Who is Regimental Sergeant Patrick Harper from Sharpe's Devil and what is their importance? Sharpe's_Devil_(novel) English & Literature Regimental Sergeant Patrick Harper | Sharpe's Devil

Harper is larger than life, literally. He was always a big man, but the sedentary years since he left military service have allowed him to achieve obesity of monumental proportions. And while he may fit the stereotype of big and jolly when appropriate, he is also a fierce warrior. With his first introduction, the reader learns that there is no one else in the world that Sharpe would rather have at his side in a fight.