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eososray's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this as the second book in the series to read, more from convenience than any other reason and though it started slow, thus earning it a 3 and not a 4 star, the rest of the book made up for it.
The book starts with Sharpe leaving India to join the green coated Rifleman, I found it funny that in this book he complains about having to switch his red for a green coat when I already know that he keeps his green at a later date out of pride. The majority of the book takes place at sea with a variety of battles with the french and ending with the massive battle of Trafalgar where the British fight the French and Spanish under Nelson's leadership. As to be expected, Sharpe finds a girl, pisses off a nobleman and gains the admiration of the regular soldier, in this case seamen and marines.
Another solid book in the series and once we got past the start with it's set up and naval explanations, it was even better.
The book starts with Sharpe leaving India to join the green coated Rifleman, I found it funny that in this book he complains about having to switch his red for a green coat when I already know that he keeps his green at a later date out of pride. The majority of the book takes place at sea with a variety of battles with the french and ending with the massive battle of Trafalgar where the British fight the French and Spanish under Nelson's leadership. As to be expected, Sharpe finds a girl, pisses off a nobleman and gains the admiration of the regular soldier, in this case seamen and marines.
Another solid book in the series and once we got past the start with it's set up and naval explanations, it was even better.
derlele's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
abrswf's review against another edition
5.0
Fast informative read about Trafalgar, with a compelling romance for Sharpe included. Onward to Sharpe's Prey!
binstonbirchill's review against another edition
3.0
More about Sharpe than Trafalgar and I was looking for more about Trafalgar than Sharp considering it's my first Sharpe book, which made it a bit of a slog. Not sure if I will read more Sharp books or not, but since I own two of them, probably, eventually.
klio's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ariaslibrary's review
3.0
Military fiction on the sea? Recipe for a favourite. If it weren't for the romance.
The romances in this series are usually bad, but this had the misfortune of being both bad and irritating. I want blood and violence, not insta-love, insta-lust, damsel in distress to be saved by Sharpe. And with the track record from the previous books, she's probably going to leave him at the beginning of the next one
The romances in this series are usually bad, but this had the misfortune of being both bad and irritating. I want blood and violence, not insta-love, insta-lust, damsel in distress to be saved by Sharpe. And with the track record from the previous books, she's probably going to leave him at the beginning of the next one
caroparr's review against another edition
4.0
Such a good read! Since Sharpe is a soldier and knows nothing about ships, the reader learns (just exactly enough) along with him. Cornwell paces the battle perfectly - the ships move slowly, but when the weapons fire, it's fast and bloody. The romance is nicely done, too.
usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
I'm reading Sharpe in chronological order. Cornwell did say somewhere that he'd gotten the idea of Sharpe from Hornblower and he wanted to do a land version of it. And this is the book where he gets to indulge in the sea version.
Spoilers ahead:
The first few chronological Sharpe books were written when Sharpe was already famous to add on the beginning of his career. In this 4th book, Sharpe goes back to England and experiences Britain's most famous naval victory.
Sharp starts as a ranker, gets promoted to Sergeant then to ensign after he saves Wellington's life. He's put in a Scottish regiment but doesn't fit in (that parts a little forced) and is reassigned to the 85th Rifles. He goes back to England on an East India Company ship but that ship is purposely surrendered to the French by the cowardly captain.
Meanwhile his jewels (that he took off the Tiger of Mysore) are stolen and he has an affair with an aristocratic married lady. However the ship is recaptured by a British 74. Sharpe had previously met the captain of that ship (Pucelle) in India and helped him out of a bad situation. So the Captain takes him as well as the lady and her husband on board and go back to England. They are also chasing the French ship (Revenant).
On the way back to England they meet Nelson's fleet and is ordered to join the upcoming battle. I have to say that Cornwell did a very good job of portraying the battle, better than most of the Hornblower clones. After the battle is done, Sharpe is taken back to England to begin the next chapter in his life.
I like the book because the writing is very easy to read and get into. Cornwell does a great job of writing the character vignettes making them fun to read. Forester is a master of that and that is one of the things that makes Hornblower such a pleasure to read. Forester still does it better though and Cornwell's characters are a little bit cliched.
There is a lot of vigilante justice and a lot of action. The action is fast and furious, there are very few slow parts and there is a lot of satisfaction is seeing justice done. The only thing I'm not really a fan of is the element of conflict that Sharpe has to suffer through in each book. Sometimes it's a recurring character that Sharpe fails to dispatch or something bad always happens to him. As most readers live Sharpe vicariously through the book, it brings moments of discomfort when that happens to him and them.
The books really are quick reads and I'm finishing one book every 2 days or so. I'm now on the next one.
Spoilers ahead:
The first few chronological Sharpe books were written when Sharpe was already famous to add on the beginning of his career. In this 4th book, Sharpe goes back to England and experiences Britain's most famous naval victory.
Sharp starts as a ranker, gets promoted to Sergeant then to ensign after he saves Wellington's life. He's put in a Scottish regiment but doesn't fit in (that parts a little forced) and is reassigned to the 85th Rifles. He goes back to England on an East India Company ship but that ship is purposely surrendered to the French by the cowardly captain.
Meanwhile his jewels (that he took off the Tiger of Mysore) are stolen and he has an affair with an aristocratic married lady. However the ship is recaptured by a British 74. Sharpe had previously met the captain of that ship (Pucelle) in India and helped him out of a bad situation. So the Captain takes him as well as the lady and her husband on board and go back to England. They are also chasing the French ship (Revenant).
On the way back to England they meet Nelson's fleet and is ordered to join the upcoming battle. I have to say that Cornwell did a very good job of portraying the battle, better than most of the Hornblower clones. After the battle is done, Sharpe is taken back to England to begin the next chapter in his life.
I like the book because the writing is very easy to read and get into. Cornwell does a great job of writing the character vignettes making them fun to read. Forester is a master of that and that is one of the things that makes Hornblower such a pleasure to read. Forester still does it better though and Cornwell's characters are a little bit cliched.
There is a lot of vigilante justice and a lot of action. The action is fast and furious, there are very few slow parts and there is a lot of satisfaction is seeing justice done. The only thing I'm not really a fan of is the element of conflict that Sharpe has to suffer through in each book. Sometimes it's a recurring character that Sharpe fails to dispatch or something bad always happens to him. As most readers live Sharpe vicariously through the book, it brings moments of discomfort when that happens to him and them.
The books really are quick reads and I'm finishing one book every 2 days or so. I'm now on the next one.
grahamjohnson's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
For thoughts on the series, see "Sharpe's Eagle."