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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."
siria's review against another edition
2.0
This was the first of the Sharpe books that I've read. I picked it up largely because of the nautical theme, being fond of what I've seen of the Sharpe TV movies, though not overly enamoured.
I enjoyed it, for the most part. It's like an extended Boy's Own adventure, set on a ship full of men being manly bastards and the French being perfidious. The plotline wasn't much to write home about, frankly; apart from the opening sequence, and the climactic battle of Trafalgar, I thought the whole thing dragged rather a little, and too much attention was paid to the romance. The attraction between Sharpe and Lady Grace felt much too cliched, too painted by numbers, for me to ever be interested in it. Aristocratic lady falling for a hot bit of rough has been done so many times that there needed to be something more to the thing to make me warm to the pairing; as it was, I couldn't even believe it to be plausible.
Everything picked up in the last third of the book, once the great battle actually began, but everything before that really felt like an extended contrivance to get Sharpe to be there.
Most of the period details felt right, which is always a huge, huge plus for me; the stink and piss and sweat of six hundred odd men crammed onto a third-rate was well conveyed, and any lack of greater detail about the actual mechanics of sailing the thing can be more than adequately explained by the fact that Sharpe is a soldier, not a sailor. It never felt as true to me as in the Aubrey-Maturin books, though, or even the Hornblower ones.
Sharpe mostly came across as a stock hero type, someone who has pulled himself up from the gutter by his bootstraps and is going to show those aristocrats just how much hell a lad from Yorkshire can give them. Or summat. The only times he really came alive for me was when he murdered Braithwaite in cold blood - not something a hero usually does, and different enough to really catch my attention - and in the final portion of the book where he finally goes into battle as part of the Pucelle's boarding party.
He was ashamed when he remembered the joy of it, but there was a joy there. It was the happiness of being released to the slaughter, of having every bond of civilization removed. It was also what Richard Sharpe was good at. It was why he wore an officer's sash instead of a private's belt, because in almost every battle the moment came when the disciplined ranks dissolved and a man simply had to claw and scratch and kill like a beast.
That was the part where his character first grabbed my attention, first spoke to me and really made me believe that this was part of the life story of someone who had lived through the Napoleonic Wars. Unfortunately, there were only about thirty pages or so left in the book by this stage.
If you do pick it up, skip straight to the last eighty pages or so; I'd recommend Patrick O' Brian over Cornwell any day, though
I enjoyed it, for the most part. It's like an extended Boy's Own adventure, set on a ship full of men being manly bastards and the French being perfidious. The plotline wasn't much to write home about, frankly; apart from the opening sequence, and the climactic battle of Trafalgar, I thought the whole thing dragged rather a little, and too much attention was paid to the romance. The attraction between Sharpe and Lady Grace felt much too cliched, too painted by numbers, for me to ever be interested in it. Aristocratic lady falling for a hot bit of rough has been done so many times that there needed to be something more to the thing to make me warm to the pairing; as it was, I couldn't even believe it to be plausible.
Everything picked up in the last third of the book, once the great battle actually began, but everything before that really felt like an extended contrivance to get Sharpe to be there.
Most of the period details felt right, which is always a huge, huge plus for me; the stink and piss and sweat of six hundred odd men crammed onto a third-rate was well conveyed, and any lack of greater detail about the actual mechanics of sailing the thing can be more than adequately explained by the fact that Sharpe is a soldier, not a sailor. It never felt as true to me as in the Aubrey-Maturin books, though, or even the Hornblower ones.
Sharpe mostly came across as a stock hero type, someone who has pulled himself up from the gutter by his bootstraps and is going to show those aristocrats just how much hell a lad from Yorkshire can give them. Or summat. The only times he really came alive for me was when he murdered Braithwaite in cold blood - not something a hero usually does, and different enough to really catch my attention - and in the final portion of the book where he finally goes into battle as part of the Pucelle's boarding party.
He was ashamed when he remembered the joy of it, but there was a joy there. It was the happiness of being released to the slaughter, of having every bond of civilization removed. It was also what Richard Sharpe was good at. It was why he wore an officer's sash instead of a private's belt, because in almost every battle the moment came when the disciplined ranks dissolved and a man simply had to claw and scratch and kill like a beast.
That was the part where his character first grabbed my attention, first spoke to me and really made me believe that this was part of the life story of someone who had lived through the Napoleonic Wars. Unfortunately, there were only about thirty pages or so left in the book by this stage.
If you do pick it up, skip straight to the last eighty pages or so; I'd recommend Patrick O' Brian over Cornwell any day, though
isoney's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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
4.0
books_with_benghis_kahn's review against another edition
5.0
Cornwell did it again! This book takes place almost entirely on the sea after Sharpe finds passage back to England to join his new regiment. Does his supply purchasing go well? Of course not. Did he have a boring and safe trip home? Of course not. Did the infantryman somehow find himself in the middle of one of the biggest naval battles ever at Trafalgar? Of course.
This was a genius idea by Cornwell to write about one of the biggest battles of the era and to have Sharpe get in the middle of it in an organic way. The giant set piece at the end of this one did not disappoint, and Cornwell brought his trademark visceral battle writing full of every sensory detail you could imagine, savage fighting, death everywhere, and acts of grand bravery.
What was a bigger surprise for me was how much I enjoyed the less action-packed parts that made up the larger chunk of the book. This book is largely a romance book, as the romantic intrigue really took over the middle of the book, and it really really worked for me and was emotionally poignant. On top of this being a Hakeswill-free book, it was a nice change up from the India books.
Unlike Moby Dick and Master and Commander, which both bored me for long stretches with their endless ship and sailor jargon, Cornwell keeps the focus of this one on the characters and the plot. I felt immersed in ship life without being bored by it, and that's quite an accomplishment.
I found myself as gripped to the page by this one as all the others, so 5 stars again!
This was a genius idea by Cornwell to write about one of the biggest battles of the era and to have Sharpe get in the middle of it in an organic way. The giant set piece at the end of this one did not disappoint, and Cornwell brought his trademark visceral battle writing full of every sensory detail you could imagine, savage fighting, death everywhere, and acts of grand bravery.
What was a bigger surprise for me was how much I enjoyed the less action-packed parts that made up the larger chunk of the book. This book is largely a romance book, as the romantic intrigue really took over the middle of the book, and it really really worked for me and was emotionally poignant. On top of this being a Hakeswill-free book, it was a nice change up from the India books.
Unlike Moby Dick and Master and Commander, which both bored me for long stretches with their endless ship and sailor jargon, Cornwell keeps the focus of this one on the characters and the plot. I felt immersed in ship life without being bored by it, and that's quite an accomplishment.
I found myself as gripped to the page by this one as all the others, so 5 stars again!
zena_ryder's review against another edition
4.0
I do enjoy these Sharpe books. :) Each time, I think I start them with lower expectations than is justified because they're not "literature" and each time, I'm pleasantly surprised. Cornwell tells a good story, with well drawn characters. And it's been very satisfying every time. This one was different from the first three in that there's no Obadiah Hawkeswill and the love element is more prominent, which made for a nice change. I look forward to #5.
As always, I appreciate the historical note about the accuracy of the story. I enjoyed learning a little bit about Nelson and the battle of Trafalgar.
As always, I appreciate the historical note about the accuracy of the story. I enjoyed learning a little bit about Nelson and the battle of Trafalgar.
mountain343's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite of the series so far, it took a long time to get where it was going and in that way, you could really feel the tedium of the long ocean cruise. The naval battle was written incredibly well and you could just feel the intensity of the action. Cornwell is a master of description and painting visions of what's happening as if you were watching a movie, and his action aboard the ship is among the best I've ever read.
phrust's review
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5