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marvelpotter's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
crashhard's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Review:
Sharpe is battling the French army in Spain. Big battles similar to earlier in the series.
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
Sharpe is battling the French army in Spain. Big battles similar to earlier in the series.
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
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
3.75
usbsticky's review against another edition
4.0
Spoilers ahead:
Basically a retelling of the Battle of Talavera from Sharpe's POV. I love Cornwell's writing because he does two things really well: he does battle scenes and character vignettes really well. Two things I don't like are elements of conflict and Sharpe's sexcapades, both of which seem to be mandatory. (Edit: I later found out this was the first book written in the Sharpe series.)
Sexcapades, why bother with this? Was this a mandatory plot device in 1981 when these books were written or does Cornwell thinks readers crave them? At this point they are rather tedious as in plot flow chart goes kill some French --> sleep with woman.
The romance angle here is Josefina, a Portuguese wife who was abandoned by her husband who fled to Brazil with his mistress and other aristocrats and the Royals. She wanted to live a good life with parties so she became the mistress of the nephew of Sharpe's commanding colonel. She was later abused by him and saved by Sharpe and hung out with him for a time. After the nephew and his buddy raped her Sharpe and his sergeant killed them during the battle. She later on got together with a rich British light dragoon cavalry officer because Sharpe could not provide her with the life she wanted.
Element of conflict: Getting tiresome too. I guess in real life azzes like these do exist, which is another reason I don't want to read about them in my escapist books. In this case it's the martinet colonel of the South Essex and his nephew and his buddy. Sharpe is attached to the light infantry company of this battalion. They make life miserable for Sharpe and everyone in the ranks but eventually the command is forcibly removed by the colonel by Wellington due to his ineptness in battle.
Overall, the battle scene and contemporary setting is very well written and accurate.
Basically a retelling of the Battle of Talavera from Sharpe's POV. I love Cornwell's writing because he does two things really well: he does battle scenes and character vignettes really well. Two things I don't like are elements of conflict and Sharpe's sexcapades, both of which seem to be mandatory. (Edit: I later found out this was the first book written in the Sharpe series.)
Sexcapades, why bother with this? Was this a mandatory plot device in 1981 when these books were written or does Cornwell thinks readers crave them? At this point they are rather tedious as in plot flow chart goes kill some French --> sleep with woman.
The romance angle here is Josefina, a Portuguese wife who was abandoned by her husband who fled to Brazil with his mistress and other aristocrats and the Royals. She wanted to live a good life with parties so she became the mistress of the nephew of Sharpe's commanding colonel. She was later abused by him and saved by Sharpe and hung out with him for a time. After the nephew and his buddy raped her Sharpe and his sergeant killed them during the battle. She later on got together with a rich British light dragoon cavalry officer because Sharpe could not provide her with the life she wanted.
Element of conflict: Getting tiresome too. I guess in real life azzes like these do exist, which is another reason I don't want to read about them in my escapist books. In this case it's the martinet colonel of the South Essex and his nephew and his buddy. Sharpe is attached to the light infantry company of this battalion. They make life miserable for Sharpe and everyone in the ranks but eventually the command is forcibly removed by the colonel by Wellington due to his ineptness in battle.
Overall, the battle scene and contemporary setting is very well written and accurate.
jonathancrites's review against another edition
3.0
I read a Sharpe novel years and years ago (maybe Sharpe’s Tiger?) but I picked this up on a whim at the library. While listed as #8, it is actually the first one published as Cornwall bounced around the fictional characters timeline.
This is a non nonsense, brusque tale of Sharpe’s battle against the prejudice of the aristocracy in the officer corps, his own anger and frustration with his station, the incompetence of his Spanish Allie’s and of course, the conquering French army.
This is a non nonsense, brusque tale of Sharpe’s battle against the prejudice of the aristocracy in the officer corps, his own anger and frustration with his station, the incompetence of his Spanish Allie’s and of course, the conquering French army.
thewargrave'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
4.0
cpikas's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoy these books. At first I didn't like the narrator for the audiobooks but I got used to him and I think he does a good job - even if he makes Harper's voice high pitched. I started with Sharpe with the tiger - chronological order not order authored - and I think it's going to be like web griffin's marines. Miraculous that they make it through all that. The other military novels of the time have heroes who came through the ranks the typical way. Sharpe is different - really different. The violence is remarkable when you think of today's technologies. Or maybe not.
This book has him making captain and stealing the colors from a French unit, but there some nasty revenge killing,too. Seems he has his own code but no conscience
I need to pace myself with the rest of the series :(
This book has him making captain and stealing the colors from a French unit, but there some nasty revenge killing,too. Seems he has his own code but no conscience
I need to pace myself with the rest of the series :(
jd_mitchell's review against another edition
5.0
A great book that perfectly encapsulates the series. Action. Adventure. History. What's not to love! :p
jeaniehealy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0