Rating: 
Summary: A fine headlong adventure!
Review: I came to the Sharpe series by a winding trail. Someone told me that, if I loved the Flashman books, the only other author writing a series of comic historical novels, but who was completely different from Fraser, was Van Reid. I didn't want any copy-cats. Van Reid's Moosepath novels are some of the best books I've read in years, exciting as well as funny and in a surprising and warm communication with Mr. Reid, by way of his website, he suggested I try James L. Nelson. Right again! Top notch nautical adventures! Then on the cover of Mr. Nelson's latest book "Glory in the Name" I see a blurb from Bernard Cornwell. Well, if Mr. Cornwell has such good taste, lets see if his books are tasty! Right again! Sharpe has a little of the anti-hero thing going, and he reminds me of Flashman in his dalliances with women, but what Mr. Cornwell does best is put you right into the middle of a battle and scares the life out of you. It seems pretty stupid to say that you can smell the gunpowder smoke when you read a book, but let's just say, that I could *see* everything as if I were watching a movie. Mr. Cornwell's action is terrific, his dialogue sharp,if you'll excuse the awful pun, and the plot twisty and believable. Thanks Mr. Reid, thanks Mr. Nelson, and thanks Mr. Cornwell for blurbing a favorite author so that I could be led to your great series!
Rating: 
Summary: great reading you are there
Review: I HAVE READ ALL OF HIS BOOKS ALL THE SHARPS SERIES AND THE FOUR BOOKS ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR IM waiting for the him to complet the series,all so the other series about the archers find me more thank you DON
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully addictive series of historical novels
Review: I love the Sharpe books. I'm amazed that Cornwell can be so prolific (in addition to the dozens of books in the Sharpe series, he's written novels on the American Civil War and early Britain) and produce books that are always spellbinding and entertaining. The history appears to be very accurate and well researched. He even visits and walks the battlefields before writing. Sharpe's Eagle is a good one. Of course, you have to get into these books with the understanding that they're violent (as war always is) and that Richard Sharpe is a pretty ruthless fellow, at least when it comes to disposing of his enemies on the British side. It is this violent and ruthless nature that makes Sharpe a successful (you might say amazing) soldier.
Rating:
Summary: The First one to be issued! So probably the more original.
Review: Right now we are having much confusion with the Sharpe novels, let me put it straight:
Sharpe's Eagle was the first novel written about Richard Sharpe and Patrick Harper, it was original, it was fresh, it was bluntly detailed about napoleonic warfare, and was a success!, back then (1982) the concept of the greedy french living off the land, the incompetent high class british officer who purchased his commision compared against (and the conflict caused by pride&prejudice) with the "profesional" raised from the ranks WAS A WONDERFUL IDEA, Sharpe did battle the french but had also to fight with jealousy, envy, and class distinction...
This first novel was a MUST have/read and probably still is as the origin of the saga.
I will say the logical advice is read this one first, and if you enjoy it a lot go back in time and follow Sharpe from the beginning (I mean early campaigns in India etc), if just interested go for "Sharpe's Gold", "Sharpe's Sword", and "Sharpe's Siege", wich are probably some of the best.
A not so small problem is that once finished with the Napoleonic Wars at "Sharpe's Waterloo" the author had to (due to the success of the series feel compelled to add silly novels as the post-Napoleonic one (not very much enjoyable) with a "fat" Harper and a "bad script", and then start at the beginning of Sharpe's career (I hope we will be spared Sharpe's chilhood in the future...) with the problem (for me I admit) of the loss of continuity/experience of the character, let me explain, it's hardly believable the naivety of Sharpe from Sharpe's Eagle onwards (the original novels) with the amount of experience acumulated on his early adventures (written after the others...), so much love affairs, so many high class traitors/bastards british officers... and falling for it again&again.
Mind, probably it will be better to read them in the order Mr. Cornwell writted them (even if tou have to go back in time as in a flashback movie) so to enjoy the characters at best.
Really the India novels, Copenhagen, Trafalgar are farfetched and still a good read, but prequels are really more difficult then sequels...
Some of the info provided as how to load a musket/rifle are really tiresome novel after novel, but OK this is a minor criticism if you only read two or three novels.
If tired of Sharpe after a while go for the Warlord Trilogy (ther are the best Cornwell production for my taste by far, and even "Gallow's Thief" is a refreshing aproach to the period...)
I have read all novels by Cornwell including his sea novels, ACW, and Redcoat, and really his writings have ups and downs but are mainly above average and always exciting (a part from the boring Stonehenge to avoid at all costs...).
Have a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Start to an Engaging Historical Adventure Series.
Review: Set around the Talevera campaign of July 1809, this first installment in the Sharpe saga deploys all the elements found throughout Cornwell's entertaining Napoleonic War series: the friendship between Sharpe and the Irish Sgt. Harper, their bravery and cunning, the ignorance and arrogance that pervaded the foppish upper class officer corps, a beautiful woman, and rousing battle scenes. Cornwell uses this first book to firmly establish the absence of meritocracy in the British army of the time, as armchair commander Simmerson needlessly leads the South Essex (including Sharpe and his Riflemen) into a debacle in which they lose the King's Colours, thus disgracing the whole army. Also clearly established is the tension between Cpt. Sharpe, who was promoted from the enlisted ranks for an act of heroism, and the upper class officer corps, who paid for their rank, irrespective of any actual military knowledge or ability. Simmerson and his toadying nephew Lt. Gibbons attempt to place the blame for the rout on Sharpe, and his only hope to save his rank is to perform an outrageous act of courage in battle at Talevera. Meanwhile, there's a beautiful Spanish woman he rescues from Gibbons and a crony, whose honor he must avenge. All is resolved at the Talevera, as Cornwell clearly and crisply recounts the military maneuvering on both a macro and micro level without getting overly technical. Also introduced in the book are Major Hogan, the Irish engineer who develops over the series into Lord Wellington's spy, as well as Lord Wellington himself, who is fond of Sharpe, but not hesitant to use his deadly skills. Above all, Sharpe is presented as a full action hero, strong, smart, roguishly handsome, honorable, deadly and ruthless. A perfect start to an engaging historical adventure series.
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe's Eagle: Cornwell's best of the Sharpe series.
Review: Sharpe's Eagle details how our hero, Richard Sharpe, along with Patrick Harper capture the first French Eagle, a french standard, in the heat of battle to redeam the demoralized South Essex regiment who early in the novel lose one of their colors due to the bumbling of Col. Henry Simmerson. Sharpe utilizes this heroic act to save his career and gain a fame that gains him a place in the heart of even the Prince of Wales. A must read for any Sharpe fan and probably one of Cornwell's best novel's of all time!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful! Good Read
Review: Sharpe's Eagle is an exciting and riveting drama set in the 19th century and follows the story of Richard Sharpe and his doughty band of comrades. I listened to the unabridged audio edition of Sharpes' Eagles, and I really, really liked it. My only issue with Cornwell's writing is that some of his characters are similar to other characters in other series (such as the Starbuck series). Also, I think Cornwell's characters are somewhat shallow. I would like to see him concentrate more on developing characters which are more than just same archetypes. Overall, this was a great book, sure to delight fans of historical action-adventure.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction to the Series
Review: SHARPE'S EAGLE is the first in the famous series of books about Richard Sharpe and his adventures in the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century. I was recently introduced to the writings of the talented Bernard Cornwell and his ability to transport the reader to a different era, by reading THE WINTER KING and THE ARCHER'S TALE. In both, Cornwell displays his knowledge of war and weapons, life and death, and human nature in both Arthurian England and during The Hundred Years' War.Cornwell's writing elicits a wide range of emotional responses, especially with the vivid descriptions of battle preparation, weaponry, and the battles themselves. In SHARPE'S EAGLE, Sharpe must not only fight the French, but he also encounters Lt. Colonel Simmerson, an arrogant and inept coward who purchased his rank and the honor and responsibility that goes with it. The battle-experienced Sharpe, the epitome of bravery and competency, finds himself in a personal struggle with Simmerson, who made an egregious error by losing the regiment's flag and then makes Sharpe the scapegoat. Sharpe devises a plan which, if successful, will return the regiment's honor and will protect him from the political manueverings of Simmerson and his cronies. SHARPE'S EAGLE served as an excellent introduction to the series and is recommended to readers who get enjoyment from historical fiction with a courageous hero who cares about his comrades and does what he believes in no matter how difficult.
Rating:
Summary: The book that started it all.
Review: Sharpe's Eagle is the first of many books by Bernard Cornwell in which his character, Richard Sharpe is a member of the British army in the years around 1800. I didn't read the book in the order they were written, I read them chronologically, but this book is still the best regardless. This book introduces Cornwell's fantastic writing style, he educates us of the British actions throughout many different campaigns. He is very detailed on a number of subjects, from how the battle was fought to the steps in which a cannon is loaded. After reading these books you feel like you know a great deal about such an important point in our history. This book introduces us to the upper class in-adequacies surrounding the British army of the time. Rich upper class 'snobs' became commanders by buying their commission, this left a greatly trained army to be run by untrained commanders. In this book an arrogant Sir Henry Simmerson, thinking he knows best, goes on to disgrace his whole unit by losing the Kings colours. It's then down to Sharpe, with the help of his immense bravery and courage to restore his regiment's honour. It's a great introduction to a truly interesting and gripping series. 5 Stars
Rating: 
Summary: great details, stereotypical injustice
Review: tha battle descriptions were great. C obviously knew what he was doing. good details. the book is ort of happenings form a soldier's life in the napoleonic war. there are good and bad people. one snob officer not knowing anything, a few men becoming sharpe's enemies. intrigues, warfare, plunder etc. all right. good work from C. but there's not much of a plot, more like an outline of warfare and intrigue. my main problem is the way the characteres were described. a snob that never learns. an evil man. a good soldier, poor, unjustly not promoted. and C's sense of injustice got a bit tedious. at times i got annoyed by this. his characters were at times hard to digest. i don't know whether it was because of the stereotypes or not.
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