast-paced adventure with non-stop, hard-hitting action. Bernard Cornwell a.k.a. Corny, or the Cornster is the grandmaster of battlefield action:

He (Sharpe) remembered Sergeant Hawthornes death best because the Sergeant had been hit by a musket ball that drove a rib clean out of his red coat. There was hardly a drop of blood to be seen, just the white rib sticking out of the faded red cloth. You could hang your hat on that, Hawthorne had said in a tone of wonder, then he had sobbed, and after that he had choked up blood and collapsed.

That's on the second page. Brilliant. It reminds me of that part in Monty Pythons Meaning of life:' it has always been the calm leadership of the Officer class that has made the British Army what it is.

The lovable rogue, Richard Sharpe, is first introduced as a raw young soldier about to embark on the siege of Seringapatam, an Indian stronghold against the advances of the British Empire.

Harassed by the malicious Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill, Sharpes only chance to escape persecution is by rescuing a senior British officer, held prisoner by the Tippoo of Seringapatam, deep in the heart of enemy territory. Initially, Sharpe sees this as a good opportunity to go AWOL but, through a series of events, he learns that soldiering is what he does best and so maintains his honor.
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Sharpe not only infiltrates the stronghold of the enemy, he ensures the safety of the captured Colonel McCandless, and saves the British army from annihilation.

Throughout the series, Sharpe, being one of those rare officers to be raised from the ranks, climbs the rungs of leadership by way of bravery, streetwise cunning and sheer recklessness. When in battle, nothing is as frightening or as fascinating as Sharpes will to survive, nor his bloodlust.

He is a rough and rugged character, raised on the streets, always ready for a fight. When juxtaposed amongst the other officers commissioned from the British aristocracy, Sharpe stands out vividly. But behind his coarse exterior we discover a charming, funny, romantic, sensitive guy.

What a wonderful hero!

The great thing about these books is that they are loosely based on real historical events. Much of the action actually took place, and our fictitious hero has just been plopped in amongst it and given a subplot of his own.

I can't say enough, its bloody fantastic.

• The Sharpe novels: (in chronological order)
• Sharpes Tiger (1799)
• Sharpes Triumph (1803)
• Sharpes Fortress (1803)
• Sharpes Trafalgar (1805)
• Sharpes Prey (1807)
• Sharpes Rifles (1809)
• Sharpes Havoc (1809)
• Sharpes Eagle (1809)
• Sharpes Escape (1810)
• Sharpes Gold (1810)
• Sharpes Battle (1811)
• Sharpes Company (1812)
• Sharpes Sword (1812)
• Sharpes Enemy (1812)
• Sharpes Honor (1813)
• Sharpes Regiment (1813)
• Sharpes Siege (1814)
• Sharpes Revenge (1814)
• Sharpes Waterloo (1815)
• Sharpes Devil (1820-21)
• 'Sharpes Christmas' (contains two short stories):
• Sharpes Christmas (1813)
• Sharpes Ransom (1815)

By Mark Adkin:
The Sharpe Companion: A Detailed Historical and Military Guide to Bernard Cornwells Bestselling Series of Sharpe Novels.

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