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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
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
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Sharpe's Rifles is the story of Richard Sharpe and the French invasion of Galicia. From the outset this is a fast-paced story of faith and determination that is hard to put down.
Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series is a fantastic example of engaging historical fiction. I especially like the historical note at the end of each book explaining which parts of the story were fiction and which were genuine events. These books bring the Peninsular War (and the Indian campaign) to life.
I recommend reading the books in chronological order - not always easy as there are new ones written quite often. Enjoy!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Many people compare the Hornblower books to the Sharpe novels and vice versa. The two series have little in common other than covering similar time periods in British history, one from the naval and the other from the military perspective. As his name suggests, Sharpe is quick-witted and as adaptable as a Swiss army knife. Hornblower is more cerebral and comfortable in his officer's role. Sharpe is initially a fish out of water when leading his men, and he knows it.
If you are like me, you've been reading these books in the order of the events they portray (rather than the order of publication). From that perspective, Sharpe's Rifles is the sixth in chronological order of events.
Since Sharpe was raised to be an ensign by saving the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley as the Battle of Assaye, he's been struggling. The Scottish regiments in India didn't want him because he is English. Posted to the 95th Rifles in England, the officers don't want him because he's not a gentleman born and the men don't respect him for the same reason. But he's seen as valuable in a quartermaster role where he can keep an eye on the tricks that soldiers use to fiddle the stores. Sharpe is a good quartermaster, but he wants to fight instead.
In Sharpe's Rifles, Sharpe comes unexpectedly to command a small group of the 95th Rifles during a disastrous retreat from the victorious French. He decides to take his men to Lisbon to find transport, but the men plan to head north instead. Immediately, Sharpe's authority is challenged and he fights back the only way he knows how . . . with his fists. Into that perilous moment steps a Spanish grandee, Major Blas Vivar, who persuades Sharpe to join forces with his cavalry troops who are carrying a mysterious chest to Santiago de Compostela. What's in the chest? It must be valuable because the French have dispatched a lot of troops to get it.
Trekking in miserable weather over the mountains in winter, Sharpe comes to respect Vivar who helps Sharpe learn how to command. Their alliance is sundered when Sharpe learns that Vivar hasn't been telling the truth about certain things. It doesn't seem to matter when Sharpe learns that the French have taken Santiago de Compostela. There's no point in going there!
Sharpe's life is further upset by running into a family of English Methodists who are trying to convert the "heathen" Catholics to their Protestant faith without much success and demand Sharpe protect them from the French. Sharpe isn't excited about acceding to this demand, but he can't help but be drawn to their young niece who is flirtatious.
Before long, Sharpe is involved in matters that seem more relevant for Don Quixote than for the 95th Rifles as he joins an idealistic crusade to strike a symbolic blow for Spain. From there, it's great fun . . . among the best of the Sharpe novels. Bernard Cornwall has taken a lot of license with history here, and it makes for good story telling.
Fans of Sergeant Harper in the later novels will be thrilled to find out how he became a sergeant in this book.
I suspect this book will be one of your favorites in the series.
If you are like me, you've been reading these books in the order of the events they portray (rather than the order of publication). From that perspective, Sharpe's Rifles is the sixth in chronological order of events.
Since Sharpe was raised to be an ensign by saving the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley as the Battle of Assaye, he's been struggling. The Scottish regiments in India didn't want him because he is English. Posted to the 95th Rifles in England, the officers don't want him because he's not a gentleman born and the men don't respect him for the same reason. But he's seen as valuable in a quartermaster role where he can keep an eye on the tricks that soldiers use to fiddle the stores. Sharpe is a good quartermaster, but he wants to fight instead.
In Sharpe's Rifles, Sharpe comes unexpectedly to command a small group of the 95th Rifles during a disastrous retreat from the victorious French. He decides to take his men to Lisbon to find transport, but the men plan to head north instead. Immediately, Sharpe's authority is challenged and he fights back the only way he knows how . . . with his fists. Into that perilous moment steps a Spanish grandee, Major Blas Vivar, who persuades Sharpe to join forces with his cavalry troops who are carrying a mysterious chest to Santiago de Compostela. What's in the chest? It must be valuable because the French have dispatched a lot of troops to get it.
Trekking in miserable weather over the mountains in winter, Sharpe comes to respect Vivar who helps Sharpe learn how to command. Their alliance is sundered when Sharpe learns that Vivar hasn't been telling the truth about certain things. It doesn't seem to matter when Sharpe learns that the French have taken Santiago de Compostela. There's no point in going there!
Sharpe's life is further upset by running into a family of English Methodists who are trying to convert the "heathen" Catholics to their Protestant faith without much success and demand Sharpe protect them from the French. Sharpe isn't excited about acceding to this demand, but he can't help but be drawn to their young niece who is flirtatious.
Before long, Sharpe is involved in matters that seem more relevant for Don Quixote than for the 95th Rifles as he joins an idealistic crusade to strike a symbolic blow for Spain. From there, it's great fun . . . among the best of the Sharpe novels. Bernard Cornwall has taken a lot of license with history here, and it makes for good story telling.
Fans of Sergeant Harper in the later novels will be thrilled to find out how he became a sergeant in this book.
I suspect this book will be one of your favorites in the series.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sharpe (by now a Lieutenant) is covering the retreat of the British army towards Corunna in the bitter winter of 1809. The French army is in relentless pursuit when Sharpe and his men become isolated and have to face an enemy of their own...
As with any Sharpe-novel, do not expect lots of philosophical ponderings or in-depth exploration of characters and emotions, but rather: a good plot, plenty of action, and Cornwell's easy story-telling talent that will keep you up at night, desperate to find out what happens on the next page!
As with any Sharpe-novel, do not expect lots of philosophical ponderings or in-depth exploration of characters and emotions, but rather: a good plot, plenty of action, and Cornwell's easy story-telling talent that will keep you up at night, desperate to find out what happens on the next page!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not the best Sharpe...but a rollicking good adventure...
I must admit I came quite late to the Sharpe party, but having read the Arthur trilogy and the ongoing Uhtred series (and being mightily impressed with Cornwell's writing), I took... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Smurfin
Not the best Sharpe.
I made the mistake by reading this Sharpe Novel first and I suggest that instead of buying ths book, you find Sharpe's Tiger becuase 1) The Story is amazing 2) There are 4 Books... Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2009 by S. Holtby
Sharpe comes of age
This is a real transition novel, here Sharpe finally begins to believe that maybe he should be an officer. Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2008 by chuckles
Good start to a great series
Although "Rifles" is not necessarily as polished or complete as later books in the Sharpe series, it's still a great place to start for any historical fiction fan - or anyone who's... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2008 by Helen Walter
Enter Mr Harper
Before Bernard Cornwell wrote Sharpe's Prey, Rifles was the first book in the series to introduce Pat Harper and the other major characters within the 95th riflemen to us. Read more
Published on 15 July 2007 by Andrew Van Vleck
an epic adventure full of excitment
I have recently finished the book and have read three others in the series.I have read "sharpe's tiger" this book is not as exciting or even realistic as the rifles, but then again... Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2002
The start of a great series of adventures
Although not the finest book in the Sharpe series, Sharpe's Rifles lays the foundation for the entirety of the Sharpe adventures. Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2000
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