Major Richard Sharpe

Major Richard Sharpe is the protagonist of both "Sharpe's Christmas" and "Sharpe's Ransom." He is an English officer fighting the war against Napoleon in the first story and in the second, he is a retired British officer living in Normandy. Sharpe is a complicated character whom the author refers to as having a belligerent nature; however, he also shows generosity and compassion in his interactions with other characters as can be seen in these two stories. In "Sharpe's Christmas", Major Richard Sharpe and his men are sent to Irati to prevent the French garrison from the fort at Ochagavia from fleeing Spain. When Sharpe notices a French brigade marching from the north, he prepares for battle because the next day he will have an enemy in front, an enemy behind, a road to hold and a battle to win. While defending Irati against the French brigade...