Lieutenant Richard Sharpe

Richard Sharpe is first described as tall, dark, and brooding. In fact, until the end of Chapter 1, the reader does not even know his name. We learn early on that he is no ordinary officer. Sharpe first enlisted in the army as a private. He came from an impoverished background, never knew his father, and says that his mother was a prostitute. It is possible that the British Army has given Sharpe the only security and sense of self-worth he has ever known. This drives him to succeed.

Sharpe is the veteran of several battles, particularly in India. In many of those battles, Sharpe had distinguished himself. An act of heroism had caused his promotion from the ranks to officer, but this past full of bravery and service does not shield Sharpe from the prejudice he encounters from both fellow officers and former fellow men of...