Point of View

The novel is written from third-person, so the author can examine each of their characters' thoughts at a whim. Mostly, though, the reader is presented with the thoughts and feelings of Major Richard Sharpe, Rifleman in the British army and main focal point of the novel. Sharpe is a soldier's soldier and very tough, so many of the terms and situations in the novel are written from a male-centric perspective. Cornwell takes the liberty to move about in other characters' thoughts as well when beneficial to the story line and takes great care to explain the inner workings of his triumvirate of villains: Ducos, Father Hacha, and El Matarife. Cornwell often uses other characters' perspectives of Sharpe for the reader to gain insight on Sharpe's actions, most often with the men of his battalion and Patrick Harper. La Marquesa is seen mainly from Sharpe's point of...