Sharpe's Battle: Spain 1811

Rating:
Summary: Adventure reading at its best
Review: Sharpe's Battle is part of a series recounting the adventurous rise of a fictional officer, Richard Sharpe, in the British army during the Pennisular War against Napoleon's army. Sharpe received a battlefield promotion from the ranks into an aristocratic officer corps, and his enemies are intolerant fellow officers as well as the French. The author has an invisible, fast-pace writing style which carries the reader into pure escape. His storytelling ability to keep the hero in constant death defying situations is compelling. Woven throughout the tale is well researched military history for understanding Napoleonic tactics, formations and weapons. It is adventure reading at its best.

Rating:
Summary: Reads Like a Screenplay, But Still Worthy
Review: The Richard Sharpe of SHARPE'S BATTLE is not necessarily the same character in Cornwell's earlier Sharpe novels. Instead, the Sharpe of this novel is taken from the screen - namely Sean Bean's excellent portrayal of the combative rifleman. There are little things that will drive fans of the novels nuts, for instance, when does Sharpe EVER refer to Harper as "Pat" in any of the 11 original novels ?
Still Bean really does nail Sharpe onscreen and the basic feel of the original Sharpe novels still shines through.
The plot is pretty predictable and has already been summarized well by other reviewers so I won't go into details.
Let me sum it up simply - great idea for a story not made the most of, but even a mediocre Sharpe novel is better than a lot of what gets published these days.
If you're a devotee of the original novels, like me, grit your teeth and plow through. SHARPE'S BATTLE is an exciting read despite itself.

Rating:
Summary: Reads Like a Screenplay, But Still Worthy
Review: The Richard Sharpe of SHARPE'S BATTLE is not necessarily the same character in Cornwell's earlier Sharpe novels. Instead, the Sharpe of this novel is taken from the screen - namely Sean Bean's excellent portrayal of the combative rifleman. There are little things that will drive fans of the novels nuts, for instance, when does Sharpe EVER refer to Harper as "Pat" in any of the 11 original novels ?
Still Bean really does nail Sharpe onscreen and the basic feel of the original Sharpe novels still shines through.
The plot is pretty predictable and has already been summarized well by other reviewers so I won't go into details.
Let me sum it up simply - great idea for a story not made the most of, but even a mediocre Sharpe novel is better than a lot of what gets published these days.
If you're a devotee of the original novels, like me, grit your teeth and plow through. SHARPE'S BATTLE is an exciting read despite itself.

Rating:
Summary: What could you expect from Cornwell
Review: This is one of the best historical novels I have ever read. The only part I didn't like was the small history of what realy did happen at the end. It was a jolt back to reality.

Rating:
Summary: This Sharpe book has everthing!
Review: This Sharpe book goes back and details one of the earlier battles Sharpe was involved with. The villian is evil and the woman is traditionally less than innocent. A good addition to the Sharpe series and another victory for Cornwell!

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: When I first read this book, nearly three years I found it intriguing, exciting, and delightful. A few weeks ago I picked it up and read it again, and it was just as good the second time around, especially the meeting of Loup. Cornwell certainly out did himself with this one. It is a story of lost honor, mixed in with some espionage, all centered around a historical campaign in the Spanish highlands, 1811. I disagree that Cornwell did not have his heart in this novel. In fact I believe that it is one of the finest in the series-more "underground" action and plot twists than most, which keeps the story ever moving and ever interesting. Highly highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: When I first read this book, nearly three years I found it intriguing, exciting, and delightful. A few weeks ago I picked it up and read it again, and it was just as good the second time around, especially the meeting of Loup. Cornwell certainly out did himself with this one. It is a story of lost honor, mixed in with some espionage, all centered around a historical campaign in the Spanish highlands, 1811. I disagree that Cornwell did not have his heart in this novel. In fact I believe that it is one of the finest in the series-more "underground" action and plot twists than most, which keeps the story ever moving and ever interesting. Highly highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Fantastic
Review: Who can resist a big battle, lots of bloodshed, and Bernard Cornwell manages to place u in the middle of it. Particularly good is the way that the entire battle revolves around Sharpe.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible writing style and historic accuracy.
Review: Wow! What a story. This one book got me hooked, and I am currently gnawing away at the rest of the series. It is great! Cornwell combines an incredible ability to describe a scene in vivid detail with his penchant for historical accuracy. Definitly a 5-star series.