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crashhard's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Review:
I enjoyed this. In this installment Sharpe is tasked to stealing some gold from the Portuguese to fund the war effort against France.
Excellently well written as usual.
Here is my rating system. Of course this is all subjective
5 star exceptional. Must read book
4 star excellent book. I enjoyed it
3 star. Average. Take it or leave it. Just ok
2 star. Bad. I finished it but didn’t enjoy it
1 star. Did not finish or so bad I wouldn’t recommend it
I enjoyed this. In this installment Sharpe is tasked to stealing some gold from the Portuguese to fund the war effort against France.
Excellently well written as usual.
Here is my rating system. Of course this is all subjective
5 star exceptional. Must read book
4 star excellent book. I enjoyed it
3 star. Average. Take it or leave it. Just ok
2 star. Bad. I finished it but didn’t enjoy it
1 star. Did not finish or so bad I wouldn’t recommend it
7hm's review against another edition
3.5
I highly recommend watching at least one episode of the show so you can imagine Sharpe as Sean Bean.
smemmott's review against another edition
3.0
Richard Sharpe and the Destruction of Almeida, August 1810
isoney's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
Spoilers ahead:
Summary: This is the second Sharpe book written. In this book Sharpe is tasked by Wellington to steal 16 thousand gold coins (about 59 thousand guinea?, can't remember) from deep inside Spanish territory so he can use the money to help build the Lines of Torres Vedras (cost about 200k at that time.
He reaches the Spanish hamlet where the gold is hidden only to find 2 regiments of French cavalry there. They beat the French and meet some Spanish partisans who know about the gold and want it too. However Sharpe manages to steal the gold and are helped by some King's German Legion cavalry they meet on the way back.
They manage to get back to the fortress of Almeida where they are followed by the partisans and are besieged by the French. The commandant of the fortress forces Sharpe to give the gold back to the partisans and stay for the siege but Sharpe kills the partisan commander, blows up the fort and leaves with the gold.
Antagonist: El Catolico, the partisan commander. A suave and highly skilled swordsman. Sharpe kills him single handedly by letting him stab him in the thigh and keeping his rapier there.
Romantic interest: Teresa, the daughter of the partisan leader, also love interest of El Catolico the partisan commander. He seduces her at least twice but she has to leave to fight the French and he gives her 1000 of the coins.
I like the Cornwell Sharpe series because they are easy to read and get into. The battle or action scenes are always well done as are character vignettes. Unfortunately each book also comes with an antagonist and romantic interest subplots which are predictable and routine (kind of like James Bond, kill the bad guy and sleep with the girl).
Summary: This is the second Sharpe book written. In this book Sharpe is tasked by Wellington to steal 16 thousand gold coins (about 59 thousand guinea?, can't remember) from deep inside Spanish territory so he can use the money to help build the Lines of Torres Vedras (cost about 200k at that time.
He reaches the Spanish hamlet where the gold is hidden only to find 2 regiments of French cavalry there. They beat the French and meet some Spanish partisans who know about the gold and want it too. However Sharpe manages to steal the gold and are helped by some King's German Legion cavalry they meet on the way back.
They manage to get back to the fortress of Almeida where they are followed by the partisans and are besieged by the French. The commandant of the fortress forces Sharpe to give the gold back to the partisans and stay for the siege but Sharpe kills the partisan commander, blows up the fort and leaves with the gold.
Antagonist: El Catolico, the partisan commander. A suave and highly skilled swordsman. Sharpe kills him single handedly by letting him stab him in the thigh and keeping his rapier there.
Romantic interest: Teresa, the daughter of the partisan leader, also love interest of El Catolico the partisan commander. He seduces her at least twice but she has to leave to fight the French and he gives her 1000 of the coins.
I like the Cornwell Sharpe series because they are easy to read and get into. The battle or action scenes are always well done as are character vignettes. Unfortunately each book also comes with an antagonist and romantic interest subplots which are predictable and routine (kind of like James Bond, kill the bad guy and sleep with the girl).
jonathancrites's review against another edition
3.0
I had no clue where to is one was going but a page-turner, if formulaic.
gatorelgato's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
books_with_benghis_kahn's review against another edition
3.0
This was Cornwell's first book and first published Sharpe book in 1981, and while it was still engaging for the most part (also kudos to Rupert Farley as the narrator for bringing his usual zest to the proceedings), it really doesn't come close to most of the later ones I've read.
There wasn't a lot of action, there wasn't a compelling antagonist, and the romance aspect was done to a dissatisfyingly poor level. Also this is the first book out of the 9 I've done that nothing significant happened on a series level for Sharpe personally/professionally or for the British in a larger war context, so it's truly a little standalone adventure that one can safely skip if you're not a Sharpe completionist. If you are one like me, it's a short book (less than 250 pages) that still boasts plenty of personality and some fun twists and turns, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't get invested in the plot and the suspense around the gold.
There wasn't a lot of action, there wasn't a compelling antagonist, and the romance aspect was done to a dissatisfyingly poor level. Also this is the first book out of the 9 I've done that nothing significant happened on a series level for Sharpe personally/professionally or for the British in a larger war context, so it's truly a little standalone adventure that one can safely skip if you're not a Sharpe completionist. If you are one like me, it's a short book (less than 250 pages) that still boasts plenty of personality and some fun twists and turns, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't get invested in the plot and the suspense around the gold.
tomsan's review against another edition
2.0
Really this is the worst Sharpe so far.
The essence if why I love the books is there but the plot devices are ridiculous. The way he first kissed the love interest made me laugh out loud it was so absurd.
And the final act is completely wrong. Sharpe shouldn't have done that!
The essence if why I love the books is there but the plot devices are ridiculous. The way he first kissed the love interest made me laugh out loud it was so absurd.
And the final act is completely wrong. Sharpe shouldn't have done that!