The Who's Who of Sharpe's World Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I am a Scottish workaholic spymaster. I made my career fighting the Indians until I was captured and held prisoner. I was eventually rescued by two gallant men sent by the British Army and was able to contribute to intelligence until my untimely death. Who am I?

Answer: Colonel Hector McCandless

McCandless appeared in 'Sharpe's Tiger' and 'Sharpe's Triumph'. In the former he was held in the Tippoo's prison until he was rescued by Private Richard Sharpe and Lieutenant William Lawford, his nephew. In 'Sharpe's Triumph' he aided Sharpe in gaining a promotion before he was shot by the evil Sergeant Hakeswill.

2. I'm a big Irish lad, so I am. Who am I?

Answer: Patrick Augustine Harper

Harper was born in Donegal, Ireland, to an extensive family, which he had to leave due to hunger. He has served with, under and for Sharpe since the French invasion of Galicia in 1809 (aka. 'Sharpe's Rifles') and even accompanied his old friend to Chile.

He has appeared in every book (in chronological order) from '-Rifles' to '-Devil'. It is worthy of note that in the movies starring Sean Bean and Daragh O'Malley Harper's middle name became 'Michael'.

3. I am a young Spanish man who harbours a passionate loathing of the French. I wield a rifle as well as any man in the ranks, and I used to collect intelligence for the army. Who am I?

Answer: Angel

Angel, on orders from Hogan, aided Sharpe in rescuing Helena from the convent in 'Sharpe's Honour' and was glimpsed in the very end of 'Sharpe's Regiment', shouting encouragement at Private Charlie Weller while counting the Frenchmen he killed. His hatred stems from the murder of his parents some years before he is introduced.

4. I am an old, cheerful poacher from Cheshire, and the best marksman under Sharpe's command. Who am I?

Answer: Daniel Hagman

Corporal Hagman was one of the wiser characters and was never as openly hostile in 'Sharpe's Rifles' as the others. In the field Sharpe often calls on his skills as a poacher, and he fought tooth and nail until he was shot at Waterloo. Before this he even fought at Flanders, as did Sharpe.

5. I am the son of a wealthy man, so I am able to buy my promotions as my friend Richard Sharpe is not. I served in India and a little in Spain, but after losing an arm I was repatriated back to England where I am a politician. Who am I?

Answer: William Lawford

Lawford was the nephew to McCandless, whom he and Sharpe helped rescue in India. He taught Sharpe how to read using only one page of the bible during a stint in the Tippoo's prison. He was shot in Ciudad Rodrigo which forced Sharpe to chop off his arm.

In 'Sharpe's Regiment' he tries to help Sharpe in a subtle way, but the attempt backfires and Sharpe considers it a slight betrayal of their friendship.

6. I am a keen young farm-boy who joins the South Essex out of love for my country, even though my mother disagrees. I have a great love for dogs, and was allowed to go to Spain earlier than the other recruits. Who am I?

Answer: Charlie Weller

Private Weller was recruited at the same time as 'Dick Vaughn' and 'Patrick O'Keefe' (aka. Richard Sharpe and Patrick Harper), into the South Essex's 2nd Battalion which was being raised and then sold to other battalions by Sir Henry Simmerson and Colonel Girdwood.

His faithful dog Buttons was shot at the army camp by Girdwood, but Sharpe likes the boy and encourages him (and the rest of the recruits) to adopt dogs in Spain. Weller fights his first battle when invading France, 1813.

7. I am a battle-scarred but well-spoken half-German gentleman with an ironic nickname among my troops. I like to collect perfect French teeth. Who am I?

Answer: William Fredrickson

Captain Fredrickson (aka. 'Sweet William') leads the Royal American Rifles, a remnant of the Revolutionary war. A ruthless soldier, Fredrickson has a passion for architecture and collecting French teeth (to be made into a set in London). Appearing in 'Sharpe's Enemy', -Honour', -Siege' and -Revenge', he and Sharpe fall out over Lucille Lassan in the last book listed.

8. I am a Cavalry Officer, severely in debt but particularly liked by the Prince Regent. I have found myself in the bad books of a renowned Rifleman after cheating him of many things precious to him. I fought at Waterloo. Who am I?

Answer: Lord John Rossendale

Lord John befriended Sharpe in 'Sharpe's Regiment' but later betrayed that friendship in 'Sharpe's Revenge' by sleeping with Mrs. Jane Sharpe and stealing his 18,000 guineas earned the hard way, plundering the battlefields of India and Spain. Lord John fought and died at Waterloo, the final stroke being delivered by a hasty soldier's wife in search of coins and jewels on his person.

9. I am an enemy of Sharpie, aren't I mother? I tries to make him hurt, and he can't hurts me back 'cos I can't be killed. No I can't. Who am I?

Answer: Obadiah Hakeswill

Sergeant Hakeswill was the one who organised Sharpe's flogging in 'Sharpe's Tiger', along with Captain Morris, and also appeared in 'Sharpe's Triumph'. Hakeswill turns up in 'Sharpe's Company' where he tries to rape Teresa, and again in 'Sharpe's Enemy' where Sharpe managed to exact his murderous revenge for the death of his wife, La Aguja.

10. I am a rich man with a beautiful niece. I raised the South Essex with my own money, and it was not my fault that the colours were lost! I perpetrated an ingenious plan to raise a little money by 'crimping'. Who am I?

Answer: Sir Henry Simmerson

Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson brought over the South Essex in 'Sharpe's Eagle' and then proceeded to completely ignore Sharpe's sage advice, thereby losing the battalion's colours and the respect of every man, woman and child in the army. He was dismissed from his post, and as the temporary leader Sharpe took it upon himself to regain the respect of the South Essex by capturing a French Eagle (with Harper) at Talavera in 1809.

11. I am an Irish engineer, though I do have other duties to Lord Wellington. Sharpe and I are friends, though I am not adverse to putting him in danger's way for the sake of the war. I died of fever. Who am I?

Answer: Michael Hogan

Wellington said of Hogan: "[his] coats button up over a number of different duties" and they most certainly did. Introduced in 'Sharpe's Eagle', Hogan played engineer, spymaster, exploring officer and all-round busybody. He continued to pop up in the books, sending Sharpe off into danger and helping him back out of it, until his death in 'Sharpe's Siege'.

12. I am the youngest son of a strict religious family, fond of gambling, women and booze. I purchased my first two commissions and had the honour to serve under Sharpe. Even when under fire, I never let my charm slide into panic. The other soldiers thought I wasn't long for the world, but I survived. Who am I?

Answer: Harry Price

Price hailed from Hampshire, England, and liked to pass his life in a fast blur of drink and whores. He fought bravely, slightly drunk as most of the army was, from 'Sharpe's Eagle' to 'Sharpe's Waterloo', where he collared some gold French cavalry spurs to wear.

13. I am an Exploring Officer who was once captured by Colonel Leroux of France. I found a friend in Sharpe and revealed to him my darkest secret in the hour of my death during the Salamanca Campaign. Who am I?

Answer: Lord Jack Spears

Poor Jack was tortured into submission by Colonel Leroux, and was forced to spy on the British for the French. He 'could betray my country, but never my friend', which is why he revealed the truth to Sharpe during the last minutes of his life in 'Sharpe's Sword'. Sharpe protected that secret, telling Jack's family and Hogan that he fought and died bravely and with a clean soul.

14. I am a quiet and honest officer who served in Sharpe's Light Company and then with the Fusilier Battalion. I fought my way into Badajoz and raced to protect Teresa for Sharpe, whom I consider a friend. This act led to my death. Who am I?

Answer: Robert Knowles

Knowles and Sharpe became close friends while they served together, though not nearly as close as Sharpe and Harper. Knowles appeared in 'Sharpe's Eagle' and 'Sharpe's Company', where the evil Hakeswill murdered him in order to get to Teresa at her family house in Badajoz.

15. I am a tall, lean, hard soldier with unmarred features and a definite soft-spot for women. I recently acquired many scars to my back, but was spared my full punishment in order to go on a suicide mission to the Indian/French side. Needless to say the operation was completed with little problem. Who am I?

Answer: Sergeant Richard Sharpe

At this point in time ('Sharpe's Tiger'), Dick Sharpe was 22 years old and newly flogged, no thanks to Hakeswill. Wellesley grudgingly halted the punishment (after 202 lashings!) so that Sharpe and Lawford could defect to the Indians in order to locate McCandless. Sharpe's reward was the three stripes of a sergeant. Starting from a lowly Private, by Waterloo Wellesley had single-handedly raised Sharpe to Lieutenant-Colonel.

Note: All characters in the answers have appeared in the books and/or the movies. I am willing to answer queries you might have on any of them.

Source: Author fadagaski

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Risen from the grave after more than 200 years, characters from the hit novel series 'Sharpe' by Bernard Cornwell describe themselves. Can you identify them?

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