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A review by icarusabides
Sharpe's Trafalgar by Bernard Cornwell
4.5
There were certainly some misgivings heading into this book because Sharpe surely has absolutely no business at the battle of Trafalgar whatsoever and perhaps this would really stretch Cornwell's use of Sharpe to tell stories at major events that bit too far. However, Sharpe's Trafalgar is a great change of pace for the series and possibly the strongest all round book in the series (going by Chronological order) so far. It's certainly up there with Sharpe's Tiger at any rate.
Sharpe being at sea for so long in this book, as he makes the voyage back to Britain from India, gives Cornwell a chance to to flex his knowledge of naval warfare and maritime life in general. Perhaps it's this new environment, previously alien to the Sharpe series, that makes Trafalgar feel so fresh after three books spent in India with the army. It's a nice change of pace for Sharpe too with him initially travelling as a passenger and needing to interact with polite society aboard ship, something Sharpe is completely out of his element with as he lacks the education to understand even the dullest of Latin puns nor the patience to deal with the typically snobbish proper gentlemen.
The surrounding characters feel a little more diverse and well drawn than in previous entries too including the snobbish Lord Hale, his odious secretary Braithwaite, and of course that fine fellow Captain Chase. The battle of Trafalgar itself is wonderfully done by Cornwell featuring his trademark intense and clear action but this time at Sea and it works brilliantly.
Sharpe being at sea for so long in this book, as he makes the voyage back to Britain from India, gives Cornwell a chance to to flex his knowledge of naval warfare and maritime life in general. Perhaps it's this new environment, previously alien to the Sharpe series, that makes Trafalgar feel so fresh after three books spent in India with the army. It's a nice change of pace for Sharpe too with him initially travelling as a passenger and needing to interact with polite society aboard ship, something Sharpe is completely out of his element with as he lacks the education to understand even the dullest of Latin puns nor the patience to deal with the typically snobbish proper gentlemen.
The surrounding characters feel a little more diverse and well drawn than in previous entries too including the snobbish Lord Hale, his odious secretary Braithwaite, and of course that fine fellow Captain Chase. The battle of Trafalgar itself is wonderfully done by Cornwell featuring his trademark intense and clear action but this time at Sea and it works brilliantly.