If you like historical fiction, this is for you.
I haven't see all the TV episodes created from this series, but always had the feeling they didn't exactly follow the books. Only after reading this one was I sure some screen writers thought they could do a better job than Bernard Cornwell. They couldn't.
I thoroughly enjoyed the entire Sharpe series
This is the chronological book 12 of the Richard Sharpe series.
This book centered one of the crucial battles in Spain in 1811. Sharpe, as is his custom, has seriously insulted the leader of a French brigade and is once again embroiled in a bitter feud that can only be solved through death. In the meantime, Sharpe is given control of a band of Irish exiles in the name of political appeasement and nothing is going as planned.
After the last two books that were much more conflict-driven and full of intrigue, this book was back to more of the old form: emphasis on the battles with only passing attention being given to anything else. This was still a good book, but it was slower going than the previous two and for that reason alone I just didn't enjoy it quite as much.
This book centered one of the crucial battles in Spain in 1811. Sharpe, as is his custom, has seriously insulted the leader of a French brigade and is once again embroiled in a bitter feud that can only be solved through death. In the meantime, Sharpe is given control of a band of Irish exiles in the name of political appeasement and nothing is going as planned.
After the last two books that were much more conflict-driven and full of intrigue, this book was back to more of the old form: emphasis on the battles with only passing attention being given to anything else. This was still a good book, but it was slower going than the previous two and for that reason alone I just didn't enjoy it quite as much.
The story begins well with Mr. Sharpe and his mixed platoon lost in the bleak mountains between Portugal and Spain. He has attained some respect among his fellow officers for his fighting abilities, but awaits promotion.
At last there is a little more about the strategy of the campaign rather than merely bloody engagements. The latter are described in Mr. Cornwell's usual gory manner.
At last there is a little more about the strategy of the campaign rather than merely bloody engagements. The latter are described in Mr. Cornwell's usual gory manner.
