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Summary: Another Thrilling Sharpe Novel
Review: Our hero,Richard Sharpe,has now been promoted yo an officer in Sir Arthur Wellesley's army which is attempting to end the Maharatta War. Due to the usual bad luck,lack of breeding,and because he's Sharpe,our gallant hero has been relegated to a boring,mundane job in the baggage train.While here,he discovers treason which has been covered up by his arch enemy,the brutal Sgt Obadiah Hakeswill,leaving Sharpe once more in peril and relying on his quick thinking ,his fighting ability and his desire to survive. This book will not dissappoint any of Sharpe's legion of fans.
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Summary: Sharpe's Fortress Review
Review: The new installment in the Sharpe series is one of the strongest yet. Set around the backdrop of the bloody storming of Gawilghur in 1803, Sharpe once again fights arch-enemy Obadiah Hakeswill, and still gets back in time to win the battle for the British Army. Bernard Cornwell triumphs again.
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Summary: Great military history fiction blended with suspense
Review: The third book in the series, a direct sequel to Sharpe's Triumph. Still in India (1803), Sharpe takes part in the brief battle of Argaum before performing a heroic pivotal role in the seige of the supposedly impregnable fort at Gawilghur. Sharpe is still in pursuit of the traitor Dodd, but his old enemy Hakeswill is on Sharpe's trail, so treachery is everywhere. This is very fine historical fiction. Cornwell knows how to recreate the past; every character, no matter how brief his stay will turn out to be, is presented as if he will be a long-term concern, with foibles, motives and distinguishing characteristics. The mechanics of the 1803 weaponry are presented with as much meticulous attention to detail as are the
politics and rivalries between officers, companies and armies in India. In short, it brings the period to life in a vivid and colorful way, adding intrigue and suspense to the mix deftly. I do wonder, though, how likely it is that Sharpe could beat Captain Morris, his superior officer, half to death (Morris waits for orders rather than allow Sharpe to go off on his own initiative to scale the walls, and this enrages Sharpe) and get away with it. (He even murders an officer - no, he's no by-the-book noble hero!) At times the action is over the top with distinct shades of James Bond (the deathtraps like fighting jettis in an arena, seducing one girl after another, etc), but of course that's what Cornwell has set out to do. My one quibble is that Sharpe, after vowing to make sure Hakeswill dies this time, does the typical serial adventure thing and leaves him to die, which is of course not the same thing at all and sets it up for the inevitable sequel.
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Summary: Sharpe marches on.
Review: The third in Cornwall's pre-series, "Sharpe's Fortress" finds Richard Sharpe back in India on his final adventure there before returning to take up arms against the French in Spain. With over 15 novels in this series, Sharpe may be starting to get a little worn, but Cornwall's compelling writing and genius for historical detail, espcially in military matters, always makes every Sharpe novel a worthwhile and interesting read. After Wellsely's (later Duke of Wellington) astonishing victory at Assaye, the remnants of the Mahratta confederation fell back upon their supposedly inpregnible fortress at Gawilghur. The interesting thing about Cornwall is that he brings to life often obscure aspects of military history during the Napoleanic period. While certainly a few have heard of Sir Arthur's great victory at Assaye in 1803, the subsequent siege of the Mahratta hill fortress has generally been religated as a footnote in the establishment of the British empire in India. Cornwall shows that despite eventual British triumph, the siege was no cake walk for them. The short-work that the assulting British troops finally made of the defending Indian garrison may offend the Politically Correct today. And yes, this is a book about run down red-coats like Richard Sharpe, and is not meant to tell the story from the perspective of the Mahratta, or Indians in general. Cornwall revels in the persona of the underdog British redcoat, that down-trodden creature of Britains pre-industrial slums, of which Richard Sharpe is a prime example. While Sharpe does come across as almost super-human in this book, and indeed the entire series, his character personifies the tough, gritty determination of the British soldier in this period. There is a reason why a handful of red-coats conquered India, and while this may offend our sensibilities today, we can gain from understanding how and by whom it was accomplished. India as a nation did not exist in 1800, and the various petty states that existed were never able to present a united front against the small British presence there. A handful of "Sharpes" under brilliant leadership were able to conquer an entire continent. As Europeans, we should not be ashamed of this, and should rather endeavor to understand how it came to happan in the first place. Cornwall's historical fiction provides a glimpse as to how this was done, by showing the various personalities and characters involved, and by weaving fiction with fact, we gain an understanding of long forgotton battlefields in distant and exotic lands. Cornwall's writing is graphic and violent at times, but no one ever said the early 19th century was ever a gentle and nice place to live! The novels of Jane Austen provide a false perspective in this regard. Sharpe and those like him were considered animals by polite society, yet their blood and sweat made Britain an empire. Those with politically correct views, may be offended, but might just learn something in the process. Sharpe continues to march on, providing entertainment and high adventure, as well as fine historical detail. What better combination can one ask for!
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Summary: Another winner
Review: The third volume in the saga of Richard Sharpe (biographically speaking), this is a fierce novel of land warfare, of another triumph of implacable Scot discipline over massed armies, glory, and an impregnable fort, and of Sharpe's fictional role in graphically described historical battles. This volume, last of Sharpe's "conquest of India" trilogy, has a hard act to follow after #2 (Sharpe's Triumph), where Sgt. Sharpe saved a general and obtained his heart's desire, promotion to officerdom. But Cornwell surpasses it with non-stop action, intrigue, and desperation. Now a lowly and apparently penniless Ensign, Sharpe is subject to condescension from officers of "quality" and must doubt his own skills and determination. Nevertheless, we see other men, and officers, flocking to him as an outstanding leader beset by adversities, particularly in the form of his immortal and bottomlessly malicious enemy, Sgt. Hakeswill. Cornwell's vivid descriptions of the awesomely black and terrifying cliff-top fortress of Gawilghur make me wish to see it if I ever go to India.
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Summary: Sharpe rides again.
Review: These Sharpe books are a very entertaining read. The formula seems to repeat itself from earlier Sharpe books; however, the story is great and the characters are interesting. You will find yourself loathing Hawkesill and rooting for Sharpe.
The attention to detail is incredible. You feel as if you are in the middle of the battle.
A definate read for any history enthusiast or fan of Cornwell.
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Summary: Sharpe Thrashes the Wogs
Review: This book completes Cornwell's trilogy of historical novels chronicling Supersoldier Richard Sharpe's military career in India through 1803. The trilogy is a prequel to Sharpe's adventures during the Napoleonic Wars shown in a series on Masterpiece Theatre a few years ago. Sharpe is the eternal outsider: never fitting in; never accepted by his immediate superiors; always battling the incompetence and villainy that pervades the British army; and always winning the devotion and respect of those with "the right stuff". Like the entire series, this book is packed with great battle action and realistic gore. It is, as they say, a good read. Where would Major General Arthur Wellsley(that shall be Duke of Wellington hereafter) be without Sharpe? Sharpe has already saved his life (in Sharpe's Triumph), earning himself promotion from the ranks. In Sharpe's Fortress he finds the key which allows Wellsley to capture Gawilghur, the impregnable stronghold of the Mahrattas, ending resistance to British rule in western India. In the future Sharpe will help Wellsley/Wellington restore his trooops' morale (Sharpe's Eagle), recover his hijacked payroll (Sharpe's Gold), expel the French from Spain (Sharpe's Honour) and win the battle of Waterloo (Sharpe's Waterloo). Other reviewers, both amateur and professional, praise the accuracy of Cornwell's historical detail. I concur if that refers to details of life in the British Army of the early 19th century, the minutia of military equipment etc. There are some minor anachronisms in this book. Wellsley is referred to as "Sir Arthur" although he wasn't knighted until his return from India. Sharpe uses the image "quick as a jackrabbit" even though, as a London urchin, he would have had scant chance of knowing about a creature whose territory was just being explored by the first english-speakers like Lewis and Clark. Sharpe's nemesis, Sergeant Hakeswill, yearns "Haven't tasted a 'tater in months. Christian food, that, see?" despite the fact that potatoes did not become popular among English common folk until after the Napoleonic Wars. My biggest quibble involves Corwell's historical perspective -- not his details. In his "Historical Note", he says that British losses at Gawilghur of 150 was a "small butcher's bill". He doesn't seem to count the thousands of Indians slaughtered there as part of the butcher's bill. He makes us see the inequalities and stupidities of the class-ridden British Army through Sharpe's eyes, but one will have to look elsewhere for a Mahratta's view of the events in the India of 1803. Cornwell would have us see the British invaders as plucky, clever underdogs -- outnumbered and outgunned by fierce warriors in an impregnable fortress. Only in his afterword does he admit that the quick victory might lead one to "the supposition is that the defenders were thoroughly demoralized." But that won't do because it would turn the epic heroics of Sharpe and his friends into just another massacre! I find Sharpe and Wellsley easier to take when they are fighting Frogs rather than Wogs.
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Summary: Sharpe in India, part III
Review: This is an excellent series of books on Richard Sharpe, the enlisted man raised to the officer rank after saving the life of the future Duke of Wellington. The reader follows Sharpe from his beginnings in India, through the Napoleonic campaigns to Waterloo, and then in South America at the time of the former Emperor's death. All of the works are detailed, and contain enough action to suit anyone. Since this is a series, and the current works take place before the Napoleon ones, there's no suspense about Sharpe's fate, since he so obviously survives to fight on another day. That doesn't detract from the sheer joy of reading them, however, for you will learn an awful lot about the British army of the early 19th century, not to mention geography, history, and flora and fauna about all of the countries in which our intrepid hero battles. Read these books; you'll be glad you did!
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Summary: Sharpe curries favour...
Review: This is the last taste of India in the Sharpe series... and it's a cracker read. An avowed fan of the Sharpe yarns in the Peninsula war, I was a little dubious about going back in time. Sharpe's character had been developed over a long time, and to now go back to a time before he was initially created struck me as being fraught with peril. I need not have worried. Bernard Cornwell is a consumate author, and has not put a step wrong. The young Sharpe is quick, dazzling, simple, immature: all the things we knew he had to have been, from his Napoleonic exploits. Sharpe's Fortress sees Sharpe as an Ensign, having finally performed that deed of outstanding bravery Sharpe fans knew so much - and so little! - about. His struggles with the class / Army structures are well told, and the malevolent Hakeswill continues his plottings. (It's actually rather satisfying reading about Hakeswill, knowing how he's going to end up....) Once again, Sharpe has enemies on every side, and must overcome great odds in order to curry favour with his fellow-officers and the men he leads. The Sharpe in India stories aren't as satisfying for me as the others, but that is purely because I have read a lot more about the Peninsula War than the Indian campaigns. Nonetheless, they are rattling good yarns.. and, as ever, Bernard Cornwell gives us the best battle scenes in town. Viva Sharpe!
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Summary: Sharpe storms the fortress on the hill
Review: This is the summation of the Cornwell's "India Trilogy" which follows British Soldier Richard Sharpe during the Mahratta War of 1803. In this novel, the English army must somehow take Gawalghur, a seemingly impenetrable mountaintop fortress and last bastion of the Mahratta army. This is an excellent historical/military novel in that the siege of Gawalghur is explained in dramatic terms; the tactics, the officers, the siege itself, are all here. As always, Cornwell is unmatched in his talent for bringing military affairs to life. I felt as if I was right there with the engineers and soldiers, sweating in the noonday sun. And, of course, the bloodletting is always well described in a cornwell book. During the intense military maneuverings, Sharpe has uncovered a crooked officer, who is misappropriating military supplies and sealing them on the black market. Sharpe is nearly killed for his discover, and then seeks revenge Richard Sharpe style. Just a great book with great characters. Cornwell is particularly adept at writing a great villain. Sharpe's nemesis, the horrid Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill is here, of course, but my favorite bad guy was the crooked officer Captain Torrence. This guy puts the "C" in Creepy. In a beautiful bit of character development, Cornwell has Torrence nearly always receiving his staff in the nude. He explains this nudeness by claiming that with India being so hot and all, he just finds it more comfortable. Not so bad in and of itself, but what makes him creepy is the pleasure he takes at everyone's discomfort when in his presence. Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, is here as well, perfectly described in his ever developing relationship to Richard Sharpe. Buy it. You can't go wrong with a Sharpe book.
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