Pretty much agree with all of this. I don’t think I’d like Sharpe if I met him but he is a particular sort of hero that I’d be happy to have around if I was being attacked by half a dozen well armed Frenchmen.
I have had arguments with Tammy when she has complained that it’s unrealistic to have Burke win against overwhelming odds and I have to point out that it’s a bit of a trope in this sort of story. That said, Cornwell might benefit from a wife who raises the occasional sceptical eyebrow and suggests that he might sometimes make the odds a little less overwhelming.
Literally that. I think sometimes it's fun to have characters who are indestructible and who win everything, because it makes for a comfortable read (and I
don't mean that at all in a pejorative way, there is a lot to be said for books where you know exactly what's going to happen and it's a jolly romp.) On the other hand I think sometimes it's needful to have a bit of realism. Personally I would like to see Sharpe kicked in the balls by a horse, but that's a purely subjective perspective...
I still hate Sharpe though....
I’m not the huge fan many are, but I quite enjoy them.
I (somewhat stereotypically) assume you like them in the same way as I like Georgette Heyer - professionally written, undemanding, entertaining.
I just happen to have a deep and abiding loathing of the character, who could do with a few more pastings that take IMO.
Pretty much agree with all of this. I don’t think I’d like Sharpe if I met him but he is a particular sort of hero that I’d be happy to have around if I was being attacked by half a dozen well armed Frenchmen.
I have had arguments with Tammy when she has complained that it’s unrealistic to have Burke win against overwhelming odds and I have to point out that it’s a bit of a trope in this sort of story. That said, Cornwell might benefit from a wife who raises the occasional sceptical eyebrow and suggests that he might sometimes make the odds a little less overwhelming.
Literally that. I think sometimes it's fun to have characters who are indestructible and who win everything, because it makes for a comfortable read (and I
don't mean that at all in a pejorative way, there is a lot to be said for books where you know exactly what's going to happen and it's a jolly romp.) On the other hand I think sometimes it's needful to have a bit of realism. Personally I would like to see Sharpe kicked in the balls by a horse, but that's a purely subjective perspective...
I cannot possibly comment on any of this but I did laugh out loud.
Ahhh, Bernard's Lovely Ladies rise again....