I haven't read bernard cornwell's sharpe series so i don't know good they are, but given how horrible the adaptions make napoleonic conflict look i assume they're pretty good.

1) the napoleonic wars were horrible, heavy losses to disease, malnutrition, and exposure. armies were mostly pressganged rolling mauls unable to live off the land due to the need to prevent their unwilling captives escaping. these armies are then thrown into very stupid battles, again the tactics limited to what the captive armies can do without using their initiative to escape
2) cornwell writes a very faithful series of historical novels
3) ITV make a faithful set of adaptions. literally no one with a brain can come away from this without thinking war and the uk class system are horrible corrupt rackets
4) however the soundtrack goes extremely fucking hard
5) sean bean is making adverts for uk army recruitment. even though in many ways nothing has improved since wellington
6) sean bean has also advertised yorkshire tea
7) i start tooting about how much i hate yorkshire tea, much to everyone's horror

i have been informed not everyone has the spoons for loose leaf.

my recommended bagged tea brands are Clipper and M&S own label in that order.