Sharpe's Command riddled with errors

[David]

I have always believed that authors who have originated serial characters, such as Sharpe, have an obligation to their readership. At the heart of this 'duty' is to ensure the narrative is consistent or at least plausible. Bernard Cornwell is rather poor in this regard. However his previous failings pale to insignificance compared to the huge and unfathomable errors in 'Command.' Readers of these novels will know that in 'Sharpe's Company' - the novel chronologically before 'Command' - Sharpe was reinstated as a Captain as a reward for leading the Forlorn Hope at Badajoz. In the present novel he is described as a Major; despite our being told that the action begins only 10-days after the siege. Lest any reader should assume that in those 10-days he was promoted from Captain to Major, Mr Cornwell has a scene (page 16 onwards) set immediately after the battle where Sharpe is again referred to as Major. In fact, Sharpe only achieves his Majority in 'Sharpe's Enemy' - two books hence. This is simply sloppiness (one would have hoped that an editor had picked up this anomaly) on Cornwell's part. Unfortunately, for this reader at least, it spoils my enjoyment of 'Command' and leaves me with the impression that this novel is a mere potboiler to which the author has not given sufficient attention. In sum, I am of the view that Mr Cornwell really does not respect his readers at all.

[Phillip]

Sadly I agree too David. I always enjoyed Sharpe but no more!

[Anthony]

I just finished Sharpe's Command a few days ago. Reading through the series a second time at the moment and did note the error with his rank. I don't think I noticed it the first time I read the series as I read Command after I'd already finished the rest of the series.

Personally I don't get hung up on issues like this. Cornwell's been working on the series for 30 years and its only natural that some canonaical errors might occur. Could and should have it been caught? Absolutely, but it wasn't. It's all good.