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periheliondives's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
crreature's review against another edition
5.0
THE CLASSIC. The best of the Sharpe books.
I will always love the scene where Sharpe directs the boys to shoot the horrible uniforms to give the finger to the (delightfully awful) Simmerson. Stick it to the man!!! Wave your sword and gun around! Steal that eagle! Do it for England!
I will always love the scene where Sharpe directs the boys to shoot the horrible uniforms to give the finger to the (delightfully awful) Simmerson. Stick it to the man!!! Wave your sword and gun around! Steal that eagle! Do it for England!
brian's review against another edition
5.0
This is the debut novel from Bernard Cornwell, and the first introduction to Richard Sharpe of the 95th Rifles regiment. (Although later written books would pre-date it chronologically).
The history is well written, the characters are described in a way that gets your attention and the action is often brutal.
Interestingly, the villains of the novel aren't the French who the British army is facing, but others in the army who think their money and status make them superior to someone like Sharpe.
He has his friends in high places but he sorts his problems out on his own, often going further and fighting harder to show that a common soldier can be just as good.
The history is well written, the characters are described in a way that gets your attention and the action is often brutal.
Interestingly, the villains of the novel aren't the French who the British army is facing, but others in the army who think their money and status make them superior to someone like Sharpe.
He has his friends in high places but he sorts his problems out on his own, often going further and fighting harder to show that a common soldier can be just as good.
raehink's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this book so much that I intend to read all the others in the series. Cornwell makes history come alive! I found myself enthralled...not only with the main character but with all the little tidbits of information Cornwell throws in. Did you know that men would urinate into their gun barrels to clean them out?
Richard Sharpe is a soldier in the British Army during the days of the campaigns in India and the war with France under Napoleon. This particular novel deals with the Talavera Campaign in Spain, July 1809.
Richard Sharpe is a soldier in the British Army during the days of the campaigns in India and the war with France under Napoleon. This particular novel deals with the Talavera Campaign in Spain, July 1809.
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