Cornwell's talent is taking a uniquely British character and making him so 'everyman' that the whole world falls in love with him. That's a real skill, and rare one. Not many serial authors can do that.
Agreed. I think Cornwell is using rather an old-fashioned "gentlemanly" definition of honourable here. Sharpe is loyal to Wellington and to his men and the only people he'll stab in the back are the ones that definitely deserve it. He's certainly more honourable than someone like Hogan - in some spheres verging on naïve.
Sharpe's code of honour is personal to him and his life experiences. He values loyalty to his friends and fighting for those who cannot defend themselves as honorable conduct. 'Honourable' is more to do with conduct than the manner of a person's birth. As for morality, this is early nineteenth century morality and should be judged as such, not by 21st century morality.
Awesome. I've had two instances like that. I'm a lifelong role-playing gamer and I'd sent an email to a game designer whose work I love. He wrote me, which was a *skwee*! moment. The second was when I got the autograph of another designer [who I have an equal love and respect for] on a new addition of his game at the last convention before he passed away. Fortunately, I've been able to keep both.
Huge Sharpe fan. I have the complet collection on dvd and I have the unabridged audio books (I'm dyslexic) I'll walk for miles with my earphones in listing to these AMAZING adventurers. I hope more do come
My Mam introduced me to Bernard’s works & I’ve been hooked ever since. Loved Sharpe & The Saxon series. His Arthur stuff what can I say. Got to see him at an event in Newcastle & what a night it was. Truly loved meeting him & got to ask him a question. Would recommend his stuff if your into Historical fiction stuff. I owe Bernard Cornwell so much.
I haven't read the Sharpe novels but I have read others of Cornwell's books, "The Fort", "Azincourt", "The Winter King" trilogy with great fascination and pleasure. He is a fine writer and a great storyteller.
I have been reading anything Bernard has written, snap it up pre-order everytime. The Sharpe series, I have read series four times, the books have pride and place on my book shelves here in Australia. I'm now listening through all books on audio books. I have even created a Wargame called Napoleon's Imperium in which I have a sharpe figure in the game counters just because of this love for the series! My son, now 30, is also hooked! :-) Thank you Bernard Cornwell for enriching our lives!
I was surprised to listen to this interview - I had always assumed that the Sharpe books were inspired by the book "The Recollections of Rifleman Harris" who became a rifleman with the (then, newly-formed) 95th Rifles during the Peninsular War. Harris was illiterate but had recounted his time with Wellesley's Army, to a friend who succeeded in publishing it. It's a worthwhile read if you can get hold of a copy.
Read all the Sharpe books and just received and sitting down to read his new book "Sharpe's Assassin".... came in the mail 30 minutes ago....☺.....I've always wondered about his first daughter....and if she shows up in his later books....
I know where Sharpe comes from, Hornblower was written by C.S. Forester, who also wrote 'Death to the French' a story about a 95th Rifleman cut off in Portugal when the British army retreats to Coruna
I was issued "Death to the French" in recruit training. However, the title was changed to "Rifleman Dodd," likely due to the politically incorrect and potentially offensive title. I discovered the original title years later, and I prefer it to the revised one.
Love these books, Sharpe's Traffalger is my favourite because it's such a change from the norm but at the same time it's exactly the same. Always an education reading any of Cornwell's historical novels.
I just finished reading Azincourt by Connell, it was a great read, perhaps I’ll read some sharpe stuff at some point but generally I’m more interested in medieval and classical history rather than 18th and 19th century histories,
I own the original 5 years of TV series in 3 movies per year. It is the best Napoleon series. After I write my final book I will read the books Mr. Cornwell wrote, but not while I'm writing to avoid using someone else's style. Writing a war story is simply the most difficult of all novels. David League
@@mrblue193 He was born in the slums of London, killed someone so escaped to Yorkshire to avoid hanging. Then enlisted in the 33rd - at the time Sir Arthur Wellesley - later Wellington - was his Lieutenant Colonel.
Sharpe's promotion speed is also typical of the period when many officers had mentors. In his case Wolseley (Wellington) who recognised and nurtured his obvious capabilities once Teresa gave him firm guidance on how to lead men. Honourable? Yes. Absolutely. But atypical of most officers of the time, hence Wellington's response. Uncouth? Possibly but that may matter in the Mess not facing French guns. A gentleman? Definitely not and no aspirations thereto. He is a fighting officer. Inspirational and a leader? Absolutely after a poor start as Harris says. In my view, Sharpe would fit in exceptionally well in the Australian Navy and Army, at least up to the 1970s and later in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan
Cornwell's talent is taking a uniquely British character and making him so 'everyman' that the whole world falls in love with him. That's a real skill, and rare one. Not many serial authors can do that.
These books are crack on paper, I can't stop reading them/re-reading them
Audio books are damn good too. Rupert Farley does a cracking job of it
Sharpe is actually honorable though. He's just BRUTALLY honest and uncouth.
@ I was referring to the books. Adaptations are never quite the same. Being honest has nothing to do with morals...Scarface was brutally honest.
Agreed. I think Cornwell is using rather an old-fashioned "gentlemanly" definition of honourable here. Sharpe is loyal to Wellington and to his men and the only people he'll stab in the back are the ones that definitely deserve it. He's certainly more honourable than someone like Hogan - in some spheres verging on naïve.
@@talavera9515 aye sharpe lives by his own code of honour not the historical notion of Honour
Sharpe's code of honour is personal to him and his life experiences. He values loyalty to his friends and fighting for those who cannot defend themselves as honorable conduct. 'Honourable' is more to do with conduct than the manner of a person's birth. As for morality, this is early nineteenth century morality and should be judged as such, not by 21st century morality.
@@talavera9515 Hogan was honourable but sometimes torn between his sense of duty and his honour which were not always the same. Duty sometimes won.
I sent him an email when I was 15 or so, and he wrote me back!!! One of the biggest regrets of my adult life is that I lost it 😫
Awesome.
I've had two instances like that. I'm a lifelong role-playing gamer and I'd sent an email to a game designer whose work I love. He wrote me, which was a *skwee*! moment. The second was when I got the autograph of another designer [who I have an equal love and respect for] on a new addition of his game at the last convention before he passed away. Fortunately, I've been able to keep both.
Just when I got clean of the Sharpe books I discovered the Last Kingdom and the grail quest. There is no hope for me.🙏
Huge Sharpe fan. I have the complet collection on dvd and I have the unabridged audio books (I'm dyslexic) I'll walk for miles with my earphones in listing to these AMAZING adventurers. I hope more do come
My Mam introduced me to Bernard’s works & I’ve been hooked ever since. Loved Sharpe & The Saxon series. His Arthur stuff what can I say. Got to see him at an event in Newcastle & what a night it was. Truly loved meeting him & got to ask him a question. Would recommend his stuff if your into Historical fiction stuff. I owe Bernard Cornwell so much.
I haven't read the Sharpe novels but I have read others of Cornwell's books, "The Fort", "Azincourt", "The Winter King" trilogy with great fascination and pleasure. He is a fine writer and a great storyteller.
The Sharpe novels in chronological order - not the order Cornwell wrote them - are highly recommended :) The series misses IMHO some pivotal events.
I have been reading anything Bernard has written, snap it up pre-order everytime. The Sharpe series, I have read series four times, the books have pride and place on my book shelves here in Australia. I'm now listening through all books on audio books. I have even created a Wargame called Napoleon's Imperium in which I have a sharpe figure in the game counters just because of this love for the series! My son, now 30, is also hooked! :-) Thank you Bernard Cornwell for enriching our lives!
You gave personalities to people we could only imagine and provided the background to confirm the things in our imagination. 👏🏻
I was surprised to listen to this interview - I had always assumed that the Sharpe books were inspired by the book "The Recollections of Rifleman Harris" who became a rifleman with the (then, newly-formed) 95th Rifles during the Peninsular War. Harris was illiterate but had recounted his time with Wellesley's Army, to a friend who succeeded in publishing it. It's a worthwhile read if you can get hold of a copy.
Recently hearing of Harris, I thought Cornwell may have named his character in the original's honour.
I so much love the "Sharpe" Television Miniseries. Sean Bean is a Great Actor and was perfect as "Richard Sharpe."
Read all the Sharpe books and just received and sitting down to read his new book "Sharpe's Assassin".... came in the mail 30 minutes ago....☺.....I've always wondered about his first daughter....and if she shows up in his later books....
I know where Sharpe comes from, Hornblower was written by C.S. Forester, who also wrote 'Death to the French' a story about a 95th Rifleman cut off in Portugal when the British army retreats to Coruna
I was issued "Death to the French" in recruit training. However, the title was changed to "Rifleman Dodd," likely due to the politically incorrect and potentially offensive title. I discovered the original title years later, and I prefer it to the revised one.
Is it good? I gotta check this out.
Love these books, Sharpe's Traffalger is my favourite because it's such a change from the norm but at the same time it's exactly the same. Always an education reading any of Cornwell's historical novels.
I love how Joel relates to Sharpe and treats him as an equal.
These books are brilliant.
"All you can do is ignore those letters".
He doesn't give a fuuuuuuuuck
Took sharpe’s assassin for my holiday reading,just me the Dolomites and the legendary rifleman
Soft boiled eggs and thin strips of buttered bread- that's what i call soldiering!
I have never read the sharps books. I AM. However, in love with the Saxon stories.
Paul Austin read them mate you won’t be disappointed
I just finished reading Azincourt by Connell, it was a great read, perhaps I’ll read some sharpe stuff at some point but generally I’m more interested in medieval and classical history rather than 18th and 19th century histories,
I own the original 5 years of TV series in 3 movies per year. It is the best Napoleon series. After I write my final book I will read the books Mr. Cornwell wrote, but not while I'm writing to avoid using someone else's style. Writing a war story is simply the most difficult of all novels. David League
Sharpe’s Trafalgar is my favourite 🤩
Wasn't it established in "Sharpe's Revenge" that he was from a town in Yorkshire?
not in the book no.
He's from London but ran away to Yorkshire when he was still young to escape something or other in London. It's all in the books.
@@mrblue193 Cornwell was so impressed by the sharpe series he wrote that in the book to make up for Sean bean’s accent
The tv series, that is
@@mrblue193 He was born in the slums of London, killed someone so escaped to Yorkshire to avoid hanging. Then enlisted in the 33rd - at the time Sir Arthur Wellesley - later Wellington - was his Lieutenant Colonel.
The TV series is brilliant and have great casts
Clearly the "cowboy" literary agent is working for the French.
Brilliant that's all I wanted to hear was "yes there will be more sharpe books" :D
I would like to see more India books...from before he went to Europe.
Still waiting 8 years later
@@upthebracket26 Sharpes Assassin is set to be released in September 2021
Yes guys there is finally a new book coming for it preordered already
I want to read how Sharpe first enlisted, met - and hated - Hakeswill, and fought his first battle in Flanders. That's the only bit missing.
Where is the full interview? 3 min doesn't do justice to know more from the author of Sharpe
"I always enjoy meeting him"
go figure. dude told him that nobody wanted to read about the army. but then everyone did
Mr Cornwell seems to know infantry
Mestre
Oh,Common.Sharpe was based on Achilles and the Murmodons
Sharpe's promotion speed is also typical of the period when many officers had mentors. In his case Wolseley (Wellington) who recognised and nurtured his obvious capabilities once Teresa gave him firm guidance on how to lead men.
Honourable? Yes. Absolutely. But atypical of most officers of the time, hence Wellington's response. Uncouth? Possibly but that may matter in the Mess not facing French guns. A gentleman? Definitely not and no aspirations thereto. He is a fighting officer. Inspirational and a leader? Absolutely after a poor start as Harris says.
In my view, Sharpe would fit in exceptionally well in the Australian Navy and Army, at least up to the 1970s and later in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan
There is no portuguese in Portugal in this novel!!!!
just sayin', if you like sharpe, you will like alan lewrie by dewie lambdin.