Sean Bean played the role of Richard Sharpe in the TV adaptation Sharpe from 1993 to 1997. He then returned for two reprisals in 2006 and 2008. Almost every episode is a direction adaptation, albeit with obvious differences, of a Cornwell novel.

Only Sharpe's small group of men – with their cunning and courage to rely on – stand in their way. But they're rapidly outnumbered, enemies are hiding in plain sight, and time is running out . . . It is 1814, and the defeat of Napoleon seems imminent — if the well protected city of Toulouse can be conquered. For Richard Sharpe, the battle turns out to be one of the bloodiest of the Peninsular War, and he must draw on his last reserves of strength to lead his troops to victory.

In this book a band of deserters is led by a cook and Sharpe’s vicious long-time enemy, Hakeswill. They hold a group of highborn British and French women on a strategic mountain pass. Discrepancies including Sharpe being a Major one minute and a Captain the next, but he's not made a major until later that year. Harper referred to as a RSM when he still should be a Sergeant.

But in writing interval books, there have obviously been subtle references or characters added, that aren’t in the previously published books. This creates small inconsistencies in the series. This book recounts the Vitoria Campaign from February to June 1813. Sharpe’s enemy, the French super-agent Pierre Ducos, fails to end Sharpe’s life. However, he succeeds in imprisoning the Marquesa in a convent and almost upends the Duke of Wellington’s Vitoria Campaign.But before Sharpe can lay down his sword, he must fight a different sort of battle. Accused of stealing Napoleon’s personal treasure, Sharpe escapes from a British military court and embarks on the battle of his life — armed only with the unflinching resolve to protect his honor. Initially, Paul McGann was cast in the title role; however, two weeks into filming of the first episode in Ukraine, McGann injured his knee playing football and was forced to withdraw. [7] [1] When production started again a month later, Sean Bean was given the role because he was the only suitable replacement available at short notice. The first actor cast was Daragh O'Malley as Harper. The character of Rifleman Harris, played by Jason Salkey, did not exist in the books and was created for the television series. The producers wanted a "clever one" and took inspiration from a real soldier who was illiterate but had dictated his own recollections of the war, which were published. [8] Points are laboured or explained repeatedly within a few sentences of each other....yes....we get it! I absolutely love Cornwell’s characters, Sharpe being my favorite. Unfortunately, Command fizzled. The enemies were hopeless foils and Sharpe was largely respected by his superiors. Also, the wedging of this story in between previous novels seemed clunky. Sharpe news". The South Essex. Archived from the original on 21 February 2008 . Retrieved 22 February 2008.