The Sharpe Series
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Review
‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph
'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail
'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer
‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
Product Description
Bold, professional, ruthless – hero and man of action
"The Forlorn Hope was for the brave.It may have been a courage born of desperation, or foolhardiness but it was courage just the same.Sharpe simply wanted to survive a test, the supreme test of certain death…"
Richard Sharpe has more to lose than ever.He has lost his command to a man who can afford to buy the promotion that Sharpe deserves.He has lost track of his woman,last seen fiercely fighting the French,and when his arch-enemy Sergeant Hawkeswill turns up,he is in danger of losing everything he has fought for.
All roads that harsh winter seem to be leading to the impenetrable fortress of Badajoz. Determined to fight and win, Sharpe volunteers for the Forlorn Hope,a suicidally brave troop from whose missions few return.In doing so he risks not only his own life but that of the few he has come to care about.
Soldier, hero, rogue – Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have stayed in and explored both Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz - altough technically/historically, in the wrong order. I had read "Sharpe's Company" before visiting these fine places, and once again I must say that Bernard Cornwell and his friend Richard Sharpe provided me with a first class insight into the events which culminated in Wellington's capture of these vital fortress towns. What comes across best is the sheer size and apparent impossibility of the task - standing outside the walls, your money would always be on the defenders. Back to the novel though. Leaving aside the historical accuracy of "Company," borne of Mr. Cornwell's meticulate research, what the reader cannot fail to appreciate is the absolute terror of siege warfare in the Napoleonic age. Here we learn about two of Wellington's most important successes of the Peninsular War, both coming in 1812. Followed in the Summer by his brilliant victory at Salamanca, that year was truly the turning point of Napoleon's fortunes in Europe. (Things didn't go particularly well in the East either). The sub-plot finds our old friend Sgt.Obadiah Hakeswill returning to make Sharpe's life a misery. This time he avoids death in the bloody breaches at Badajoz by feigning death, and once inside the walls he finds and attempts to rape Sharpe's wife, killing one of our hero's friends in the process. Sharpe arrives in the nick of time, but Hakeswill escapes, and although we know he will meet his maker eventually, I personally feel that this would have been the opportune moment for Sharpe's ultimate revenge. "Battle," "Company," and "Sword" are, for me at least, the most entertaining and historicaly enlightning of the series. Coming, as they do, consecutively in chronological order, they make for the ultimate Sharpe trilogy, and I would recommend the Sharpe/Peninsula enthusiast to take time out to read all three one after the other. Clive Witcomb. Birmingham, England. January 2000.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have only read five Sharpe books but I have to say by far this book is the best I have read, it will be very hard to top this story. It is based on the dramatic events of Badajoz, the seemingly impregnable fort in Spain held by the French. Sharpe has problems of his own, let alone facing the fort he has lost command of his South Essex light company to a rich man, a daughter and wife to-be to protect, and his old enemy, the twiching, maddened and seemingly indestructable Sgt. Hakeswill to deal with. The book is a master piece and I challenge anyone who has read the book to say it isn't.
Format:Paperback
Sharpe's company is a fairly quick read - I got through it in three sessions. Although enjoyable it is not among the best of the series. The storyline is very linear, with no twists and turns, and you can pretty much tell how it will turn out right from the start. More importantly, I found the character of Hakeswill too cartoonish to be a credible baddie. For me the book would have been more interesting exploring Sharpe's problems with his new Colonel and new Captain of his company. If you enjoy Sharpe then you'll read this book, but it's not one I'd want to return to anytime soon.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sharpe's Company
You enjoy this type of story, or you don't. I am trying to read all the series in chronological order as there are often references made that you will only know by having read an... Read more
Published 1 month ago by AE Wheeler
Hakeswill: the Return of a Terrifying Villain
The third novel in the Sharpe series, and one of the best - pacey and well plotted, with, as ever, the couinterpoint of Cornwell's deep historical knowledge and enthusiasm. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mrs. Jane Hawkes
a must for sharpes fans
i love the sharpes series. yet another classic sharpes adventure. a must for sharpes fans
Published on 7 Jan 2010 by S. Miller
Unfortunate
Unfortunately this book which was listed as "very good condition" was in fact only used but acceptable condition. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2009 by Mr. G. Simpson
Sharpe's Nemesis, Sergeant Hakeswill, Returns as Wellington Batters in...
Sharpe! Sharpe! Sharpe!
I encourage you to read these books in order of the chronology of the events, rather than the order in which they are written. Read more
I encourage you to read these books in order of the chronology of the events, rather than the order in which they are written. Read more
Published on 23 April 2009 by Donald Mitchell
Enemies on both sides
This maybe my favourite Sharpe novel so far. The return of his arch emeny Obadiah Hakeswill, love, an impossible task and hurt pride, Sharpe has his biggest challenge for some... Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2008 by chuckles
Not so sharpe
I found this novel disjointed and out of keeping with the Sharpe of the previous novels. The plot was not one of the best that Cornwell has managed, and the character of hakeswill... Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2007 by Sam Johnson
Exciting account of 2 great sieges
In the winter of 1812 Wellington is set on capturing the 2 great fortress-cities that guard the border between Portugal and Spain. Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2007 by Didier
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