Sharpe's Rifles

by Bernard Cornwell

book data

560 ratings, 4.04 average rating, 34 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		29%
4		47%
3		20%
2		2%
1		0%

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published

February 1st 2001 (first published 1988) by Penguin (Non-Classics)

binding

Paperback, 304 pages

isbn

0140294295 (isbn13: 9780140294293)

description

It's 1809, and Napoleon's army is sweeping across Spain. Lieutenant Richard Sharpe is newly in command of the demoralized, distrustful men of the 95th...more

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02/12/09

Brad rated it:

(review of isbn 0006176976)

bookshelves: adventure, napoleonic-era

Read in February, 2009

I am reading the Sharpe books in chronological order and have just reached Sharpe's Rifles, the first meeting of Lt. Richard Sharpe and his best friend, Sgt. Harper, and I have to admit that the moment doesn't mean all that much to me.

It's crafted to be one of those great moments in fiction, and I suppose it could have been if I had approached Sharpe's Rifles from a different direction. Had I been reading the books in order of publication or even seen the occasional installment of th...more I am reading the Sharpe books in chronological order and have just reached Sharpe's Rifles, the first meeting of Lt. Richard Sharpe and his best friend, Sgt. Harper, and I have to admit that the moment doesn't mean all that much to me.

It's crafted to be one of those great moments in fiction, and I suppose it could have been if I had approached Sharpe's Rifles from a different direction. Had I been reading the books in order of publication or even seen the occasional installment of the BBC's Sharpe movies, I think I would have been delighted to see the meeting of these men. But reading the books in order gives me no stake in their relationship. I have come to appreciate Sharpe, but I don't know Harper at all and just don't care about how they met yet.

That could change as the series goes on, but I am still not sure it would make a difference as far as their initial meeting is concerned because, as I said, it is "crafted" to be one of those great moments. And I don't know that the series has what it takes to be a "great" series, let alone be important enough for the meeting of its principles to be of serious interest to the literary world at large. Moreover, the crafting of the meeting feels forced in a way that truly great meetings of characters do not. Aubrey and Maturin meeting (a fine example considering their place in the Napoleonic oeuvre), coming as it does in the opening pages of the first book with no need for a prequel, is an organic growth of the story, and its impact is given a chance to grow over the course of Master and Commander with a feeling that anything could happen. And none of that is the case with Sharpe and Harper.

Regardless, Sharpe's Rifles is a decent read, but not one of the best in the series. There are too many inconsistencies with the books that come before, and Sharpe's tendency to fall for every pretty girl above his station (which he has done in ever preceding book, yet this is never mentioned in Sharpe's Rifles) is already becoming tedious.

The battles are rousing, though, and Cornwell always includes something fun and inventive -- like Sharpe's use of caltrops against the French Cavalry -- and Sharpe's brutal efficiency consistently sates the potential bloodlust of Cornwell's readers.

Bernard Cornwell also make sure there are interesting supporting characters. Despite the weakness of Sharpe's meeting with Harper, the Irish Sergeant is a promising partner for Sharpe, and the fiery Blas Vivar, the Spanish Major trying to work a miracle against the French, succeeds in overshadowing everyone in the story. The only complaint in the supporting cast is that every Frenchman is turning into a Napoleonic era Nazi -- too cruel, too dishonourable, too clever and just a little too evil. It will become downright annoying if it continues for the rest of the books, but for now it is merely noteworthy.

Sharpe's Rifles is only worth reading if you're committed to the series, if not you can probably get away with watching this installment on BBC. I have a feeling you won't miss anything of importance.(less)

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12/22/08

Linda Banche rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, Sharpe's Rifles is the story of soldier Richard Sharpe. War stories, full as they are of blood and guts, are not exactly my cup of tea. But Sharpe's Rifles is also a rousing adventure story, with plot twists that take you straight to the end, loads of descriptions, and even a bit of romance. Highly researched, the book is chock-full of historical detail, which I love, since it puts you right into the period.

But the best part is the self-doubting Sharpe, ...more

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04/28/09

Tom rated it:

Read in April, 2009

This is my first real contact with the genre I like to refer to as "Jane Austen for men" and I must say I'm fairly impressed. Good action and real page turner.

History fans like myself tend to think of World War I as the very height of brutality in war. I still think it is. But this template leaves open an assumption that before the maxim gun war was polite, clean, and even fun. This novel reminded me that that clearly wasn't the case. I've started reading the next book in ...more

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02/13/09

Gary rated it:

I loved the Sharpe's series by Bernard Cornwell. I couldn't put them down. As always Cornwell is one of the best in character development. By the stroke of Fate Sharpe finds himself promoted in rank due to an act of bravery. But he is a nobody, not of blood and for this he pays a price. All through the series he had me hating his enemies and cringing every time they came into his life. A fun if not educating read for you learn of the aristocracy that rules his life in that time period.

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02/22/08

Craig rated it:

bookshelves: historical-literature

Cornwell does a very good job of weaving a good story into the fabric of historical context. He researches his timelines very well while creating a series of characters that one becomes easily enamored of. This is one of a series of books involving Richard Sharpe and his rise from Sergeant to Colonel during and after the Napoleonic War. His life, his loves, his friendships, his successes and betrayals, all protrayed with great attention to detail against the backdrop of bloody military conflict....more

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11/11/08

Ronn rated it:

Read in December, 2008

recommends it for: Fans of the movies, fans of historical novels

Watching Sharpie on BBCA was a weekend ritual for my wife and myself, but this is the first chance I've had to read one of the novels. It's hard for me to reconcile the mental images I have in my head from the movies with the somewhat different ones in the book (Cornwell's description of Sharpe in the book sounds more like Antoinio Banderras than Sean Bean), but I'll get the hang of it.

I really enjoyed this book, got quite absorbed. I dont know much about the history of this era, so...more

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02/11/09

Linda rated it:

Read in January, 2005

Ok, so I wouldn't have read this series if my son hadn't been so enthusiastic about it. Sharpe is a military antihero in the British Army through part of the hundred year's war. Its sort of Horatio Hornblower on land. Love the adventures, loved the insubordination, learned a lot about the why's of the war. Lot of books in this series, this one's one of the best.

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07/03/09

Jon added it

If you're at all interested in historical fiction and can take the military bent, the Sharpe series is one of the best. Cornwell's an excellent writer

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05/30/09

Dumbledore11214 rated it:

bookshelves: military-history-adventure

Read in April, 2009

This was my first meeting with Sharpe and his guys. And boy I fell in love with them and fast. And boy did he and Harper start off the wrong foot or what? :)

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01/24/09

Dave rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Love the series, history, time less, great military, great read, great series, hope to read all of them

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01/23/09

Kristian Quitos rated it:

I have been reading the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell and this is my favorite of them all.

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03/05/09

Faye rated it:

Good, fun, trash. Learned absolutely nothing, what a relief!

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07/26/07

Brandon Woo rated it:

Read in September, 2006

recommends it for: Hardcore Sharpe fans

Meh, this one kind of bored me, which is a shame because it details the beginning of a great relationship between Sharpe and the rifles, esp. Harper. There also seemed to be some jumps, as well. There's not really a solid bridge between Harper trying to kill Sharpe and then becoming his right-hand man. It's slow paced and the action is forgettable. Overall, it seems forced in as a precursor to the Eagle and Gold and the rest. This is one of the few that the moive was better, IMO.

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04/25/09

Isis rated it:

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in May, 2009

Like slogging across Spain. Through the mud.

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3 comments

04/29/08

fbuser847345152 rated it:

Read in January, 2005

I have read ALL of tthese books and love Sharpe's character - a man promoted from the ranks at a time when most bought their commissions. He loves the women, always fun, but one of my favourite things is his friendship with Patrick Harper. It's wonderful, admirable and just plain funny. And I have to say,. the actor who plays Sharpe in the movie series, Sean Bean, "can eat crackers in my bad ANYtime," to quote my mother.

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02/02/08

Mike Crawford rated it:

Read in January, 2005

I've read most of the Sharpe's and can vouch that Bernare Cornwell truely knows his history. You will not find better descriptions of what military life was like during the Napoleonic era than what you find here. If you like historical fiction these books are a must read. The only down fall is that the personal life of the hero becomes predictable but that does not detract from the excellent depiction of the battles etc.

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03/09/08

Beth Bruner rated it:

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in January, 1990

The beginning of one of the best series of military novels ever. I own them all, and LOVE them! Sharpe's the bastard son of a whore who moves up through the British army during the Peninsular Wars (in Portugal and Spain against Napoleon's armies). And the TV series with Sean Bean ain't bad either.

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05/02/08

Terence rated it:

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Cornwell is a "poor man's" Patrick O'Brian but his series of novels about Richard Sharpe, set in the same period of the Napoleonic Wars as O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series, are very readable and very enjoyable, and one shouldn't turn one's nose up at them.

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07/17/08

Katy rated it:

bookshelves: kindle

Read in September, 2008

Yikes! The tv series begins with this story, and the differences couldn't be more striking. The tv series really softened up the characters and the situation. That being said, the book (predicatably) was richer and more complex.

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04/27/08

Trish rated it:

(review of isbn 0006176976)

bookshelves: historical-fiction

Read in January, 2001

Placeholder for the Sharpe series. As with any series, some are better than others, but they're fun to read, I always buy them as they come out, and they did pique my interested about the Napoleonic War!!

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