sharpe Archives - Felix's Gaming Pages

Sharpe’s Regiment

This is probably one of my favourite of the Sharpe books. Sharpe’s Regiment takes him back to Colchester in Essex.

Richard Sharpe returns to England to save the regiment. Major Sharpe’s men are in mortal danger – not from the French, but from the bureaucrats of Whitehall. Unless reinforcements can be brought from England, the regiment will be disbanded. Determined not to see his regiment die, Sharpe returns to England and uncovers a nest of high-ranking traitors, any of whom could utterly destroy his career with a word. Sharpe is forced into the most desperate gamble of his life – and not even the influence of the Prince Regent may be enough to save him.

I also think the episode of the TV series is a good adaption of the book. Obviously the book goes into a lot more depth and detail, but I do think the programme captures the heart and essence of the novel.

What I like about the story is how it tells the background to the Napoleonic Wars, what was happening on the home front, the scheming and the politics of the era, as well as how the British army of that time recruited and trained their soldiers.

Buy Sharpe’s Regiment.

Sharpe’s Storm

The year is 1813. France is a battlefield, and winter shows no mercy. Amidst brutal conditions, Major Richard Sharpe finds himself saddled with an unexpected burden: Rear-Admiral Sir Joel Chase, dispatched by the Admiralty with sealed orders, unshakable confidence, and a frankly terrifying enthusiasm for combat.

Sharpe’s mission from Wellington is clear, yet anything but simple: keep Sir Joel alive.

Sir Joel could hold the key to defeating Napoleon once and for all. But to pull off his audacious plan, he needs someone who knows how to fight dirty, think fast, and survive the impossible.

He needs Sharpe …

Get Sharpe’s Storm.

Sharpe’s Command

I recently re-read Sharpe’s Command, a recent book from the Sharpe series of novels by Bernard Cornwell.

If any man can do the impossible it’s Richard Sharpe . . .

And the impossible is exactly what the formidable Major Sharpe is asked to do when he’s dispatched on an undercover mission behind enemy lines, deep in the Spanish countryside.

For a remote village is about to become the centre of a battle for the future of Europe. Sitting high above the Almaraz bridge, it is the last link between two French armies, one in the north and one in the south; if they meet, the British are doomed.

Only Sharpe’s small group of men – with their cunning and courage to rely on – stand in their way. But they’re rapidly outnumbered, enemies are hiding in plain sight, and time is running out . . .

I think Bernard Cornwell taking Sharpe back to the Peninsular War (rather than forward) was a really clever idea.

The story is classic Sharpe, and brings French forces, Spanish guerrillas, and British officers who think they know best. Really enjoyed it.

Sharpe’s Command

The next Sharpe book has been published, Sharpe’s Command.

“If any man can do the impossible it’s Richard Sharpe . . .”

And the impossible is exactly what the formidable Major Sharpe is asked to do when he’s dispatched on an undercover mission behind enemy lines, deep in the Spanish countryside. For a remote village is about to become the centre of a battle for the future of Europe. Sitting high above the Almaraz bridge, it is the last link between two French armies, one in the north and one in the south; if they meet, the British are doomed. Only Sharpe’s small group of men – with their cunning and courage to rely on – stand in their way. But they’re rapidly outnumbered, enemies are hiding in plain sight, and time is running out . . .

I think Bernard Cornwell taking Sharpe back to the Peninsular War (rather than forward) was a really clever idea.

I enjoyed the last Sharpe book, Sharpe’s Assassin, it was great to see Sharpe back in action.

Buy Sharpe’s Command from Amazon.

From Crimea with Love: Misadventures in the Making of Sharpe’s Rifles

After rediscovering Sharpe, I also saw that Jason Salkey, who played Private Harris has written a book about his experiences in making the series: From Crimea with Love: Misadventures in the Making of Sharpe’s Rifles.

In the summer of 1992, Jason Salkey was cast in a role that would change his life forever. Sharpe’s Rifles, a Napoleonic war drama, was to be shot in the Crimean Peninsula. Little did the producers know that they would be sending Jason and the crew to film in a rapidly disintegrating Soviet Union. There they faced near-starvation and danger round every corner as they set about creating one of Britain’s most successful and critically acclaimed television programmes.

From Crimea with Love documents the mishaps, blunders, incompetence and downright corruption that made Sharpe’s Rifles go down in British television folklore for its unique tales of hardship. Follow the cast through intense depravation and constant catastrophe until they become every bit the jaded, battle-hardened soldiers we saw on screen. Tapping into his diaries, photo journals and video log, Jason brings you an eye-opening, jaw-dropping insider’s account of one of the best-loved shows ever made.

I once met Jason at Salute, when it was at Kensington Town Hall.

Returning to the Spanish Penisular War

I saw on the Twitter a link to a Radio 4 show, The Reunion, which brings together people from a common event or background. The most recent episode was about the Sharpe TV series.

It’s a great insight into the background of the making of the series, some of the challenges that the cast and crew faced.

It was a Napoleonic war drama to be shot in the Crimean Peninsula. But little did the producers know that they would be sending the cast and crew to film in a rapidly disintegrating Soviet Union.

Once in Crimea, the whole production faced near-starvation and danger around every corner as they set about creating one of Britain’s most successful and critically acclaimed 90s television programmes, Sharpe.

It was to go down in television folklore for its unique tales of mishaps and hardship. Renowned actor Paul McGann was originally cast to play the lead character, Sharpe. But only six weeks into filming he picked up a serious injury and had to pull out.

It left the production in chaos and saw one of the highest-ever insurance pay-outs for a television series.

Everyone packed up back to the UK with the future of the series left in suspense. That was until a relatively unknown actor called Sean Bean took on the part and the show was back on the road. The cast and crew headed back to Simferopol in Crimea (later to be nicknamed “simplyawful”) and filming resumed.

Sharpe became a six series hit across nearly 15 years, with viewing figures topping 10 million.

Our panel includes Sharpe’s author Bernard Cornwell, then-assistant producer Stuart Sutherland, one of the “chosen men” Jason Salkey who played one of Sean Bean’s right hand men, Michael Cochrane who played Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson across the entire series, and Diana Perez who played Ramona.

What I didn’t know, and was quite a surprise was that Paul McGann was originally cast as Sharpe. I thought I knew a lot about the series (I even have a book about the making of the series). However, I didn’t know that.

I do wonder how different the series would have been with Paul McGann in the lead role.

I really enjoyed the series when it was broadcast and though around thirty years old, is still great television. I also love the books as well.

It certainly has rekindled my interest in the subject matter, I re-watched an episode of Sharpe, thinking about re-reading the books, and looking back into my Flintloque collection and digging out my 25mm Napoleonic Rifles figures.

95th Rifles

I really enjoyed both watching the Sharpe TV series and then reading the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell. As a result many years ago I bought some 25mm Napoleonic 95th Rifles, mainly on impulse with the intention of painting them at some point. Found them the other day…

The first thing I did was base them using two pence pieces and Citadel Sand.

I will be using them as they were in the Penisular War, so will be giving them gravelly bases with some brush grass.

The 95th Rifles

I really enjoyed both watching the Sharpe TV series and then reading the Sharpe books by Bernard Cornwell.

As a result many years ago I bought some 25mm Napoleonic 95th Rifles, mainly on impulse with the intention of painting them at some point. Found them the other day… maybe time to get some dark green paint out.