Prime Your Pan!

Modern Napoleonic Fiction

by Peter Lawson, U.K.

3. A `Sharpe' Revisit... The first episode of Prime Your Pan touched upon various criteria governing our friends in the visual arts media and how they interpret the Napoleonic era on the small/large screen. After a relatively meaty discussion with the Russian J„gers in Part Two, the editor suggested a brief return to the media may be in order to help round off the year (with a look at "black powder fiction" in particular and how it measures up) prior to a missive on the Austrian light troops in early 1994. Sharpe and Harper will be back on the small screen before very long. A further three adaptations of Bernard Cornwell's novels are under way with some location footage already in the can. Sean Bean (in the title role) has certainly helped the mass appeal of this series of films in the UK (audiences were exceeding 8.5 millions) and his "exposure" in many productions of late (such as a dalliance with Joely Richardson in Ken Russell's "Lady Chatterley", a vengeful battle of wits with Harrison Ford in "Patriot Games" on the big screen and a forthcoming partnership with that equine faithful for all the family, "Black Beauty") has certainly helped his bank balance. (As an aside, did anyone catch him in a wonderful little play written for television - some years ago now - portraying a down-at-heel Sealed Knot/English Civil War pikeman?). [Ed. Now you mention it... yes] We will leave the critique for the moment to the Barry Normans of this world and get back to the issue once more. "Sharpe" on the TV - is it accurate? Generally speaking (always a mistake) - of course not. Is it an "authentic" adaptation of events as portrayed in the books given severe financial restraints? Without qualification - yes. The character of Richard Sharpe per se as created by Bernard Cornwell is the stuff of legends and fairy tales: with a strong basis of well researched and detailed fact, the author has successfully intertwined his hero into the heart of just about every critical episode throughout the Peninsular Wars, the Hundred Days and the South American conflict. Fantastical? [Ed. I always thought it a shame that Sharpe never got attached to General Wilson staff and shipped to Russia for the `12 campaign... if you read that Bernie... that's my idea that is...] Well, here lies the skill of the author, because even after the Forlorn Hope at Badajoz and wounding the Prince of Orange at Waterloo and battling - cutlass in hand - next to Cochrane in South America, Sharpe does not emerge unscathed, emotionally or physically. He is more of an antihero - a victim if you like - and has more in common with Deighton's Harry Palmer than Fleming's James Bond. In this way, credibility is salvaged at each juncture and in the nick of time. (Bond's Walther PPK never jams - although he does lose it on occasion - but Palmer continually makes a fist of things to the bitter end). Where would Forester's Hornblower, R.N., lie given the above parameters? Surely James Bigglesworth is a closer cousin to Horatio Hornblower than Richard Sharpe. But are the Sharpe novels well researched? Yes, and with few betters. The great "historical" novelists of recent years have prided themselves on meticulous research for their work, some even going so far as to "break new ground" with some eyebrow-raising amongst the academics (George MacDonald Fraser being a case in point). If anyone has not read Cornwell's first American Civil War outing ("Rebel" - the story of Nathaniel Starbuck, a Northerner who becomes an officer for the South at First Manassas, playing a crucial role in that battle), then put it on your Christmas list now. Improbable? Undoubtedly. Fantastical? Definitely not, with an excellent factually descriptive background. One could argue that with a sizable budget and ample time EVERY author should take pains to provide an authentic "factional" background for his work. Not so. Charles Whiting (A.K.A. Leo Kessler, well known to his fans for his World War Two paperbacks, sold in their millions) has created the character of John Bold (in "Bugles at Dawn" and "Sabres in the Sun") a maverick, impoverished officer of the 52nd. Foot who carves out a glittering career for himself in Company service in India as the commander of "Bold's Horse". The first novel opens with the young Bold "on the ridge" at Waterloo, having an altercation with a Guards officer(!) and with Maitland's Brigade resplendent in their bearskins(!!). Having had his name changed by the Peer, Bold is sent on his way to India - with Wellington's blessing - and is present at a soiree thrown by the Governor General where a young regular cavalry officer is described in full fig with DOLMAN across his shoulder. It can be damnably hot in India, but I doubt if a young plunger would arrive at a bash of this type in his shirt sleeves! Sadly, bloomers abound in these two novels, but it has to be said, they are still solid entertainment, marred only by the lack of some pretty fundamental research. In conclusion: a good merchant banker friend (!!?) of mine - having watched the recent Sharpe films on television - felt sufficiently tickled by the period to soak up some more of the FLAVOUR (there's that word again) by some factual reading and asked me for some pointers. Long, long pause. As Waterloo was known to him (he's in the station every day) I suggested David Howarth's "Waterloo - A Near Run Thing" (in paperback, of course - let's not make things to daunting with a heavy hardback volume). It may go further than that, but there's a level of interest for you. Consider the following: it was recently reported in the "quality" press that the actor Jack Nicholson is a confirmed Napoleonic "freak" (whatever that means) and avidly collects Napoleonic "bits". Take a moment to reflect why it is that you are now reading this magazine, why you became interested in this period of world history and what facets maintain that initial interest? Are we all clones of "crazy old Jack" as the papers imply? ANY medium that creates (or enlivens) an interest must be regarded as a Good Thing (especially if it has Sean Bean in it, according to my spouse). Let us muse over the BBC's adaptation of Scarlet and Black" and take the kids to see the new "Black Beauty" (he was a cavalry horse - albeit in the Crimea - for a while), or reread Tolstoy of Marbot's memoirs if you have a mind. But I would suggest that those regarded as the "mass audience hack writers" (such as Cornwell) will be present under more Christmas trees than Tolstoy..... Have a great Christmas and a happy and peaceful New Year. Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #14 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com