Sharpe’s World

The Complete Character Guide

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Every major character in Bernard Cornwell’s 24 Sharpe novels, from Richard Sharpe himself to the villains, lovers and comrades who shaped his story.

How to Use This Guide

The guide begins with the major recurring characters who appear across multiple novels. Below that, characters are organised by the book in which they first appear. Recurring characters are noted with the full list of novels they feature in. Descriptions cover each character’s role in the story without unnecessary spoilers, though key fates (deaths, departures) are included where they are central to the series.

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Recurring Major Characters

Richard Sharpe

Private to Lieutenant-Colonel

English (London-born, Yorkshire in the TV series)

Appears in:All 24 novels

The protagonist of the entire series. Born in poverty, enlisted in the 33rd Foot to escape a murder charge, and commissioned from the ranks after saving Arthur Wellesley's life at the Battle of Assaye in 1803. Transfers to the 95th Rifles and fights through the Peninsular War, rising by battlefield merit rather than purchase. Carries a heavy cavalry sword in preference to the regulation officer's sabre and is a crack shot with the Baker rifle.

FateSurvives the wars. Settles in Normandy with Lucille Castineau after Waterloo.

Patrick Harper

Private to Regimental Sergeant Major

Irish (Donegal)

Appears in:Sharpe's Rifles onward (most Peninsular and later novels)

Sharpe's closest friend, conscience and strong right arm. A huge Irishman from Donegal who carries a seven-barrelled Nock volley gun. Loyal, devout (carries a crucifix), immensely strong, and often the most dangerous man in the room. Marries Isabella, a Spanish woman, during the Peninsular campaigns.

FateSurvives the wars. Returns to Ireland with Isabella.

Obadiah Hakeswill

Sergeant

English

Appears in:Sharpe's Tiger, Sharpe's Triumph, Sharpe's Fortress, Sharpe's Company, Sharpe's Enemy

The most loathsome villain in the series. A former soldier in the 33rd Foot who tormented the young Private Sharpe in India. Survived a botched hanging as a child, which left him with a facial twitch and a conviction that he cannot be killed. A bully, thief, rapist and murderer who returns to plague Sharpe in the Peninsular War. He is responsible for the death of Teresa Moreno.

FateKilled by Sharpe. Executed by firing squad in Sharpe's Enemy.

Novel vs TV

In the novel Sharpe's Enemy, Sharpe commands the firing squad and personally delivers the coup de grâce. In the 1994 ITV television film, Sharpe is present at the execution but another officer delivers the final shot. Hakeswill's last words, directed at Sharpe, his greatest enemy, are his famous line: You cannot kill me.

Major Michael Hogan

Major, Royal Engineers / Exploring Officers

Irish

Appears in:Sharpe's Eagle through the mid-Peninsular novels

Wellington's head of intelligence in the Peninsula. A fictional character loosely inspired by real exploring officers such as Colquhoun Grant and George Scovell. Urbane, shrewd and quietly ruthless, he acts as Sharpe's patron and protector, seeing in him a useful instrument that the gentlemen officers overlook. He is one of the few senior officers who treats Sharpe as an equal.

FateDies during the Peninsular campaigns. His death is reported between novels.

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

General to Field Marshal

Anglo-Irish

Appears in:Sharpe's Tiger (as Colonel Wellesley) onward through the Peninsular and Waterloo novels

The real historical commander, depicted throughout the series as cold, private, calculating and brilliant. He recognises Sharpe's value while never quite accepting him socially. Their relationship is one of mutual respect without warmth. Cornwell portrays Wellington closely following the historical record, including his famous reserve and dry wit.

Teresa Moreno

Partisan leader / La Aguja (The Needle)

Spanish

Appears in:Sharpe's Rifles, Sharpe's Gold, Sharpe's Company, and others

A Spanish guerrilla leader and Sharpe's first wife. Fierce, independent and a skilled fighter, she commands a band of partisans in the mountains of Spain. She and Sharpe have a daughter, Antonia. Teresa is murdered by Obadiah Hakeswill during the Peninsular campaigns.

FateKilled by Hakeswill. Her death is one of the defining tragedies of the series.

Jane Gibbons

Civilian

English

Appears in:Sharpe's Regiment, Sharpe's Siege, Sharpe's Revenge

Sharpe's second wife. A young, well-born Englishwoman whom Sharpe marries during a return to England. The marriage deteriorates badly: Jane takes Sharpe's money and his London house, and by the time of Sharpe's Revenge she has left him for another man. She represents the class divide that Sharpe can never fully cross.

FateLeaves Sharpe. They are effectively separated by the end of the war.

Lucille Castineau

Civilian (French noblewoman)

French

Appears in:Sharpe's Revenge, Sharpe's Waterloo, Sharpe's Devil

A Norman widow whose husband was killed serving in Napoleon's army. Sharpe meets her in Normandy during Sharpe's Revenge and stays with her after the war. She is calm, intelligent and grounded, a counterweight to Sharpe's restlessness. Unlike Jane, Lucille accepts Sharpe as he is.

FateSharpe's enduring companion. They settle together at her farmhouse in Normandy.

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Characters by Book

Books 1 to 8 · India, Trafalgar, Copenhagen, Spain

1. Sharpe’s Tiger

India · Seringapatam, 1799

Sharpe’s World

How to Use This Guide

Recurring Major Characters

Richard Sharpe

Patrick Harper

Obadiah Hakeswill

Major Michael Hogan

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington

Teresa Moreno

Jane Gibbons

Lucille Castineau

Characters by Book

1. Sharpe’s Tiger

2. Sharpe’s Triumph

3. Sharpe’s Fortress

4. Sharpe’s Trafalgar

5. Sharpe’s Prey

6. Sharpe’s Rifles

7. Sharpe’s Havoc

8. Sharpe’s Eagle

9. Sharpe’s Gold

10. Sharpe’s Escape

11. Sharpe’s Fury

12. Sharpe’s Battle

13. Sharpe’s Company

14. Sharpe’s Command

15. Sharpe’s Sword

16. Sharpe’s Enemy

17. Sharpe’s Honour

18. Sharpe’s Regiment

19. Sharpe’s Siege

20. Sharpe’s Revenge

21. Sharpe’s Waterloo

22. Sharpe’s Assassin

23. Sharpe’s Storm

24. Sharpe’s Devil

A-Z Character Index