Sharpe's Tiger -

More Than Just Paper

Sharpe's Tiger is the first instalment of the "Richard Sharpe" series and is a gripping tale of Empire, battle, lust, betrayal and the British Army. Set in India in 1803, the book is historically accurate fiction that follows the story of Private Richard Sharpe, a young Infantryman in the King's 33rd Light Infantry Regiment. Author Bernard Cornwall portrays real events and characters including the young Duke of Wellington, and the cunning Tippoo Sultan to make for an action-packed and exciting historical account of the Battle of Seringapatam. To say that I connected with the author and his storytelling talent in "Sharpe's Tiger" is an understatement. It was a compelling read that I struggled to put down.

The book Sharpe's TIger was a Christmas gift and was read over the festive season - escapism at its best. While I was escaping from too much Christmas turkey and pudding, Richard Sharpe was escaping the lash, on a secret mission for the British Army. It inspired me to plan a trek to work off too much Christmas cheer and vicariously live as close as I could to the trudgings of a British infantryman in the 1800s.

My 2-day alpine trek afforded me some time to get back to basics and the experience of reading by campfire or torchlight. This magnified the experience of Sharpe's journey for me - from the Iron Duke's camp through jungles and towns to the Sultan's fortress city of Seringapatam.

As based on history, the Tippoo Sultan was a Muslim lord who would not bow to the British or its Hindu thralls and fortified his city of Seringapatam in defiance. He ruled the city of Seringapatam where the young Colonel Wellesley (future Duke of Wellington) would lead the first attack of his illustrious military career. While I won't spoil it for you, the book contains fierce fighting, lusty women, brutal Indian Strongmen and, yes, a real tiger that is somewhat pivotal in the destiny of the book's central characters.

While you can predict the battle that would ensue between the British and the Sultan in which Sharpe is embroiled, the plot twists, the suspense and imminent danger facing the central characters was ever present and exciting. It was thoroughly enjoyable and gave me a sense of the hard life soldiers of the British Empire must have had and made me appreciate the creature comforts of home.

The character of Richard Sharpe is a metaphor for the best of the British Army's Infantry. Tough, cunning, stalwart and a survivor, Sharpe personifies the ideal traits of the British Redcoats who won the British Empire its power and colonies. While Sharpe himself did not exist, he is the glue that binds all of the central characters in this well-woven story based on true events. Cornwall's characterisation of the army Private who was an illiterate orphan from London's slums is real and rich and you can imagine men like Sharpe did in fact exist. Sharpe is a character who not only becomes one that is familiar to the reader; he grows through the novel, as intended by the author.

Sharpe is introduced to the reader on the battlefield, a Private with little opportunity and in the face of danger. Added to the danger that faces him is a sadistic and ruthless Sergeant with whom he has a mutual hatred. The character of Sergeant Hakeswill is effectively Sharpe's nemesis and the book's true antagonist, despite Sharpe being on the same side. While the Tippoo Sultant is Sharpe's enemy, he ironically, is more respected by Sharpe than his own Sergeant, Captain or Major. This is quite illustrative of the politics of the British Army, the politics between the British Army and the East India Company and the brutal, regimental treatment of the lower ranks in the British Army of the time.

Opportunity does come Sharpe's way, however, and his journey through the book sees him on a secret mission, accompanied by a Scottish Major and the lovely Mary Bickerstaff - a widowed half British, half Indian lady with whom Sharpe is romantically linked. The romance does nothing to detract, rather adds, to the story, plot and ultimate outcome. Besides, Sharpe is a young dog of a man and has plenty of of flings with the finest of the local Bibbis (Indian slang for "chicks" I think) so it really is not all that innocent or pretentious and accurately reflects the life of a soldier of the times.

The writing method in Cornwall's book, like its central character, is all substance and efficiency. Cornwall uses the reader's imagination of how a scene or character may look rather than describing each detail. Much modern fiction is painfully descriptive or too abstract - Cornwall was right on target for me.

The pace of Sharpe's Tiger keeps your attention and the book flowed from beginning to end, woven like the Indian silk on the Tippoo Sultan's robe. I was left excited with an ending that was a clear pause but also a segway to a new adventure for Sharpe. When it comes to a series of books, you can't ask for better in transitions.

I can say with confidence that if you have trouble coming up with a gift for the thinking man, the armchair general or the man who has everything, Sharpe's Tiger will not fail you.

Sharpe's Tiger is a champ effort from Bernard Cornwall that deserves 5 out of 5 tigers.

- David B

Sharpe's Tiger is copyright Bernard Cornwell , 1997 and is published by Harper Collins