#bernard cornwell

One of the other Sharpe Facts that I knew was that the first book in chronological order is Sharpe's Tiger—the person who informed me of this even sent me a free e-book download of that volume, which did not appeal to me when I tried to read it. I could probably enjoy it much more now, now that I have some emotional investment in Sharpe and a better idea of his later career. I also wonder how it could possibly live up to the hype, since Bernard Cornwell was apparently frothing at the mouth over Sharpe's backstory since he began writing the character. Three books in and he won't shut up about how Sharpe did a totally sick kickflip ollie at the Siege of Seringapatam before jumping on a trampoline and dunking a basketball IN THE FACE! of the Tippoo Sultan while everyone clapped and then Arthur Wellesley kissed Sharpe on the mouth.

Cornwell does a pretty solid job with his historical research, but strangely he does not seem to know that "spit-loading" a rifle or musket was not a thing. Yes, I've watched the video by Brandon F. I thought it only happened in the TV show but no, guys are putting bullets into their mouths all the time?! I'm no firearms expert, but I have read that the small amount of gunpowder that could get into a man's mouth when he bit open the paper cartridges was unpleasant (and made him very thirsty), so I don't know why Sharpe and his men think that bullets are delicious gumballs inside a paper wrapper.

"Tap loading" (tapping the butt of the muzzle-loading firearm instead of using the ramrod to seat the bullet) is also a dumb idea, but Brandon F. states that there is some evidence this was done in desperate situations, which sounds plausible. The exigency of real combat is not historical reenactment or a casual afternoon at the range.

I heard that the Sharpe books are formulaic, but so far it's a formula I enjoy. I could relate to Sharpe struggling to be a leader of people and forge emotional connections with his men in Sharpe's Rifles, feeling out of place as he wasn't born into that role. Of course he becomes a hypercompetent badass, but I love Marryat-style heroes. Sharpe could almost be a Marryat hero, especially with his powerful benefactor and multiple sweethearts, but he has yet to rapidly acquire a fortune. A Marryat hero would have purchased several commissions by now!

Sharpe's Gold was my least favorite of the three books, but still good. I did not care for the partisans or the romantic subplot. It's also wild that Cornwell makes the very real destruction of Almeida into a plot point where his hero-guy deliberately chooses to blow the place up with immense loss of life. Damn, Sharpe.

The historical notes at the end of each book are a nice touch. I am rapidly catching up on a lot of Peninsular War details as I read along, although part of me wishes Sharpe had stayed a redcoat. Imagine if Sharpe was in, say, the 89th Regiment of Foot, and after some Peninsular War action his company embarked for North America in 1812—it almost writes itself! 🤗

Baker Rifles are still pretty cool, I GUESS. It was a great experience to meet some 95th Rifles reenactors this past year, as I fully appreciate just how crazy long the sword-bayonet really is (God forbid a man's piece comes up short...)