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Sharpe #11
Sharpe's Fury
In the winter of 1811, the war seems lost. Spain has fallen to the French, except for Cadiz, now the Spanish capital and itself under siege. Inside the city walls an intricate diplomatic dance is taking place and Richard Sharpe faces more than one enemy.
The small British force is trapped by a French army, and their only hope lies with the outnumbered redcoats outside refusing to admit defeat. There, in the sweltering horror of Barrosa, Sharpe will meet his old enemy Colonel Vandal once again.
Sharpe and his creator are national treasures - Sunday Telegraph
The small British force is trapped by a French army, and their only hope lies with the outnumbered redcoats outside refusing to admit defeat. There, in the sweltering horror of Barrosa, Sharpe will meet his old enemy Colonel Vandal once again.
Sharpe and his creator are national treasures - Sunday Telegraph
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
677 people are currently reading
2710 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Cornwell
537 books19.2k followersCornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother, who was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his birth mother's maiden name, Cornwell.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
October 13, 2025
Read this book in 2006, and its the 11th episode of the marvellous "Richard Sharpe" series.
This tale set during the spring of the year AD 1811, and Sharpe and his men find themselves part of a small expeditionary force that is sent to Spain to make a bridge across the River Guadiana, while Wellington and the British army are waiting in Portugal for spring to come and resume the war.
Once into Spain they are confronted and beaten by forces led by French Colonel Vandal, who's heading for Cadiz, and Sharpe is forced with a handful of men to go to Cadiz too.
Over there Sharpe will find more enemies than friends within the Spanish, and so necessary will need to be taken by Sharpe to secure Cadiz for the British for the time being.
What will take place in the end is the real Battle of Barrosa of AD 1811, where although heavily outnumbered, a small British Force with Sharpe in their midst, but without the refusing Spanish, will have to engage Colonel Vandal's massive troops, and against all the odds the British will be victorious and capture the First French Eagle of the Napoleonic Wars.
Very much recommended, for this is an engrossing tale in this magnificent series, and that's why I like to call this book: "A Glorious Furious Sharpe Outing"!
This tale set during the spring of the year AD 1811, and Sharpe and his men find themselves part of a small expeditionary force that is sent to Spain to make a bridge across the River Guadiana, while Wellington and the British army are waiting in Portugal for spring to come and resume the war.
Once into Spain they are confronted and beaten by forces led by French Colonel Vandal, who's heading for Cadiz, and Sharpe is forced with a handful of men to go to Cadiz too.
Over there Sharpe will find more enemies than friends within the Spanish, and so necessary will need to be taken by Sharpe to secure Cadiz for the British for the time being.
What will take place in the end is the real Battle of Barrosa of AD 1811, where although heavily outnumbered, a small British Force with Sharpe in their midst, but without the refusing Spanish, will have to engage Colonel Vandal's massive troops, and against all the odds the British will be victorious and capture the First French Eagle of the Napoleonic Wars.
Very much recommended, for this is an engrossing tale in this magnificent series, and that's why I like to call this book: "A Glorious Furious Sharpe Outing"!
February 7, 2014
Either this is one of the better entries into the series, or the longer pause I've decided to take between installments has made me more indulgent towards this slightly formulaic and hero worshipping historical account of the Napoleonic Wars. The books have this advantage of being in general self-contained episodes, so a new reader could jump in at any point. I preferred to start chronologically, and there are advantages in this also, mainly in background stories for secondary characters.
Before I jump into the plot, let's get reacquainted with our hero, an orphan raised in the gutters of London, recruited as a common soldier in Flanders, sent to India to fight the local rajahs, risen up from the ranks for acts of valour in battle, now a brevet Captain in a Rifle Regiment, fighting a losing battle in Portugal in the winter of 1811 against the Emperor's Army controlling almost all of the Iberic Peninsula.
His uniform was torn and dirty and, though he wore a sword, as officers did, the blade was a heavy cavalry trooper's weapon, which was a huge and unwieldy blade better suited for butchering. He carried a rifle too, and officers did not usually carry longarms. Then there was his face, tanned and scarred, a face you might meet in some fetid alley, not in a salon. It was a frightening face and Lecroix, who was no coward, almost recoiled from the hostility in Sharpe's eyes.
Plot wise, the book is structured in three largely independent novellas, stitched together by common location and timeline. The first episode and the shorter of the three is a commando raid by a small British force tasked with destroying a vital pontoon bridge on the border with Spain, used to ferry supplies to the French armies fighting in Portugal. Sharpe is assisted by a few of his regular riflemen, Irish Sergeant Harper as his rusted sidekick,gets once again in trouble with authority as his general esents Sharpe's obvious talents in strategy and ruthlessness, and meets with another archenemy in Colonel Vandal of the 8th Regiment of the Line, a Frenchman whose only ethic in war is to be on the winning side.
The second part and the longest sees Sharpe taking refuge in the besieged city of Cadiz, asked to put his thieving skills in the service of the British Ambassador, who is blackmailed by a renegade priest with love letters written to a local courtesan. I really liked the way this section developed, putting Sharpe in action in an urban environment instead of in a battle line. I've also enjoyed the return to the narrow streets and tall towers of Cadiz, a city I actually visied two years ago. Of course, the author felt the need to introduce a romantic entaglement for Sharpe, but this one held together better with the overall story than the usual gratuitous hot bimbo with a passion for brutal killers. One of my favorite exchanges takes place between Sharpe and an old acquaintance from Copenhagen, Lord Pomphrey:
- So in your world everyone lies and everyone's corrupt?
- It is called the diplomatic service.
- Then thank God I'm just a thief and murderer.
The third part is the payoff of the whole buildup, the description of the actual battle of Barrosa, an effort by a combined Spanish - British army to relieve the siege of Cadiz. The insertion of Sharpe into the story is more than a little forced, as he had no business being in the field other than to try to exact revenge against his enemy, Colonel Vandal, but once again Bernard Cornwell proves he is at his best in describing actual battles: lying out the terrain, the strategies, the armament and the leadership of the opposing sides, and then throwing the reader right in the middle of the action. He compares the two stationary lines of muskets firing at each other to two heavyweight boxers throwing punches at each other until one of them falls down. I've become accustomed to the author's habit of heaping praise on his own side and mocking the enemy and the allies, especially Spanish cowardice, and I accept it as fictional licence rather than accurate historical account. One of the most revealing passages of the battle enumerates the complicated procedures involved in firing a musket, and how a well trained soldier could do it at a rate of three or four shots a minute, much faster than their French counterparts. Killing becomes thus a matter of mathematics and endurance.
Take out a cartridge, bite off the top, prime the lock with a pinch of powder from the bitten end of the cartridge, close the frizzen to keep the pinch in place, drop the musket butt to the round, pour the rest of the powder down the hot barrell, thrust the paper on top as wading, ram it down, and inside the paper was the ball. Bring the musket up, pull back the cock, remember to aim low because the brute of a gun kicked like a mule, wait for the order, pull the trigger.
I will continue with the series, although I am torn between wanting to be done with it and reach Waterloo as soon as possible and my fear that I will overindulge an become disenchanted.
December 17, 2025
Войната в Испания и Поругалия сякаш няма край.
Шарп и част от стрелците му са включени в група, която трябва да унищожи френски понтонен мост. Наглед лека задача, още повече че подполковник Мур хич не го харесва и затова го използва само за диверсия, докато останалите войски превземат форта пазещ моста.
Но когато нещо може да се обърка, то непременно се обърква. И води към обсадения Кадис, в който съюзът между англичаните и испанците е сериозно разклатен и това може да обърне хода на Иберийската кампания в полза на Наполеон.
P.S. Това издание на книгата е с убийствено дребен шрифт и доста се измъчих докато го прочета. Препоръчвам серията с бежовите корици, но пък за тази платих точно 50 евро цента, та не трябва да се жалвам май. :)
Шарп и част от стрелците му са включени в група, която трябва да унищожи френски понтонен мост. Наглед лека задача, още повече че подполковник Мур хич не го харесва и затова го използва само за диверсия, докато останалите войски превземат форта пазещ моста.
Но когато нещо може да се обърка, то непременно се обърква. И води към обсадения Кадис, в който съюзът между англичаните и испанците е сериозно разклатен и това може да обърне хода на Иберийската кампания в полза на Наполеон.
P.S. Това издание на книгата е с убийствено дребен шрифт и доста се измъчих докато го прочета. Препоръчвам серията с бежовите корици, но пък за тази платих точно 50 евро цента, та не трябва да се жалвам май. :)
March 8, 2022
A very sharp Sharpe! This was one of the last books in Cornwell's great Sharpe series which I hadn't gotten around to reading yet. It was a solid slice of Napoleonic history and heaping helping of action. The audiobook contained a lovely tribute to the late Patrick Tull, a fantastic narrator. Tull was the original narrator for the series and did fantastic work on Patrick O'Brian's Master & Commander series, as well as Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series.
April 27, 2023
Same formula as the previous instalments. If I was reading the novels I wouldn’t have continued this far but they are working well as audiobooks. Rupert Farley is excellent.
November 29, 2019
Fury is the last Sharpe book to date that Cornwell has written. Cornwell has finish Sharpe's career arch a decade before in Sharpe's devil published in 1992 fury was published in 2006. The battle at the end of Sharpe's Fury is one of the most provocative in the series. But it's not Sharpe's fight because Wellesley is still in southern Portugal at the time. he should be behind the line of Torras Verdas watching the French starve. But the Battle of Barosa is one of the most important battles in the peninsular war. Cornwell being at least the foremost pop culture peninsular war scholar has a story to tell, he needed to tell it, and Sharpe has unfinished business with Lord Pumphrey from SHARPE'S PREY. so here we get the "filler thriller" Sharpe's Fury. the novel is broken into three distinct parts a device that worked well in the last book SHARPE'S ESCAPE but only served to break up the plot in Fury. this is the major flaw of the book. the Sharpe books have among other qualities a strong fast moving storyline. the major critic of the series is the plots are predicable and formulaic but I like them. maybe Cornwell was trying to switch things up.
the first part is a completely fictitious fort assault that only serves to set up Sharpe's rival/grudge with a French coronel Vandal his fury after their first meeting is the reason for the title. this subplot never connected or worked for me.
the second part is hastily constructed bit where Sharpe gets one over on lord Pumphrey who had his Dutch lover Astrid killed in prey. this its the crescendo of Sharpe's off the grind espionage work. I was never a fan of Sharpe's the non battlefield escapades. but if you enjoyed PREY you will enjoy this part of FURY.
third part is the battle of Barosa. General Thomas Graham a scot is portrayed as a charismatic hero. and one of the few cases where Cornwell may not have done him full justice, this guy was amazingly interesting. the half Spanish half English garrison of Cadiz ventures out to attack the sieging French led by Marshal Victor, a French commander we will see later in the series. heroics abound as the English attack as the Spanish stand by in a failed retreat back to Cadiz. as I said it's a battle to remember, with the taking of a French eagle by Sargent Masterson and ensign Koegh the real life inspiration for Sharpe's eagle. Cornwell felt bad for stealing their glory for Sharpe and does them justice here. one flaw sharpe shows up for no reason under the tenuous guise of revenge on Col. Vadal. he is not needed in this one and in my mind not wanted. wish Cornwell would have just told his story without him or found another way to include him.
the first part is a completely fictitious fort assault that only serves to set up Sharpe's rival/grudge with a French coronel Vandal his fury after their first meeting is the reason for the title. this subplot never connected or worked for me.
the second part is hastily constructed bit where Sharpe gets one over on lord Pumphrey who had his Dutch lover Astrid killed in prey. this its the crescendo of Sharpe's off the grind espionage work. I was never a fan of Sharpe's the non battlefield escapades. but if you enjoyed PREY you will enjoy this part of FURY.
third part is the battle of Barosa. General Thomas Graham a scot is portrayed as a charismatic hero. and one of the few cases where Cornwell may not have done him full justice, this guy was amazingly interesting. the half Spanish half English garrison of Cadiz ventures out to attack the sieging French led by Marshal Victor, a French commander we will see later in the series. heroics abound as the English attack as the Spanish stand by in a failed retreat back to Cadiz. as I said it's a battle to remember, with the taking of a French eagle by Sargent Masterson and ensign Koegh the real life inspiration for Sharpe's eagle. Cornwell felt bad for stealing their glory for Sharpe and does them justice here. one flaw sharpe shows up for no reason under the tenuous guise of revenge on Col. Vadal. he is not needed in this one and in my mind not wanted. wish Cornwell would have just told his story without him or found another way to include him.
November 4, 2018
This is number 11 in Sharpe series and to my mind my least favourite to date.
As per usual the description of the battle, in this case The Battle of Barrosa, Spain in March 1811, is fantastic. Bernard Cornwell’s ability to transport the reader right into the thick of battle is quite unbelievable.
It was the Richard Sharpe fiction that I found a bit lacking.
There is a fanatical priest who will stop at nothing, including murder, to make Spain free of both the French and the British. There is also the French officer who has his own twisted criteria of warfare who Sharpe has vowed to hunt down and put down.
Last but not least, there is the obligatory supercilious English officer who makes Sharpe’s life quite unbearable.
In the end Richard Sharpe is victorious but none of the villain got what they deserved.
Villains should come to sticky ends. Shouldn’t they?
For all that this is still an entertaining read. Just not quite as good as it’s predecessors.
Recommended for Historical Fiction lovers.
As per usual the description of the battle, in this case The Battle of Barrosa, Spain in March 1811, is fantastic. Bernard Cornwell’s ability to transport the reader right into the thick of battle is quite unbelievable.
It was the Richard Sharpe fiction that I found a bit lacking.
There is a fanatical priest who will stop at nothing, including murder, to make Spain free of both the French and the British. There is also the French officer who has his own twisted criteria of warfare who Sharpe has vowed to hunt down and put down.
Last but not least, there is the obligatory supercilious English officer who makes Sharpe’s life quite unbearable.
In the end Richard Sharpe is victorious but none of the villain got what they deserved.
Villains should come to sticky ends. Shouldn’t they?
For all that this is still an entertaining read. Just not quite as good as it’s predecessors.
Recommended for Historical Fiction lovers.
August 20, 2021
This is an other great chapter in the life of Richard Sharp, wherein he battles an other foe successfully.
I recommend this ceries to all.
I recommend this ceries to all.
March 5, 2025
A very well written novel just not my cup of tea. People screaming orders and demands at each other, deafening noise, smoke everywhere, splatterings of blood and gore - I've had enough of that at home over the years.
While I am sure the battle descriptions were historically accurate, I still found there was a strong sense of G.A. Henty and Boys Own Paper jingoism whenever the French came in sight. Indeed, the term French was nearly always followed by saying bastards. The story of the Battle of Barrosa is designed to stir a chap's loins, with brave men, and boys, of all nations - British, Irish, French, Portuguese and Spanish - fighting for victory with a savage ferocity.
Against that there are two background stories one involving a misplaced revenge and the other a blackmail plot. The revenge, which is Sharpe's, involves his animosity against the French Colonel Vandal, whom he believes has broken the rules of warfare, and can safely be pushed to one side. Its only purpose is to give Sharpe a reason for turning up at Barrasco. The blackmail plot is interesting and means the novel does not become an increasingly tiresome procession of scenes of blood and mayhem. The British ambassador in Cadiz, Henry Wellesley - a brother of the Duke of Wellington - has been foolish enough to have an affair with a local woman and sent her a quantity of even more foolish love letters, most of which have fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous Spanish priest. Having Sharpe turn detective is a nice diversion and gives him something to do in Cadiz, but it has little connection with the war against Napoleon.
An OK novel for the military afficionado or the lover of historical high adventure while offering little to those who want to know what drives men into war and keeps them there. It is a man's book, which may be why there is a distinct shortage of women in the cast. I only recall two of significance: Caterina Veronica Blazquez, Henry Wellesley's infatuation, and the snappy Marquesa de Cardenas, an elderly noblewoman who has sided with the French. The rest of Spain's female population seems to be there either to do the cooking and washing or be used as prostitutes.
Despite all the manly things going on, my favourite character had to have been Lord Pumphrey. It is clear Sharpe, and the author, have little sympathy for diplomats. Apart from being gay Pumphrey is an avaricious, calculating man who seems to put himself before everything else, perhaps even his country if he was pushed into a corner. But he has more life in him than the cardboard cutout hero Captain Sharpe.
While being an entertaining novel it probably works best if the reader is a bloke, and even better if the reader is about 14 or 15.
While I am sure the battle descriptions were historically accurate, I still found there was a strong sense of G.A. Henty and Boys Own Paper jingoism whenever the French came in sight. Indeed, the term French was nearly always followed by saying bastards. The story of the Battle of Barrosa is designed to stir a chap's loins, with brave men, and boys, of all nations - British, Irish, French, Portuguese and Spanish - fighting for victory with a savage ferocity.
Against that there are two background stories one involving a misplaced revenge and the other a blackmail plot. The revenge, which is Sharpe's, involves his animosity against the French Colonel Vandal, whom he believes has broken the rules of warfare, and can safely be pushed to one side. Its only purpose is to give Sharpe a reason for turning up at Barrasco. The blackmail plot is interesting and means the novel does not become an increasingly tiresome procession of scenes of blood and mayhem. The British ambassador in Cadiz, Henry Wellesley - a brother of the Duke of Wellington - has been foolish enough to have an affair with a local woman and sent her a quantity of even more foolish love letters, most of which have fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous Spanish priest. Having Sharpe turn detective is a nice diversion and gives him something to do in Cadiz, but it has little connection with the war against Napoleon.
An OK novel for the military afficionado or the lover of historical high adventure while offering little to those who want to know what drives men into war and keeps them there. It is a man's book, which may be why there is a distinct shortage of women in the cast. I only recall two of significance: Caterina Veronica Blazquez, Henry Wellesley's infatuation, and the snappy Marquesa de Cardenas, an elderly noblewoman who has sided with the French. The rest of Spain's female population seems to be there either to do the cooking and washing or be used as prostitutes.
Despite all the manly things going on, my favourite character had to have been Lord Pumphrey. It is clear Sharpe, and the author, have little sympathy for diplomats. Apart from being gay Pumphrey is an avaricious, calculating man who seems to put himself before everything else, perhaps even his country if he was pushed into a corner. But he has more life in him than the cardboard cutout hero Captain Sharpe.
While being an entertaining novel it probably works best if the reader is a bloke, and even better if the reader is about 14 or 15.
November 5, 2022
This is the first Sharpe book I wasn't really engaged by. Cornwell had already written 21 books in the series by this point and I think had run out of steam with good ideas for it, so it's probably a good thing he took a 15 year break after this one. There was no real need to go back to 1811 for what amounts to mostly just a fictionalized side quest to place Sharpe at a battle he wouldn't have been near at the time.
The first 90% of this book feels like filler to get us to the Battle of Barossa, which ended up being a decent battle scene but still not close to one of Cornwell's most impactful. The battle was almost enough to boost it to 3 stars, but the rest of the book was a slog so I think the 2 star rating reflects my overall lack of enjoyment.
I found the fictional plots in this one extremely lackluster, between the murderous Spanish priest with the whole scandalous letters blackmail plot and the personal grudge against the French colonel Vandal. Neither of the plots had much impact, and it just had so much less personality and cohesiveness than every other Sharpe book so far. For a book titled Sharpe's Fury, there was an alarming lack of fury, and I think the problem with the title reflects the fact that the book didn't have a clear theme or crucial plot point to signal.
Because of the way the series was written out of chronological order and how random this book felt, I'd say that it is entirely skippable for anyone who is not committed to reading every book in the series and who doesn't love the fictional intrigue/thriller style plots that are totally disconnected from the war. I'm pumped now though to warp back in time in Cornwell's writing life for the next stretch of the series which will take us through to Waterloo and beyond!
The first 90% of this book feels like filler to get us to the Battle of Barossa, which ended up being a decent battle scene but still not close to one of Cornwell's most impactful. The battle was almost enough to boost it to 3 stars, but the rest of the book was a slog so I think the 2 star rating reflects my overall lack of enjoyment.
I found the fictional plots in this one extremely lackluster, between the murderous Spanish priest with the whole scandalous letters blackmail plot and the personal grudge against the French colonel Vandal. Neither of the plots had much impact, and it just had so much less personality and cohesiveness than every other Sharpe book so far. For a book titled Sharpe's Fury, there was an alarming lack of fury, and I think the problem with the title reflects the fact that the book didn't have a clear theme or crucial plot point to signal.
Because of the way the series was written out of chronological order and how random this book felt, I'd say that it is entirely skippable for anyone who is not committed to reading every book in the series and who doesn't love the fictional intrigue/thriller style plots that are totally disconnected from the war. I'm pumped now though to warp back in time in Cornwell's writing life for the next stretch of the series which will take us through to Waterloo and beyond!
March 25, 2008
Another enjoyable, if formulaic, entry in the Sharpe series, although the title is a misnomer. We've seen a lot more fury from Sharpe in other books; this one would have been more aptly named Sharpe's Aggravation.
Along with the usual gripping battle scenes, all the ingredients are here:
- Terse, facetious dialog between Sharpe & Harper and the riflemen
- A pompous commanding officer who dislikes Sharpe and nearly gets the company killed
- A Wellesley with a secret assignment (although it's the Duke's brother instead of the man himself)
- A beautiful, scheming woman who's happy to dally with Sharpe until a rich man comes along
- Corruption, cowardice and incompetence in the armies - and also astonishing bravery and patriotism
- A personal vendetta for Sharpe, although it's fairly tame as far as his vendettas go
- Dangling temptation: shall he steal the money and the girl and run off?
Along with the usual gripping battle scenes, all the ingredients are here:
- Terse, facetious dialog between Sharpe & Harper and the riflemen
- A pompous commanding officer who dislikes Sharpe and nearly gets the company killed
- A Wellesley with a secret assignment (although it's the Duke's brother instead of the man himself)
- A beautiful, scheming woman who's happy to dally with Sharpe until a rich man comes along
- Corruption, cowardice and incompetence in the armies - and also astonishing bravery and patriotism
- A personal vendetta for Sharpe, although it's fairly tame as far as his vendettas go
- Dangling temptation: shall he steal the money and the girl and run off?
August 29, 2022
Sharpe #11...another re-read.
This one centers around the Battle of Barrosa in Spain, 1811.
Captain Sharpe and the Riflemen are given a special assignment. Some factions in Spain are siding with the French, some are siding with the British, and some are diametrically opposed to both. Sharpe and his men have to go against the first and last groups. The last especially have begun a propaganda campaign to turn the Spanish people against the British, and Sharpe is ordered to put a stop to their efforts.
The battle at the hill was extremely intense. It was also infuriating!! His decision was not popular with his troops at all. Terrific fella.
Only ten more books to go and I'm caught up.
This one centers around the Battle of Barrosa in Spain, 1811.
Captain Sharpe and the Riflemen are given a special assignment. Some factions in Spain are siding with the French, some are siding with the British, and some are diametrically opposed to both. Sharpe and his men have to go against the first and last groups. The last especially have begun a propaganda campaign to turn the Spanish people against the British, and Sharpe is ordered to put a stop to their efforts.
The battle at the hill was extremely intense. It was also infuriating!! His decision was not popular with his troops at all. Terrific fella.
Only ten more books to go and I'm caught up.
July 26, 2024
4.5 stars
January 13, 2023
I recently finished reading "Sharpe's Fury" by Bernard Cornwell and I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed. Cornwell is a master at historical fiction and "Sharpe's Fury" is a prime example of his talent.
The book follows the adventures of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier serving during the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe is a complex and interesting character, full of flaws and weaknesses but also possessing great strength and determination. Cornwell does an excellent job of bringing him to life on the page and making him feel like a fully realized human being.
The plot of "Sharpe's Fury" is fast-paced and action-packed, with plenty of battles and skirmishes to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Cornwell's research into the time is evident in the rich historical detail he includes in the book, making it feel like a true window into the past.
Overall, "Sharpe's Fury" is a highly enjoyable read for fans of historical fiction or anyone looking for a gripping adventure story. I highly recommend it.
The book follows the adventures of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier serving during the Napoleonic Wars. Sharpe is a complex and interesting character, full of flaws and weaknesses but also possessing great strength and determination. Cornwell does an excellent job of bringing him to life on the page and making him feel like a fully realized human being.
The plot of "Sharpe's Fury" is fast-paced and action-packed, with plenty of battles and skirmishes to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Cornwell's research into the time is evident in the rich historical detail he includes in the book, making it feel like a true window into the past.
Overall, "Sharpe's Fury" is a highly enjoyable read for fans of historical fiction or anyone looking for a gripping adventure story. I highly recommend it.
April 3, 2019
Sharpe's Fury is one of those filler entries that feels as if it was written outside of the main sequence of Bernard Cornwell's narrative. That's not to say that this entry in the series isn't good, but it feels limited and constricted in where it can go, as it's sandwiched between other key events whilst also being a little bit contrived in terms of wedging Sharpe in to a situation that he has no right to be in, driven by a need for revenge that is never really fully explored.
A previous review I've read here made reference to this entry in the series feeling like three separate novellas. I can see what the reviewer is saying, and I have to say, I agree in part. Sharpe, Harper and gang become involved in espionage on the part of a woman who is swiftly forgotten, they engage in a light piece of siege-breaking, and then become embroiled in one of the key battles of the Napoleonic Wars as a sort of interested group of active spectators. The plot is not why we're here, and that's something of a shame, as this is usually a strength of Cornwell's work.
Having focused on the negative, I'll talk about the positives. Cornwell is a master of descriptive prose, and explains in vivid detail the actions of a large scale 19th century battle. The decisions are outlined, their implications explored and the colour and detail are visceral throughout. The strategic overview is explored alongside the micro-impact on the lives of individual men and the way that Cornwell manages this is utterly engrossing.
Sharpe, as a character is once more the loveable rogue. His motivations are usually justified, if not always honourable, and his actions are what most of us would do if placed in a similar position. He is, at heart, a decent man, he hides that behind a bristly persona, but he lives and dies for the men around him, and his general demeanour in the face of upper class and aristocratic arrogance amongst his fellow officers is genuinely worth the price of entry.
I'm going to finish this series, I think Cornwell has to be one of my favourite authors, I just think there's a challenge in reading these in chronological order, as some of the later entries (as I believe this one to be) are a little weaker in terms of delivery, and means that you look forward all the more to one of the earlier books. I've given this a four, for all the reasons described above, and don't get me wrong, it's worth it, it's just not quite up there with some of the greats in the series. Sharpe's Eagle is the peak so far, for me.
A previous review I've read here made reference to this entry in the series feeling like three separate novellas. I can see what the reviewer is saying, and I have to say, I agree in part. Sharpe, Harper and gang become involved in espionage on the part of a woman who is swiftly forgotten, they engage in a light piece of siege-breaking, and then become embroiled in one of the key battles of the Napoleonic Wars as a sort of interested group of active spectators. The plot is not why we're here, and that's something of a shame, as this is usually a strength of Cornwell's work.
Having focused on the negative, I'll talk about the positives. Cornwell is a master of descriptive prose, and explains in vivid detail the actions of a large scale 19th century battle. The decisions are outlined, their implications explored and the colour and detail are visceral throughout. The strategic overview is explored alongside the micro-impact on the lives of individual men and the way that Cornwell manages this is utterly engrossing.
Sharpe, as a character is once more the loveable rogue. His motivations are usually justified, if not always honourable, and his actions are what most of us would do if placed in a similar position. He is, at heart, a decent man, he hides that behind a bristly persona, but he lives and dies for the men around him, and his general demeanour in the face of upper class and aristocratic arrogance amongst his fellow officers is genuinely worth the price of entry.
I'm going to finish this series, I think Cornwell has to be one of my favourite authors, I just think there's a challenge in reading these in chronological order, as some of the later entries (as I believe this one to be) are a little weaker in terms of delivery, and means that you look forward all the more to one of the earlier books. I've given this a four, for all the reasons described above, and don't get me wrong, it's worth it, it's just not quite up there with some of the greats in the series. Sharpe's Eagle is the peak so far, for me.
May 12, 2025
Letters and lies. Political intrigue and another epic battle.
I am slowly working my way through the Sharpe series. In book eleven, Sharpe is again dealing with a superior who does not like him, along with the treachery of a French officer whom Sharpe wants to exact revenge upon. Certain Spanish officers/diplomats, however, are not all interested in aligning themselves with the British and plan to use anything they can to disrupt the alliance. So begins another solid entry into this series.
“So in your world everyone lies, and everyone is corrupt? It is called the diplomatic service. Then thank God I’m just a thief and a murderer.” (quote from the book)
Cadiz, the seat of the Spanish government or what’s left of it, is a hotbed of political intrigue. One misstep can turn the tide of opinion in favour of the French. Sharpe is thrust into the centre of it to assist in retrieving some scandalous letters that have been reported stolen. I rather enjoyed Sharpe’ s no-nonsense approach to the whole matter despite being warned to not ruffle any feathers or cause any disturbance.
However, I must say, the culmination of this story ends with another epic battle – the Battle of Barrosa - with the charismatic and capable Sir Thomas Graham and his British troops who defeated the French without the assistance of the Spanish Army under General Lapena, who had been put in charge to lead them. Despite the odds not being in their favour, he rallied his troops. Sharpe, his men and one lone Spanish officer throw themselves into the fray.
November 4, 2020
ebook with audiobook Author uses the Sharpe character to show us more of the political machinations
that went on in this war. I think this is important for historical context while lite on action.
that went on in this war. I think this is important for historical context while lite on action.
August 29, 2013
There isn't a great deal of fury going on in this eleventh (chronologically) Richard Sharpe novel, but at this point it must have started getting difficult to come up with titles? Maybe?
At any rate, Sharpe's Fury is, well, another Sharpe novel, in which much the sort of thing that happens in other Sharpe novels, happens again. He survives the nearly fatal incompetence of yet another highly placed British officer and manages to distinguish himself in doing so. He gets suckered into a decidedly non-military assignment on which, potentially, the fate of the Peninsular War depends. He meets a pretty woman of loose morals at just the right between-lovers moment to enjoy her usually expensive favors for free. He earns grudging admiration and gratitude and makes new enemies. He ruffles allied feathers. He is Richard Sharpe in a Richard Sharpe novel.
The fun here is largely in the side plots, which in this novel take place largely in and around boats, as befits its overall setting of the Spanish city of Cadiz, one of Europe's oldest cities, almost completely surrounded by the sea, its inhabitants desperately afraid that their British allies are going to make it into another Gibraltar. Well, most of them are afraid; some of them are more concerned about fanning that fear for their own political ends, whether they be to make of Spain a throwback autocratic monarchy/theocracy or to liberate it as a republic (with or without the help of Napoleon) or to continue to enjoy its current state of near lawlessness and profit potential.
Which brings us back to the main plot, which has Henry Wellesley, brother of the Iron Duke and British envoy to Spain in his own right. Unhappily married, it is he who first and primarily enjoys the favors of this novel's token female, only to convince himself he's in love, pen her some very indiscreet letters in which he tries to show off and impress her and thereby gives the Brit-haters of Cadiz exactly the kind of ammunition they need to make Brit-haters of the whole of Cadiz.
Guess who gets to try to buy, steal or destroy those letters? Hint: one of them carries around a non-regulation sword and rose up from the ranks; another carries a seven-barreled volley gun and actually gets to use it a bit. And, you know, the rest of their friends.
But that's all just the middle third of the book, which is bookended with, what else, battles. The last third, in a bit of a departure for the Sharpe novels, is rather light on scenes that actually feature Sharpe, as even Bernard "I put my infantry bastard at Trafalgar" Cornwell had trouble working his hero into the Battle of Barrosa. Suffice it to say that while Sharpe was playing spy/thief, the rest of the British are channeling Buttercup's beloved: "We are men of action; lies do not become us."
Again, history knowledge acts as a spoiler for this stuff, so I'm proud of myself for avoiding that Wikipedia article until just now. And again, well, the Spanish do not come off so well, perhaps even worse than the last time they let their British allies down. Still, I have a new hero about whom I wish to learn more in Sir Thomas Graham. Wow, that guy.
At any rate, Sharpe's Fury is, well, another Sharpe novel, in which much the sort of thing that happens in other Sharpe novels, happens again. He survives the nearly fatal incompetence of yet another highly placed British officer and manages to distinguish himself in doing so. He gets suckered into a decidedly non-military assignment on which, potentially, the fate of the Peninsular War depends. He meets a pretty woman of loose morals at just the right between-lovers moment to enjoy her usually expensive favors for free. He earns grudging admiration and gratitude and makes new enemies. He ruffles allied feathers. He is Richard Sharpe in a Richard Sharpe novel.
The fun here is largely in the side plots, which in this novel take place largely in and around boats, as befits its overall setting of the Spanish city of Cadiz, one of Europe's oldest cities, almost completely surrounded by the sea, its inhabitants desperately afraid that their British allies are going to make it into another Gibraltar. Well, most of them are afraid; some of them are more concerned about fanning that fear for their own political ends, whether they be to make of Spain a throwback autocratic monarchy/theocracy or to liberate it as a republic (with or without the help of Napoleon) or to continue to enjoy its current state of near lawlessness and profit potential.
Which brings us back to the main plot, which has Henry Wellesley, brother of the Iron Duke and British envoy to Spain in his own right. Unhappily married, it is he who first and primarily enjoys the favors of this novel's token female, only to convince himself he's in love, pen her some very indiscreet letters in which he tries to show off and impress her and thereby gives the Brit-haters of Cadiz exactly the kind of ammunition they need to make Brit-haters of the whole of Cadiz.
Guess who gets to try to buy, steal or destroy those letters? Hint: one of them carries around a non-regulation sword and rose up from the ranks; another carries a seven-barreled volley gun and actually gets to use it a bit. And, you know, the rest of their friends.
But that's all just the middle third of the book, which is bookended with, what else, battles. The last third, in a bit of a departure for the Sharpe novels, is rather light on scenes that actually feature Sharpe, as even Bernard "I put my infantry bastard at Trafalgar" Cornwell had trouble working his hero into the Battle of Barrosa. Suffice it to say that while Sharpe was playing spy/thief, the rest of the British are channeling Buttercup's beloved: "We are men of action; lies do not become us."
Again, history knowledge acts as a spoiler for this stuff, so I'm proud of myself for avoiding that Wikipedia article until just now. And again, well, the Spanish do not come off so well, perhaps even worse than the last time they let their British allies down. Still, I have a new hero about whom I wish to learn more in Sir Thomas Graham. Wow, that guy.
April 6, 2013
This is a new adventure that slots well into the chronology of the other books. It's 1811 and the war seems lost. All Spain has fallen to the French, except for Cadiz which is now the Spanish capital and is under siege. Wellington and his British army are in Portugal, waiting for spring to spark the war to life again. Sharpe and his company are part of a small expeditionary force sent to break a bridge across the River Guadiana. What begins as a brilliant piece of soldiering turns into disaster, thanks to the brutal savagery of the French Colonel Vandal who is leading his battalion to join the siege of Cadiz. Sharpe extricates a handful of men from the mess and is driven south into the threatened city. There, in Cadiz, he discovers more than one enemy. Many Spaniards doubt Britain's motives and believe their future would be brighter if they made peace with the French, and one of them, a priest, secures a powerful weapon to break the British alliance. He will use a beautiful whore to blackmail a wealthy man. Yet the alliance will only survive if the French siege can be lifted. An allied army marches from the city to take on the more powerful French and, once again, a brilliant piece of soldiering turns to disaster, this time because the Spanish refuse to fight. A small British force is trapped by a French army, and the only hope now lies with the outnumbered redcoats who, on a hill beside the sea, refuse to admit defeat. And there, in the sweltering horror of Barossa, Sharpe finds Colonel Vandal again.
I enjoyed this, although it follows much the same basic plot as all the rest, but it's almost comforting to read the same sort of story again. I love the characters of these novels and worryingly, they are beginning to become quite 'real' now that I'm reading so many of these books in one go. The Historical notes are just as good here as in the others...they make you want to pack your bags and go back-packing around all the battle sites.
I enjoyed this, although it follows much the same basic plot as all the rest, but it's almost comforting to read the same sort of story again. I love the characters of these novels and worryingly, they are beginning to become quite 'real' now that I'm reading so many of these books in one go. The Historical notes are just as good here as in the others...they make you want to pack your bags and go back-packing around all the battle sites.
August 4, 2020
I only give this a 4 star rather than a 5 based on the other books in this series. It was a really fun and exciting installment, but not one of the very best compared to some of the previous books.
January 16, 2011
Another decent Sharpe offering. One has to realise that all these books are written to a similar formula – Sharpe’s involved in treachery and corruption, makes lots of enemies, faces defeat and suffering before winning despite overwhelming odds, and then the whole thing’s topped off by a massive battle.
SHARPE'S FURY is no exception, providing the reader with a weasel of a villain, a great set-piece involving a half-ruined cathedral and its crypt, an effective big battle at the climax which is full of blood and chaos, and lots of action-oriented goings on before then.
Sharpe’s as able as ever and the novel as a whole never disappoints. Action, thrills, battles, shoot-outs, chaos, calamity and a hero who never loses his cool. SHARPE'S FURY is an expertly researched, thoroughly engaging historical novel.
SHARPE'S FURY is no exception, providing the reader with a weasel of a villain, a great set-piece involving a half-ruined cathedral and its crypt, an effective big battle at the climax which is full of blood and chaos, and lots of action-oriented goings on before then.
Sharpe’s as able as ever and the novel as a whole never disappoints. Action, thrills, battles, shoot-outs, chaos, calamity and a hero who never loses his cool. SHARPE'S FURY is an expertly researched, thoroughly engaging historical novel.
July 30, 2021
This is basically a book of two halves - one of which I really liked, the other one I wasn’t so keen on.
The first half is a pretty great political-spy thriller. Sharpe has to try and recapture a bunch of defamatory letters sent by Henry Wellesley to a certain lady, all the while protecting Lord Pumphrey who is there to negotiate for their surrender. I automatically loved it because I love Lord Pumphrey and his fey Lord Beckett ways. I wish the entire book had been him and Sharpe in their unlikely pairing, running into danger in Cadiz. The part in the cathedral was great, a nice combination of action and political wrangling - although I was left thinking that...didn’t we just have a fight scene in a cathedral in the previous book?
The second half of the book (well, perhaps more like a quarter) was the big Bernard Cornwell battle sequence. This felt a bit tacked on the end. Sharpe’s link to it was kind of tenuous, and we jumped into seeing the POVs of characters who had been pretty minor (or non-existent) before that part. It just felt, to me, like it didn’t round anything off, and was like a little short at the end, rather than a satisfying conclusion to the book.
The rest of the characters were pretty good though. I liked the affable Henry Wellesley, and Sir Thomas Graham, and it was fun to see more of the riflemen, who sometimes get left in the background a bit. I also have a huuuuuuuuge soft spot for ace icon Patrick Harper. Female character (only major one this time)...predictably bland and prop-like, and used for a fade-to-black sex scene with Sharpe which made absolutely no sense or relevance after they’d interacted for a two-page length scene. If it’s mandated that Sharpe has to screw whoever he’s protecting or searching for (which is the cut and paste usual thing that happens in this series), have him screw Lord Pumphrey or something. At least they had the tension for it.
Overall, good for one half, lost me a little towards the end.
The first half is a pretty great political-spy thriller. Sharpe has to try and recapture a bunch of defamatory letters sent by Henry Wellesley to a certain lady, all the while protecting Lord Pumphrey who is there to negotiate for their surrender. I automatically loved it because I love Lord Pumphrey and his fey Lord Beckett ways. I wish the entire book had been him and Sharpe in their unlikely pairing, running into danger in Cadiz. The part in the cathedral was great, a nice combination of action and political wrangling - although I was left thinking that...didn’t we just have a fight scene in a cathedral in the previous book?
The second half of the book (well, perhaps more like a quarter) was the big Bernard Cornwell battle sequence. This felt a bit tacked on the end. Sharpe’s link to it was kind of tenuous, and we jumped into seeing the POVs of characters who had been pretty minor (or non-existent) before that part. It just felt, to me, like it didn’t round anything off, and was like a little short at the end, rather than a satisfying conclusion to the book.
The rest of the characters were pretty good though. I liked the affable Henry Wellesley, and Sir Thomas Graham, and it was fun to see more of the riflemen, who sometimes get left in the background a bit. I also have a huuuuuuuuge soft spot for ace icon Patrick Harper. Female character (only major one this time)...predictably bland and prop-like, and used for a fade-to-black sex scene with Sharpe which made absolutely no sense or relevance after they’d interacted for a two-page length scene. If it’s mandated that Sharpe has to screw whoever he’s protecting or searching for (which is the cut and paste usual thing that happens in this series), have him screw Lord Pumphrey or something. At least they had the tension for it.
Overall, good for one half, lost me a little towards the end.
January 30, 2023
My rating is probably not fair because I listened to an abridged version of audio book that was a Christmas gift. Between the abridged version and not fully paying attention that the book was out of a series of Sharpe books, the characters were not well developed and (I suspect) some of the relationships of the characters didn't have the depth that it seemed like it should. It was difficult as well to follow much of the historical context because I don't know much about that time and setting (again, I'm assuming that would have been fleshed out more fully in an unabridged version of the book). On the positive side, the writing was good enough to have me consider starting with the first of the Sharpe books and see how I liked them.
September 29, 2017
Tougher to read than previous volumes. While the battle scenes in the final 50 pages are the most gut wrenching and poignant that I've yet encountered from Cornwell, the middle third of political intrigue drags on forever and tarnishes the overall experience. There are also several uncharacteristic conversations between Sharpe and his men about this battle 'not being their fight' that border on forbidden current political commentary in historical fiction. I'll give the author the benefit of the doubt...this time.
July 16, 2017
This book is a huge step up from the previous couple. The typical pieces of every Sharpe book are there, (villain, rescued lover, man to man battle, and major historical conflict) but the way they are put together are much better than the typical, at this point tired same old way. The description of the battle at Cadiz is just excellent. Although much of the remainder is just average, that battle is Cornwell at his best.
May 31, 2023
Yet another solid entry in the Sharpe series by Cornwell. You always know what you are going to get with Cornwell's books and this one did not disappoint. Great action, stereotypical characters that you can't help but like anyway, and an interesting historical setting. More than halfway through the series now.
December 28, 2023
Excellently written but I expect no less from Cornwell . You definitely almost feel as if you were there ! I love that you do not need to read these books in order to understand who the characters are and what’s going on!
September 3, 2022
Not your typical sharpes novel more intrigue
Than. Battles. The main battle at the end was not
Fought at Barrosa and was somewhat confusing
As to who was were attacking who exactly but of course
Sharpe wins the day in the end
Than. Battles. The main battle at the end was not
Fought at Barrosa and was somewhat confusing
As to who was were attacking who exactly but of course
Sharpe wins the day in the end
July 31, 2013
Natürlich wieder 5 Sterne, weil ich Sharpe liebe, auch wenn es vielleicht nicht das beste Buch der Serie ist. Aber warum eigentlich nicht? Besonders ist vor allem, dass der Roman dreigeteilt ist. Erst ein Abenteuer zum Reinkommen und Antagonisten vorstellen, dann ein Spionage-, Geheimauftrag in der Mitte und dann natürlich Schlachtenbeschreibung, ohne die Sharpe nicht Sharpe wäre. Durch diese drei eigentlich unterschiedlichen Teile hat die Geschichte nicht ganz den Fluss, unterscheidet es aber auch von anderen Teilen der Saga und macht es deshalb auch wieder interessant. Etwas negativ fiel mir diesmal aber auf, dass die Briten trotz extremer Unterzahl natürlich die Schlacht gewinnen und die Spanier natürlich faul und die Franzosen natürlich arrogant sind. Etwas zu stereotypisch, aber wohl in diesem Fall auch historisch. Daher kein Vorwurf. Trotzdem ist die Geschichte für mich eher ein Zwischenhäppchen zwischen zwei "wirklichen" Sharpe-Romanen mit mehr Sharpe-Erlebnissen und -Entwicklungen. Im Anhang dieses Buches zwei Nachworte des Autors, das obligatorische zur gerade gelesenen Story und ein zweites zur Entstehung der Sharpe-Reihe, immerhin ist dieser 21. Roman der bisher letzte, den Cornwell geschrieben hat. Alles in allem nicht viel Neues über unseren Helden, dafür aber wieder einmal spannend und gut geschrieben, so dass ich "Sharpes Zorn" verschlungen habe (und dafür extra die Lektüre von "Entdeckung des Himmels" unterbrochen habe) und jetzt schon wieder frustriert bin, dass der nächste Sharpe von Bastei-Lübbe erst Mitte Februar 2014 veröffentlicht wird. Ich hoffe, dass diese tolle neue Edition der Sharpe-Romane auch bis zu "Sharpe's Devil", dem chronologisch letztem Teil, durchgehalten wird.
November 19, 2020
5/10 Sharpe is back, and he's furious, although it seems more like a grudge than fury. It has the history. It has the humor. It just feels different than the typical Sharpe novel.
Sharpe spends much time off the battlefield doing things you might find in a crime thriller. The author might realize this because there's an almost unrelated battle stuck in the middle. It also seems to focus on other characters more than other Sharpe novels. I was also slightly annoyed that it refers to events that happened seven (7!) novels ago.
I've been reading the novels in chronological order, but it ruins the pacing of the series. In chronological order, the love of Sharpe's life can die in one novel, then he can forget about her two novels later, then he can feel sad about her seven (7!) novels later. Reading them in published order would reduce this problem.
Sharpe spends much time off the battlefield doing things you might find in a crime thriller. The author might realize this because there's an almost unrelated battle stuck in the middle. It also seems to focus on other characters more than other Sharpe novels. I was also slightly annoyed that it refers to events that happened seven (7!) novels ago.
I've been reading the novels in chronological order, but it ruins the pacing of the series. In chronological order, the love of Sharpe's life can die in one novel, then he can forget about her two novels later, then he can feel sad about her seven (7!) novels later. Reading them in published order would reduce this problem.
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