Sharpe

[rogerr]

Was the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell based on the life of Sir Harry Smith?

[wallyboots]

not that i'm aware of. Read most of the books and it's not mentioned.

[Hellion]

No it wasn't it was based on an amalgamation of real people from their diaries and letters such as Rifleman Harris and Private Wheeler. Sir Harry Smith and his wife Lady Smith briefly appear as themselves in Sharpes Company as they met at the siege of Badajoz. If you want to read a really good fact based novel about Sir Harry Smith and his wife read The Spanish Bride by Georgette Heyer which is excellent.

[rogerr]

I know it's not mentioned, but I have read several books about Sir H and his exploits seem very close to Sharpe's.

[Hellion]

I forgot to say on display in Horseguards museum in London is the first 'Eagle' that was captured, I know in Sharpes Eagle Cornwell lifted this actual event and attributed it to Sharpe but it wasn't Harry Smith that captured it. I think Sharpe's story overall is not disimilar to the event in Harry's life as they both took part in the whole Peninsular Campaign and then Waterloo. In some ways Juana Smith's story is even more remarkable because she was only 14 when she meet Harry and still only 17 at the time of Waterloo that was one hell of an adventure for someone who was essentially a 'child'!

[rogerr]

Thanks for the info. Very interesting.
Cheers
R