Rating: 
Summary: Sharpe, Back in the Saddle Again!
Review: Sharpe is once more back in Portugal with his friends in the 95th Rifles. This novel is intended to slip inbetween the previous "Sharpe's Rifles" and "Eagle." I suppose it does. Cornwell has cleverly crafted these novels so that each stands on its own. When he first started this series over 10 years ago he never imagined the success it would enjoy. After charging through the campaigns in Portugal and Waterloo he began to back peddle into Sharpe's earlier career to fill out more stories for the series. Thus we have the whole India novels and others which have filled in our heros earlier career. This installment more or less ties up the whole series, but I am sure Cornwell can still get some milage out of Sharpe yet! Here we have the standard formula that has served Cornwell so well over the years. His writing is always simple, direct and exciting. He has crafted these books down to an elegant system which consistently works despite often repeating the same elements over and over. Sharpe always has to face some arrogant English fop officer, he's usually detached with his merry half company of riflemen, safely away from the 2/95th which should be back in England recruiting. And he is always on some vague mission for Hogan or Wellington behind the lines which enables him to exercise his independent judgement. If Sharpe we stuck having to fight in the skirmish line along with everyone else then these stories would not seem half so appealing. In other words if Sharpe had to perform standard duties for a Rifle or Light company officer Cornwell could never have carried the series as far as he has. It's Sharpe's independence which allows Cornwell to develope action and suspence in the series, with a little romance thrown in as well. This time there is only a hint that Sharpe will get the girl in the end! So again we have Sharpe fighting what has become his standard alone on the mountain fort routine against impossible odds. It would seem to be the same old business as usual if Cornwell weren't so gifted in making it interesting and a little different each time. After facing off the French as usual Sharpe and co. rejoin the main action in standard fashion. In this case we have the celebrated action of Colonel Waters and the 3rd Buffs at the Seminary of Oporto. Cornwell neatly inserts Sharpe into the action, giving him credit for getting the Buffs over the river which rightfully belongs to a Portugeuse barber who actually found the boats. Cornwell appologises for this alteration of history, as well as others in order to make his story. The French always come in for particular rancor in these novels. Its almost as if Cornwell wants to put down the hero worship of Naoplean and his marshals during this period. Soult appears like a cream-puff with his pretensions to the crown of Portugal and his concern more for cusine than military dispositions. The French themselves as always look like a bunch of pillaging rapists practicing the Napoleanic principles of living off the land. Cornwell shows us what that term often implied. The final battle itself is always well done, Cornwell provides an exciting account of the several fruitless French assaults upon the Buffs at the Seminary. His descriptions always make the action seem a lot more bloody than it actually was, but to the men involved it must have seemed that way. Once the main action is over Sharpe is back on his own to settle old scores with the current bad guy of the novel, in this case the nasty and effiminate colonel Christopher who really can't provide a decent challenge for our hero so there is no grand sword fight at the end. Sharpe coldly disposes of him in the midst of the French army's epic retreat from Oporto. There is one worthwhile French character based on reality, the heroic Major Dulong who actually did save Soult's army at the bridges in question. Such men did make the French army what it was, even if their dash and ardor could not often stand up to the murderous British platoon vollies encountered in the Peninsular. As always Cornwell does a splendid job conjuring up these images from a colorful period of warfare. Shapre marches on again.
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe, Back in the Saddle Again!
Review: Sharpe is once more back in Portugal with his friends in the 95th Rifles. This novel is intended to slip inbetween the previous "Sharpe's Rifles" and "Eagle." I suppose it does. Cornwell has cleverly crafted these novels so that each stands on its own. When he first started this series over 10 years ago he never imagined the success it would enjoy. After charging through the campaigns in Portugal and Waterloo he began to back peddle into Sharpe's earlier career to fill out more stories for the series. Thus we have the whole India novels and others which have filled in our heros earlier career. This installment more or less ties up the whole series, but I am sure Cornwell can still get some milage out of Sharpe yet! Here we have the standard formula that has served Cornwell so well over the years. His writing is always simple, direct and exciting. He has crafted these books down to an elegant system which consistently works despite often repeating the same elements over and over. Sharpe always has to face some arrogant English fop officer, he's usually detached with his merry half company of riflemen, safely away from the 2/95th which should be back in England recruiting. And he is always on some vague mission for Hogan or Wellington behind the lines which enables him to exercise his independent judgement. If Sharpe we stuck having to fight in the skirmish line along with everyone else then these stories would not seem half so appealing. In other words if Sharpe had to perform standard duties for a Rifle or Light company officer Cornwell could never have carried the series as far as he has. It's Sharpe's independence which allows Cornwell to develope action and suspence in the series, with a little romance thrown in as well. This time there is only a hint that Sharpe will get the girl in the end! So again we have Sharpe fighting what has become his standard alone on the mountain fort routine against impossible odds. It would seem to be the same old business as usual if Cornwell weren't so gifted in making it interesting and a little different each time. After facing off the French as usual Sharpe and co. rejoin the main action in standard fashion. In this case we have the celebrated action of Colonel Waters and the 3rd Buffs at the Seminary of Oporto. Cornwell neatly inserts Sharpe into the action, giving him credit for getting the Buffs over the river which rightfully belongs to a Portugeuse barber who actually found the boats. Cornwell appologises for this alteration of history, as well as others in order to make his story. The French always come in for particular rancor in these novels. Its almost as if Cornwell wants to put down the hero worship of Naoplean and his marshals during this period. Soult appears like a cream-puff with his pretensions to the crown of Portugal and his concern more for cusine than military dispositions. The French themselves as always look like a bunch of pillaging rapists practicing the Napoleanic principles of living off the land. Cornwell shows us what that term often implied. The final battle itself is always well done, Cornwell provides an exciting account of the several fruitless French assaults upon the Buffs at the Seminary. His descriptions always make the action seem a lot more bloody than it actually was, but to the men involved it must have seemed that way. Once the main action is over Sharpe is back on his own to settle old scores with the current bad guy of the novel, in this case the nasty and effiminate colonel Christopher who really can't provide a decent challenge for our hero so there is no grand sword fight at the end. Sharpe coldly disposes of him in the midst of the French army's epic retreat from Oporto. There is one worthwhile French character based on reality, the heroic Major Dulong who actually did save Soult's army at the bridges in question. Such men did make the French army what it was, even if their dash and ardor could not often stand up to the murderous British platoon vollies encountered in the Peninsular. As always Cornwell does a splendid job conjuring up these images from a colorful period of warfare. Shapre marches on again.
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe, Back in the Saddle Again!
Review: Sharpe is once more back in Portugal with his friends in the 95th Rifles. This novel is intended to slip inbetween the previous "Sharpe's Rifles" and "Eagle." I suppose it does. Cornwell has cleverly crafted these novels so that each stands on its own. When he first started this series over 10 years ago he never imagined the success it would enjoy. After charging through the campaigns in Portugal and Waterloo he began to back peddle into Sharpe's earlier career to fill out more stories for the series. Thus we have the whole India novels and others which have filled in our heros earlier career. This installment more or less ties up the whole series, but I am sure Cornwell can still get some milage out of Sharpe yet! Here we have the standard formula that has served Cornwell so well over the years. His writing is always simple, direct and exciting. He has crafted these books down to an elegant system which consistently works despite often repeating the same elements over and over. Sharpe always has to face some arrogant English fop officer, he's usually detached with his merry half company of riflemen, safely away from the 2/95th which should be back in England recruiting. And he is always on some vague mission for Hogan or Wellington behind the lines which enables him to exercise his independent judgement. If Sharpe we stuck having to fight in the skirmish line along with everyone else then these stories would not seem half so appealing. In other words if Sharpe had to perform standard duties for a Rifle or Light company officer Cornwell could never have carried the series as far as he has. It's Sharpe's independence which allows Cornwell to develope action and suspence in the series, with a little romance thrown in as well. This time there is only a hint that Sharpe will get the girl in the end! So again we have Sharpe fighting what has become his standard alone on the mountain fort routine against impossible odds. It would seem to be the same old business as usual if Cornwell weren't so gifted in making it interesting and a little different each time. After facing off the French as usual Sharpe and co. rejoin the main action in standard fashion. In this case we have the celebrated action of Colonel Waters and the 3rd Buffs at the Seminary of Oporto. Cornwell neatly inserts Sharpe into the action, giving him credit for getting the Buffs over the river which rightfully belongs to a Portugeuse barber who actually found the boats. Cornwell appologises for this alteration of history, as well as others in order to make his story. The French always come in for particular rancor in these novels. Its almost as if Cornwell wants to put down the hero worship of Naoplean and his marshals during this period. Soult appears like a cream-puff with his pretensions to the crown of Portugal and his concern more for cusine than military dispositions. The French themselves as always look like a bunch of pillaging rapists practicing the Napoleanic principles of living off the land. Cornwell shows us what that term often implied. The final battle itself is always well done, Cornwell provides an exciting account of the several fruitless French assaults upon the Buffs at the Seminary. His descriptions always make the action seem a lot more bloody than it actually was, but to the men involved it must have seemed that way. Once the main action is over Sharpe is back on his own to settle old scores with the current bad guy of the novel, in this case the nasty and effiminate colonel Christopher who really can't provide a decent challenge for our hero so there is no grand sword fight at the end. Sharpe coldly disposes of him in the midst of the French army's epic retreat from Oporto. There is one worthwhile French character based on reality, the heroic Major Dulong who actually did save Soult's army at the bridges in question. Such men did make the French army what it was, even if their dash and ardor could not often stand up to the murderous British platoon vollies encountered in the Peninsular. As always Cornwell does a splendid job conjuring up these images from a colorful period of warfare. Shapre marches on again.
Rating: 
Summary: NOT SO SHARP
Review: Sharpe's Havoc is the eighteenth volume of Richard Sharpe's saga, but its time frame is early in Britain's Peninsular War against Napoleon, filling the gap between Sharpe's Rifles and Sharpe's Eagle. Despite large helpings of rape, pllage, and bloodshed, this reader did not find it very satisfying. Perhaps I've grown weary of the Supersoldier or perhaps Bernard Cornwell has. This book tells the long-time follower of Sharpe little new about life in the Brtish army during the Napoleionic Wars, because Sharpe is on detached duty behind enemy lines in Portugal. For most of the story Sharpe and a handful of his riflemen hang out at the country estate of an English Port shipper. (Incidentally, if #1's critical discernment matches her knowledge of Port wine, readers should seek another guide) As in the recently published Sharpe's Trafalgar, our hero seems more witness to history than participant. Cornwell gives Sharpe plenty of derring to do, but it has a perfunctory air about it. His obligatory contribution to General Arthur Wellsley's rise to dukehood consists of finding transport across the Douro River, a service performed in reality by a Portugese barber. The villain of the story, Lt Colonel Christopher of the British Foreign Office, is a more fully-developed character than those that have afflicted Sharpe in previous books. He is a charming rapist and traitor who directs French troops to massacre Portugese civilians to further his scheme for self-advancement. His worst crime, however, in the eyes of his colleague, the equally bloody-handed Lord Pumphrey, is that he's a thruster. "A thruster was a man who would bully and whip his way to the head of the field while riding to hounds...". Neither Sharpe nor Christopher is as interesting as one of the historical figures Cormwell weaves into the story, Major Dulong of the French 31st Leger. Perhaps that explains what is wrong with Sharpe's Havoc.
Rating:
Summary: Richard...We know ye too well...
Review: The Sharpe series is 19 books long now, I think. Cornwell wrote several books in the original series and now goes back on occasion and adds episodes. It's a difficult task to write new chapters into a book already written. The chronology may suffer or the hero's past might not be acknowledged in his future. These problems don't bother me so much. This book, however, was a disappointment and I'm not sure why. Everything one would expect in a book by Cornwell is here: a remorseless villain, a damsel in distress, small skirmishes and a major battle. Maybe it's the fact we've travelled these roads so many times already and there's nothing new down there anyway. There can be no doubt of the outcome; we've already seen the far future of Sharpe.
Patrick O'Brien suffered this same sort of malaise in his Aubrey/Maturin series too. Maybe authors get bored with their own creations and cannot think of ways to inject new excitement and experiences in these set pieces. Perhaps Richard Sharpe needs a vacation in Bermuda or someplace. I can see the pirates and the women of easy virtue now...
Rating:
Summary: Richard...We know ye too well...
Review: The Sharpe series is 19 books long now, I think. Cornwell wrote several books in the original series and now goes back on occasion and adds episodes. It's a difficult task to write new chapters into a book already written. The chronology may suffer or the hero's past might not be acknowledged in his future. These problems don't bother me so much. This book, however, was a disappointment and I'm not sure why. Everything one would expect in a book by Cornwell is here: a remorseless villain, a damsel in distress, small skirmishes and a major battle. Maybe it's the fact we've travelled these roads so many times already and there's nothing new down there anyway. There can be no doubt of the outcome; we've already seen the far future of Sharpe.
Patrick O'Brien suffered this same sort of malaise in his Aubrey/Maturin series too. Maybe authors get bored with their own creations and cannot think of ways to inject new excitement and experiences in these set pieces. Perhaps Richard Sharpe needs a vacation in Bermuda or someplace. I can see the pirates and the women of easy virtue now...
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe fans will be delighted with this very good read
Review: The surprising thing about SHARPE'S HAVOC has nothing to do with its content. The content of the Richard Sharpe books --- this is the nineteenth --- is generally the same. There is a mission, a woman and an enemy for Richard Sharpe --- and usually a lot of hard fighting along the way. SHARPE'S HAVOC is no different, which is not surprising. There is a mission; Lieutenant Richard Sharpe must keep his rag-tag band of Riflemen safe as they rejoin Lord Wellington's army fighting the French in Portugal in 1809. There is a woman; Kate Savage, the beautiful young daughter of an English wine merchant, who Sharpe must protect from the ravages of war. And there is an enemy; one Colonel Christopher of the Foreign Office, who is busy sneaking around behind enemy lines, trying to arrange for the surrender of British troops to the perfidious French and makes the mistake of stealing Richard Sharpe's telescope. But it is the setting that is surprising. The first twelve Richard Sharpe books were all set during the Napoleonic conflict, taking Sharpe from an anonymous quartermaster in northern Spain to a battalion commander at Waterloo. The next volume, SHARPE'S DEVIL, moved the action to Chile (which is where Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series also winds up). After that, Cornwell authored three books about Sharpe's early career in India and the two most recent books dealt primarily with naval battles, of all things. SHARPE'S HAVOC takes us back to the Peninsular Campaign, filling in a gap between the first and second of the Sharpe books. It takes place in Portugal, right at the time that Sir Arthur Wellesley (later Lord Wellington) takes over His Majesty's army on the Peninsula and uses it to beat the living daylights out of the French. The French invasion of Portugal has shattered British morale and left Sharpe the leader of a small platoon of green-jacketed regulars separated from the rest of the army. With the help of stalwart sergeant Patrick Harper and an alliance with an idealistic Portuguese lawyer-turned-soldier, Sharpe must protect the girl, defeat the enemy and complete the mission, just as he has done so many times before. The challenge for Bernard Cornwell here is to return to the scene of his greatest triumph and produce another book about the Peninsular Campaign to stand with his earlier works (that, and to keep his fingers from falling off from typing too much; there's a second book in his new series about the Holy Grail coming out this year as well). It's a challenge that he more than meets. Even though the characters, setting and plot are familiar, Cornwell manages to put them into new and tense situations. Sharpe and Harper witness a horrific bridge collapse, defend a remote mountaintop fort and lead the way for a daring British invasion of a Portuguese seminary. The action scenes crackle with intensity and excitement. There's even a heroic French officer leading the charge against Sharpe --- Cornwell describes him as "Sharpe-like", a high compliment indeed --- who emerges as a brave opponent, for once. Where SHARPE'S HAVOC falls short, compared to its predecessors, is in its other two elements. The villain, Colonel Christopher, is a weak, backstabbing little man, no real match for Sharpe. And the woman, Kate Savage, is a little slip of a girl, caught up in Christopher's cowardly embrace but saved by her sense of patriotism and duty. But all of this is subordinated to the pleasure that fans of the series will take in seeing Sharpe and Harper together again, marching against the French and fighting against terrible odds. And for people who aren't yet fans of Richard Sharpe, SHARPE'S HAVOC is as good a place as any to introduce yourself to a scarred English Rifleman and his band of thieves, poachers and outcasts. Because SHARPE'S HAVOC is a good read --- and that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. --- Reviewed by Curtis Edmonds
Rating:
Summary: Filling in Sharpe's Career
Review: This book was, perhaps, inspired by Forester's "Rifleman Dodd."
In this case, a large group of riflemen are cut off behind French Lines instead of a single rifleman. As in Forester's novel, they take decisive action to turn the tide.
Like other novels in the series, it is based on real events. After having Sharpe settle in France with his mistress, the author steps back in time to fill in a part of Sharpe's career, in this case in northern Portugal in 1809. It is based on the French capture of Oporto, and Marshal Soult's defeat by General Wellesley and his retreat back out of Portugal. The novel has a significant amount of blood and gore, including details of pillage, rape, and murder of civilians (based on content, I would give it a PG-13 rating). It illustrates the pig-headed type of military commander who expends men by assaulting enemy strongpoints rather than relying on strategy, bypassing strongpoints, and cutting off enemy supply lines. Perhaps it illustrates the historic problem of officers rising to general through influence rather than ability. There is also the double dealing Christopher from the Foreign Office, who tries to play both sides of the game. Sharpe again meets Lord Pumphrey of the Foreign Office, a somewhat shady individual who eliminates people who might know too much. Lord Pumphrey considers Christoper a problem, and sends Sharpe to deal with the problem. As in Denmark, it is convenient for the Foreign Office to have a murderous rogue like Sharpe available. There are some tasks that could not be assigned to a well-bred gentleman.
Rating:
Summary: Filling in Sharpe's Career
Review: This book was, perhaps, inspired by Forester's "Rifleman Dodd."
In this case, a large group of riflemen are cut off behind French Lines instead of a single rifleman. As in Forester's novel, they take decisive action to turn the tide.
Like other novels in the series, it is based on real events. After having Sharpe settle in France with his mistress, the author steps back in time to fill in a part of Sharpe's career, in this case in northern Portugal in 1809. It is based on the French capture of Oporto, and Marshal Soult's defeat by General Wellesley and his retreat back out of Portugal. The novel has a significant amount of blood and gore, including details of pillage, rape, and murder of civilians (based on content, I would give it a PG-13 rating). It illustrates the pig-headed type of military commander who expends men by assaulting enemy strongpoints rather than relying on strategy, bypassing strongpoints, and cutting off enemy supply lines. Perhaps it illustrates the historic problem of officers rising to general through influence rather than ability. There is also the double dealing Christopher from the Foreign Office, who tries to play both sides of the game. Sharpe again meets Lord Pumphrey of the Foreign Office, a somewhat shady individual who eliminates people who might know too much. Lord Pumphrey considers Christoper a problem, and sends Sharpe to deal with the problem. As in Denmark, it is convenient for the Foreign Office to have a murderous rogue like Sharpe available. There are some tasks that could not be assigned to a well-bred gentleman.
Rating:
Summary: History and Entertainment in one.
Review: To this day it is a a mystery how Soults forces in Portugal allowed a British Unit to slip across the Douro on the Eastern side of Opporto, and take control of the Seminary. It was a strategic disaster which ended in ignominy for Soult. At one moment he was poised to declare himself King in Portugal, and in the next he was fleeing across the mountians, leaving behind his baggage train and his artillery.
So, who better to fill in that mystery, than Lieutenant Richard Sharpe and his Greenjackets. Cornwell has slipped our favourite gang of riflemen into the right place at the right time to make Sharpe the hero of the day. And this is what makes the Sharpe novels so compelling.
I was reading this book, with David Gates "The Spanish Ulcer" open on my lap, and I was fascinated at how Cornwell managed to weave his story into the truth.
Even the "Evil Colonel Christopher" backstory of plot and counterplot to stage a mutiny against Soult, is borne up by the facts.
On top of all this is a cracking good story. The mid-section of the book is particulary compelling, when Sharpe has his men fortify a hill to keep them occupied, and then has to defend the hill against odds of 20 to one. His protagonist in this battle, and the 31st Leger of French Light Infantry, are again real characters.
This is served up with all the painstakingly researched detail of the loading and operation of the Baker rifle, Smoothbore muskets, Cannon, Howitzers and Mortars. We learn in-depth about fused shot, case shot, canister and round shot.
So, whether you are a history buff, a weapons buff, a fan of Napoleonic wars, in search of a good yarn, a war story or even a romance, there is something here for you.
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