h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Apologies for keep swapping and changing my mind the lastest advice, from a good source is to forget the TV series for now...can do that another time.

Take a look at the changes, it's finally looking like a nearly finished Entry still some changes and additions needed.

I think it needs a bit about Hogan, and as Sho mention Grace. I don't know much about either of them.

Fed up fighting with the slowness and error pages to do any more at the moment.

Emmily

Added more, added some links and made more changes.

Any opinions on moving the 'book list' nearer the top?

I've started adding minor historical notes, (only one as I write this, but there will be a few more) I think that's something you were interested in Sho, so if you think of any that would fit in that would be great though they'll be more opportunity for that when we get to the TV version, as they had a military adviser, so they'll be a section on that.

Have you had anytime to write a bit about Grace yet Sho?

Emmily

Yeah I like the look and feel of it now Emmily.

Would you like me to write some stuff on Harper or have you already got plans for that?

It's getting thir now, I'd say its not long to go before its finished.

Cardi-Bling

I've got some on Harper that I temporary removed from the entry, (everything I've removed is saved on a Word document) I'll put that back in very soon.

I can do a small section on characters that were only mentioned in one or two of the books, but had an influence on Sharpe, (such as Grace, suggested by Sho) the 2 whose names I can't remeber at the moment (Lawford and somebody else, I think) who taught Sharpe to read, can you write a bit about them teaching Sharpe to read and write?

Emmily

gawd, Emmily, I can't believe I haven't done this yet.

Right, I hope I can leave formatting up to you, so that you can match it to what you have already. Apologies for any typos, I have a new keyboard which can't keep up with me.

Actually, for safety, I'm writing it in Word, and will post my bit on Grace in the next message.

Lady Grace Hale

Grace appears in Sharpe’s Trafalgar, which is the third of the novels in Sharpe’s Chronology, but was written in 2000 as Cornwell added to Sharpe’s back story. This accounts for the fact that she is, if at all, only sporadically mentioned in the novels after Sharpe’s Prey – the book which follows Trafalger.

When Sharpe returned from India after his period of service there, he took a berth on the Calliope. Not being rich he had to sleep below decks, in a curtained off area. In the more expensive cabins, above deck were the weathy passengers, among them Lord Hale and his wife Grace, his junior by twenty years. For Sharpe it was love at frst sight, and later Grace revealed how she had immediately been attracted to him. It seems that each of them was trapped in a situation where they felt like a fish out of water, the passionate Grace something of a trophy wife for her high-ranking husband, Sharpe an officer but not a gentleman in an army where breeding was more highly valued than the talent to lead men.

Sharpe’s first comment on seeing her was ‘She looks sad rather than cold’ and Cornwell subtly shows this in his description of later scenes with Grace. She came alive only in Sharpe’s presence, although she was also charismatic enough that the lower ranked sailors liked her enough to carve her a crib for her unborn child (after the events of Trafalger, related to Sharpe by Captain Chase in Prey).

Cornwell actually tells us little of Grace, except during scenes between her and Sharpe, and the few remarks she makes at dinner. She is revealed as a highly intelligent woman, who reads Greek and Latin, but she is largely self-taught which is mocked by her husband.

Grace and Sharpe managed, despite barely exchanging words, to fall in love and enjoyed many stolen moments together. Unfortunately Grace’s husband was also accompanied by his secretary, a Uriah Heep of a character called [ack, can’t remember his first name] Braithwaite. He threatened to reveal their affair to Grace’s husband, and Sharpe killed him. Soon, however, they are caught up in the battle of Trafalgar, which Sharpe as a soldier must join. Lord Hale, being an aristocrat and a politician took refuge below decks with his wife, and revealed his knowledge of her affair. As he prepared to kill her, she moved first and shot him dead – a murder which Sharpe helped her to cover up.

After her return to England, a widow, Grace set up home with Sharpe in a shocking – at that time – unmarried state. As a member of the upper classes she was not in a position to insist upon marrying her lover, and instead endured the gossip and being shunned by society for the love of Sharpe. Eventually she died shortly after giving birth to Sharpe’s son, who died within hours of her. These events are not dealt with in Trafalger, but are related bit by bit in Sharpe’s Prey.

This low point in Sharpe’s life lead to him selling his commision and leaving the army, and the legal wrangling which resulted in him losing everything they had built together is the reason for Sharpe’s life-long distrust and loathing of lawyers, hinted at in several of the novels.

Bernard Cornwell had one last twist for Richard Sharpe, however. Lady Grace was a distant cousin of Sir Arthur Wellesley, a further complication which adds a piquancy to the relationship between the two men, even in the novels which were completed before Sharpe’s Trafalgar.

I hope that's of some use to you?

If you're interested I might manage something about Hogan - but it might take a wee while (not as long as Grace - sorry) because I have to sew some Ballet outfits and Karneval outfits...

Here you go Emmily as requested

Sharpe first met Lieutenant William Lawford in Sharpe’s Tiger whilst Sharpe is still a private and Lawford the 33rd’s new young Lieutenant. Although Lawford was a rich man from an affluent background he recognised Sharpe’s natural soldiering skills and requested that Sharpe accompany him on his mission to infiltrate Seringapatam. When the pair were captured Sharpe told Lawford that he wished to become a Sergeant. Lawford knowing that a good Sergeant must be able to read agreed to teach Sharpe during their incarceration in the Tippo Sultans dungeons. After Sharpe’s Tiger Lawford became a regular character in the books often helping Sharpe whilst always remaining Sharpe’s superior officer. By the time of Sharpe’s Company Lawford is the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the South Essex. During the attack on Ciudad Rodrigo a mine exploded and Lawford was caught in the blast. Sharpe horrified was forced to cut the remains of Lawfords arm off to enable him to survive. He did survive, but was forced to leave the army and return to England where he received a knighthood and became a politician. Sir William Lawford MP has final appearance in the series in Sharpe’s Regiment his political connections help Sharpe overcome Simmersons crimping scam and regain control of the new Prince of Wales Own Volunteers.

I hope that is alright!

Do you want a bit written on 'Sweet' William Fredrickson? I'll try to write a general bit on him and then some on Sharpe's other subordinate officers (like Harry Price, D'ally etc) if you like!

That's cheers both of you

Sho, yours is a bit long, I'll condense it abit, maybe use some in a section on 'Sharpe the Officer' if in doing so, I loose the essense of what your saying, let me know. A bit about Hogan would be great

Cardi-Bling, I'll use yours as it is, just change the odd word in it. I've not read any of the books with Fredrickson in yet, if he's as interesting a character in the novels, as he is on TV, yeah, a bit on him would be great.

Not sure about the other officers, do you think they will add interest to the Entry?

Oh, I see what you mean about the novel's Teresa Sho, very different, I'll be changing that.

I've recently read Sharpe's Battle, Eagle and have nearly finished Gold, I've taken notes that I've yet to add. Some of the other books, from Sharpe's Tiger to half-way through Rifles, I read about 18 months ago, and remember very little of them, I have vague memories of Grace now, I've read what you said above Sho...oh that reminds me... a question...Sharpe sold his commision, so how did he get back in the army as officer... if the answer in an obvious one.

Emmily

sorry, I did't preview what I wrote (feel free to edit, it is your entry after all )
he didn't sell it in the end - IIRC because it wasn't permitted to sell a field commission. Nobody would have wanted it anyway.

Please don't hold your breath for Hogan,I really do have a lot on my plate, but I'll do what I can asap

Frederickson - is that Sweet William? Wasn't he the on who was originally in love with Lucille, and he told Sharpe he wanted to ask her to marry him. But somehow she got down and dirty with Sharpe before he managed to ask, and he and Sharpe parted on bad terms, an event Sharpe sorely regretted.

Novel Theresa, btw, is a much more interesting character than the pale imitation on the TV. (biased? moi?)

I think what you have to be careful of here, is not to give away too much about the novels. A two line synopsis of each one would be ok, IMO, otherwise you are going to get bogged down in detail. Of course, when I'm in the mood I can talk about these novels until the cows come home, I really really fell in love with them.

I'll not give too much away, his first meeting with her was quite interesting, and then uses her a a hostage!!!

I'll not give away what he saw through the telescope did she marry Sharpe in the novels, and have the baby, Antonia?


Emmily

Just noticed your post #30

Ok, no worries if you don't have the time, I've got somes notes on Hogan, not much, but enough if need be.

Emmily

I will sort out your contributuion on Grace soon Sho

Working on my notes, and adding some on Sharpe and Harper at the moment (though I don't think for long today, partner's being grumpy about being neglected)

I think Harper says "God save Ireland" enough times for it to be included, but can anyone think of a better word or two for the situation in which he says it, I'm not happy with what I've put.

>>has the habit of saying 'God save Ireland' in situations of disbelief.

Emmily

that sounds fine for me

as to Theresa, sorry, forgot to answer that. Yes, he marries her, in a Spanish church (so I'm guessing that it was a marriage not recognised by the Army) and she had Antonia. The child went to live with Theresa's family after her death.

Ok,

to be a pain in the neck, but could someone confirm that Sharpe and Teresa were married in Sharpe's Company. I haven't got that book, and can't afford it at the moment.

(I was disapponited to see that the books have been re-issued/re-published with yet another different cover. (unless WH Smith are putting old issues on their shelves) I'm a bit of a fussy so-and-so and like all my book covers to be from the same publication set. I'm intending to mention the diffeent book covers in the Entry, some of which include pictures of the TV characters on them, that's where I'll mention the TV series, though only a passing mention to it, I think )

Emmily

Sho, is this ok for Grace?

Lady Grace Hale, wife of aristocrat and politician Lord William Hale first meets Sharpe on board the Calliope, sailing from India to England in Sharpe’s Trafalgar. Grace was travelling with her husband and officers in expensive cabins above deck while Sharpe, who had recently been given the field commission of Ensign, had to sleep in a curtained-off area below decks, due to his lack of money.

Sharpe is invited to dine with the other officers, where Grace was present too. Grace, as well as being beautiful, is a highly intelligent woman who reads Greek and Latin, she is largely self-taught which is mocked by her husband, who at 20 years her senior views her as a trophy wife. Grace and Sharpe’s eyes meet across the table; it was love at first sight for them both and despite barely exchanging few words, they fall in love and enjoy many stolen moments together.

When an officer discovers their affair he approaches Sharpe and threatens to reveal all to Lord Hale, Sharpe solves the problem by killing him. However, Lord Hale finds out about the affair, and while Sharpe is doing his duty in the Battle of Trafalgar, below decks Lord Hale reveals his knowledge of their affair to Grace. As he prepared to kill her, she moves first and shoots him dead, a murder that Sharpe helps her to cover up.

After her return to England, a widow, Grace sets up home with Sharpe in a shocking – at that time – unmarried state. As a member of the upper classes she was not in a position to insist upon marrying her lover, and instead endured the gossip and being shunned by society for the love of Sharpe.

In Sharpe’s Prey Grace dies shortly after giving birth to Sharpe’s son, who died within hours of her. This low point in Sharpe’s life led him to attempting to sell his commission and leave the army. However, his field commission turned out to be worthless. The legal wrangling, which resulted in him losing everything they had built together, is the reason for Sharpe’s life-long distrust and loathing of lawyers, hinted at in several of the novels.

Ooopppss correction


'When Lord Hale’s accompanying secretary discovers their affair'

that should be, not officer. (I've corrected it in Word document)

Emmily

it looks to me
the only thing is, and I think it is true of the piece that I posted to you, is that the tenses are mixed up. I originally put it in the present, then went through and put it in the past (although I might have missed some). It's difficult though, because it really cries out to be written in the present.



You reall deserve a field commission for taking this monster entry on, though!

Ok I changed it to present tense, but must have missed some. I'll re-read it and change what I've missed to present tense before adding it to the Entry.

Emmily