Rating: 
Summary: Richard Sharpe and the novel "Sharpe's Fortress" by Cornwell
Review: "Sharpe's Fortress" or the Battle of Gawilghur takes place in India in 1803. Richard Sharpe learns that he must make choices in his life as a soldier, and he must either stay in his position as an ensign or resign his commission when he returns to England in the near future after the battle. He learns to live the life of the soldier, as well as the officer that he is. He seizes command and goes into the fortress to sieze it at a terrible cost to the british and the indian soldiers who fight. He has many enemies in this book and he is forced to deal with his enemy, Captain Dodd, and also his hatred for Obadiah Hakeswill causes Sharpe to take harsh action against Obadiah at the conclusion of the novel. He is a good officer he is the child soldier who grows into the man who becomes the professional soldier who makes the army his life! He takes a realistic look at war and sees the hell and he also sees the beauty of war, and he becomes part of the war, and does his job and does it well so that Sir Arthur Wellesley can claim victory for the battle. It is a novel of blood and it is a novel of terror it is a novel of what war is all about! And it is one that you will either enjoy or not enjoy! It is Bernard Cornwell at his best, and it is Richard Sharpe as you usually do not see him, he is vulnerable, he is wounded in battle, and he learns that he can be part of a vicious assault on a fort and remain alive. If you read all of the "Richard Sharpe" novels be sure to read this one, its the last of the India series, and I did enjoy the novel, and look forward to his next "Sharpe" novel.
Rating:
Summary: Richard Sharpe and the novel "Sharpe's Fortress" by Cornwell
Review: "Sharpe's Fortress" or the Battle of Gawilghur takes place in India in 1803. Richard Sharpe learns that he must make choices in his life as a soldier, and he must either stay in his position as an ensign or resign his commission when he returns to England in the near future after the battle. He learns to live the life of the soldier, as well as the officer that he is. He seizes command and goes into the fortress to sieze it at a terrible cost to the british and the indian soldiers who fight. He has many enemies in this book and he is forced to deal with his enemy, Captain Dodd, and also his hatred for Obadiah Hakeswill causes Sharpe to take harsh action against Obadiah at the conclusion of the novel. He is a good officer he is the child soldier who grows into the man who becomes the professional soldier who makes the army his life! He takes a realistic look at war and sees the hell and he also sees the beauty of war, and he becomes part of the war, and does his job and does it well so that Sir Arthur Wellesley can claim victory for the battle. It is a novel of blood and it is a novel of terror it is a novel of what war is all about! And it is one that you will either enjoy or not enjoy! It is Bernard Cornwell at his best, and it is Richard Sharpe as you usually do not see him, he is vulnerable, he is wounded in battle, and he learns that he can be part of a vicious assault on a fort and remain alive. If you read all of the "Richard Sharpe" novels be sure to read this one, its the last of the India series, and I did enjoy the novel, and look forward to his next "Sharpe" novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Towering, but Crumbling
Review: A Cornwell Sharpe book is always a cut above any adventure, but the formulistic treatment is wearing thin and getting too predictable. Actually the best part is the historical note.
Rating: 
Summary: A low point in the Sharpe series
Review: After reading this, my first thought was "you're grounded Orville, that won't fly." The others in the series I've read were all good or better, this one is weak and poorly constructed. Cornwell spends too much time on secondary characters who aren't interesting. As for Hakeswill, Cornwell made a serious error in judgment by allowing him to return to haunt so many of the books. He's a good villain, but only in small doses. He shows up so much that his quirks and presence quickly grow tiresome and irritating. If this is the only book in the series you've read, don't despair because the others are much better. This one never gets off the ground and is of very poor quality compared to the others.
Rating:
Summary: A low point in the Sharpe series
Review: After reading this, my first thought was "you're grounded Orville, that won't fly." The others in the series I've read were all good or better, this one is weak and poorly constructed. Cornwell spends too much time on secondary characters who aren't interesting. As for Hakeswill, Cornwell made a serious error in judgment by allowing him to return to haunt so many of the books. He's a good villain, but only in small doses. He shows up so much that his quirks and presence quickly grow tiresome and irritating. If this is the only book in the series you've read, don't despair because the others are much better. This one never gets off the ground and is of very poor quality compared to the others.
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Summary: Sharpe marches on
Review: Although I prefer Bernard Cornwell's books on his hero, Richard Sharpe's daring exploits during the Peninsular War, this story--the third and final one set in India--about the young Sharpe's life as a newly made Ensign in the British Army is the best. In the previous book, Sharpe's Triumph, we learnt exactly how the then Sergeant Sharpe saved Sir Arthur Wellesley's (later Duke of Wellington's) life at the Battle of Assaye. Now, we see how Sharpe tries to adjust to the rank of Ensign that was thrust upon him for that heroic deed. All the elements of the other Sharpe novels are present here. The battles, especially the storming of the apparently inpenetrable fortress of Gawilghur, are excellently and vividly written. Sharpe is again with his back up against a wall in having to deal with both men and officers who resent that he's been "brought up", and facing his old nemesis, the twitching and sly Obadiah Hakeswill, once more. It's interesting to see this early relationship between protaganist and antagonist knowing how it plays out in the Peninsular portion of the series. Bernard Cornwell does take some creative license with history, but it is clear (as in all his books) how thoroughly researched it is. I always enjoy Cornwell's historical notes, and seeing what really happened. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment and seeing Sharpe marching on once more!
Rating:
Summary: Another excellent addition to the series
Review: As always, richard is center stage, and we watch in fascination as he grows and develops. He is a bit of an awkward youth in the first books, and quite rough around the edges, but he certainly grows on us, and the fascinating hiostorical details of India are first-rate. Sorcha MacMurrough, author
Scars Upon Her Heart, Call Home the Heart
Rating:
Summary: Another Sharpe Novel from Cornwell
Review: Bernard Cornwell writes historical fiction, most of it in the old style of Forrester's Hornblower and F. Van Wyck Mason. Much of his work has been the story of Richard Sharpe and his adventures as a member of Wellington's British army during the Peninsula Campaign in the war against Napoleon's France. The character Richard Sharpe is an illegitimate orphan from London's workhouses who enlisted in the army one step ahead of prison and hanging. He served in Wellington's army in India and saved Wellington's life in a battle. As a reward he was made an officer. The Sharpe's Rifles series begins with Richard as a Lieutenant, and takes him through battles and hard-earned promotions to Waterloo. Eight of the novels were made into a BBC television series, which has been shown on US public television and which is available on cassette. Cornwell wrote one additional book in the series, filling in between two earlier ones, and one Sharpe novel which occurs well after the Napoleonic Wars. He then started a "prequel" series providing background and telling the story of Richard Sharpe in India. Sharpe's Fortress is the fourth in the series set in India. Richard is already commissioned, and is just beginning to feel the alienation from fellow-officers because he isn't a gentleman. He is also learning to deal with enmity from enlisted soldiers because he isn't a proper officer-a gentleman who gives orders by right. The series of battles which led to the defeat of the Mahrattas and established the British Raj in India is interesting history. This novel begins with the Battle of Argaum and ends with the Siege of Gawilghur, which broke the back of the Mahratta empire. Now Sharpe and Wellington will be heading back to England, and this reader hopes that Cornwell will have more exciting stories to cover the six years between the end of this book and the beginning of Sharpe's Rifles. Richard Sharpe is to the British Army what Horatio Hornblower was to the British Navy. And Cornwell's stories are wonderful reading.
Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction is fun - particularly Cromwell
Review: Ensign Richard Sharpe of British 74th Infantry struggles with his assignment. Newly promoted as an officer to a Scottish regiment has him feeling like a fifth wheel. When the opportunity came for reassignment, he jumped at the chance and moved to the supply division under the command of Captain Torrance. Unbeknownst to Sharpe, Captain Torrance has enlisted the aid of Sharpe's worst enemy Sargent Obadiah Hakeswill. Now Sharpe must somehow outwit and survive the evil clutches of Torrance and Hakeswill. His objective is to rid the army of these two thieves and transfer to the newly formed Rifle division. Sharpe is surrounded by crooks, feckless officers and trapped deep in enemy territory. Things are hopeless, until...the Battle For Gawilghur. I didn't want to give too much away. As evidenced by "Sharpe's Fortress", Bernard Cornwell writes good books. He is fun to read and his stores are always packed with adventure, action and intrigue. As with all of Sharpe books they keep you interested until the end. I have trouble putting them down. Cornwell's style is fast paced plots and he keeps the story going, you may guess the ending but who cares, half the fun is getting there. If this is your first Sharpe book don't let it be your last, Sharpe's Eagle or Sharpe's Company are among the best in the series. However, all of Cornwell's Sharpe books are good reads, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fun
Review: Ensign Richard Sharpe of British 74th Infantry struggles with his assignment. Newly promoted as an officer to a Scottish regiment has him feeling like a fifth wheel. When the opportunity came for reassignment, he jumped at the chance and moved to the supply division under the command of Captain Torrance. Unbeknownst to Sharpe, Captain Torrance has enlisted the aid of Sharpe's worst enemy Sargent Obadiah Hakeswill. Now Sharpe must somehow outwit and survive the evil clutches of Torrance and Hakeswill. His objective is to rid the army of these two thieves and transfer to the newly formed Rifle division. Sharpe is surrounded by crooks, feckless officers and trapped deep in enemy territory. Things are hopeless, until...the Battle For Gawilghur. I didn't want to give too much away. As evidenced by "Sharpe's Fortress", Bernard Cornwell writes good books. He is fun to read and his stores are always packed with adventure, action and intrigue. As with all of Sharpe books they keep you interested until the end. I have trouble putting them down. Cornwell's style is fast paced plots and he keeps the story going, you may guess the ending but who cares, half the fun is getting there. If this is your first Sharpe book don't let it be your last, Sharpe's Eagle or Sharpe's Company are among the best in the series. However, all of Cornwell's Sharpe books are good reads, you will not be disappointed.
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