SHARPE'S TIGER: Is it a Perfect Story?

What is a perfect story? Does such a thing exist? A perfect story is a seamless, well planned and executed, captivating story. Popularity isn’t a factor. Whether someone likes the story or not has no bearing on whether it meets the criteria for a perfect story. That said, most perfect stories are well loved, but there are well loved stories that are certainly far from perfect — age as a way of bringing clarity to a story’s standing as perfect or not.

What really sets a perfect story apart for me is when foreshadowing flawlessly syncs with the conclusion, and the encounters the characters experience are directly related to plot; there are no wasted scenes, no off shoot narratives of little consequence, everything fits perfectly into the story to bring about the most sure and leakproof climax and resolution.

Bernard Cornwell is a name I have admired from afar, having thoroughly enjoyed The Last Kingdom series produced by Netflix which is based on his book series of the same name. Also, I’m a fan of Sean Bean (who isn’t?), and I knew for a while now that he portrayed Cornwell’s Richard “Dick” Sharpe in a British television drama called Sharpe which aired from 1993 to 2008! That is a long time and certainly a testament to how loved it must be by fans.

Naturally, I’ve been wanting to read about Sharpe for a long time, but I have so many books on my shelf to read (so much Ken Follott and Steven Pressfield) that I haven’t got around to Cornwell yet. However, my youngest brother gifted me Sharpe’s Tiger this past Christmas.

And let me tell you, the story is perfect.

One benefit us authors have is really being able to spend the time on our narratives to ensure that the story appears complex and captivating. So, while it may be difficult to imagine how someone can craft a story with so many intersecting narratives that all drive to a satisfying and thrilling conclusion, we have months and months to create and workshop those possibilities. Cornwell has achieved this in Sharpe’s Tiger masterfully, so masterfully, in fact, that it doesn’t appear complicated to the reader at all! It’s a true joy to read and, if I’m honest, may have adjusted the trajectory of my writing career (it’s funny how books can have such an effect).

I’ve not read a book that has so enthralled me in years., a book that has taken captive my thoughts and interest long after it is over, making me yearn for the second book. That is quite an accomplishment for Mr. Cornwell.

Now, to the book. What is it about?

Private Richard “Dick” Sharpe trudges along in the sapping humidity of Mysore, India in 1799. As a soldier with the 33^rd Regiment of the Foot in the British Army, Sharpe is every bit the rapscallion and scoundrel you might expect in the ranks of the far reaching, imperialist British military. Normally, this doesn’t work for me. I require my characters to have a strong sense of duty, honor, and integrity. If I can’t root for the good guy, then what’s the point? However, Sharpe possesses all these traits in way that pleasantly unravels before you like a Christmas present wrapped too well.

Focusing on the Siege of Seringapatam against the Tippoo of Mysore (who is aligned with the French — a fact the king has taken most personally it seems), the story follows Sharpe as he not only outwits his foreign enemies, but those British as well who have their eyes set on prostituting Sharpe’s lady-friend to line their pockets — because, of course, the dashing and daring Richard Sharpe has the love of the most beautiful woman on the campaign trail!

With a heavy dose of dual meanings and thrilling battles, the narrative is set and delivered in such a way that will captivate your thoughts longs after you put the book down, “It says so in the Scriptures, it does!” to quote the conniving Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill, whom you, if you read the book, will literally loathe with your entire being, and that is part of a perfect story.