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Product Description
Review
“What makes these books such a successful formula is the blend of action, well-researched historical setting, colourful characterization and a juicy sub-plot”
The Times
Review
"What makes these books such a successful formula is the blend of action, well-researched historical setting, colourful characterization and a juicy sub-plot" The Times
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First Sentence
It was funny, Richard Sharpe thought, that there were no vultures in England. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
It was funny, Richard Sharpe thought, that there were no vultures in England. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked up "Sharpe's Tiger" solely because I'd run out of books of my own. My husband had devoured the entire Sharpe series, but his taste in reading material isn't something we always shrare. Nevertheless, I couldn't find any better candidates among his book collection, and a quick scan assured me it would at least be a quick read.
Was I pleasantly surprised! I've since read four additional books in the series, and am working on a fifth. Bernard Cornwall makes war interesting, and the first four books (the prequels to the original series) include handy sketch maps to help keep track of things. Even details like the steps required to load a musket, which I would have expected to be achingly dull, are presented in a straightforward and entertaining manner. You never get the impression that Cornwell is trying to fill up space or show off his (obviously vast) knowledge.
Sharpe himself is a believable hero -- or would you call him an anti-hero? He's certainly no Dudley Dooright; he's lowborn, unmannered and uncultured, but you end up rooting for him just the same. The women in the series so far are usually in need of rescuing, but they aren't the typical delicate blossoms of femininity. Instead, Cornwell portrays them as intelligent, pragmatic, hard-edged, and more likely to trade in our hero for a better deal than the other way around. The only (minor) criticism I can make of this book is that Sharpe's nemesis, Hakeswill, seems a bit overboard. But nobody's perfect. ;)
Sharpe's Tiger had a tough time working its way into my reading list but, once it did, I was hooked. I'll continue with the series, and I won't be as put off by historical fiction as I was, thank's to Bernard Cornwell's talented contributions.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When you read any of the Sharpe novels, it's difficult to believe that Bernard Cornwell wasn't there himself. The depth of the research is evident at all times, but what really strikes me is the superb way in which Cornwell manages to portray battles throughout the series (and Sharpe does get into a lot of fights).
It's good that Cornwell has chosen to extend the series leading up to Sharpe's time on the Peninsula. It's a rich source of new adventures, as he has shown in the novels leading up to Sharpe's Rifles, even if he does end up being involved in Trafalgar (but that's another story).
India is a mystical place to many, and here Cornwell paints a vivid picture of a land filled with magical intrigue but still overbearing with the discomforts of the ordinary soldier. Sharpe is once again picked out, though not as an officer. It's always nice to see him get one over on the upper class idiots running the British army, but also nice to extend his background.
The story is up to Cornwell's usual high standards and although you know all along that Sharpe will survive and succeed (due to the fact that there's a 17+ book series ahead of him), there's still some tension you feel when he gets into trouble. A true classic.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The year is 1799. The location is Southern India. Richard Sharpe is a young Private soldier of 22 (give or take a year) at this point. He's not sure precisely how old he is because his mother, "a Cat Lane whore", had not passed that information on to the staff of the foundling home where he grew up. As the story begins, he's considering running away and wondering whether one of his mates and his girl can be persuaded to join his escape from the British army's 33 regiment. Life in the army is hard for a common soldier and Sharpe's life is being made even harder by his sergeant, Obadiah Hakeswill, who seems to be a psychopath. Hakeswill and Captain Morris want to sell Sharpe's girl friend to a pimp and when Hakeswill tells Sharpe so, in order to provoke him, Sharpe takes the bate and is sentenced to 2,000 lashes. Fortunately, he only receives 202 because Colonel Arthur Wellesley (later to become the Duke of Wellington) stops the flogging, not because he's a nice chap but because the army has a use for Sharpe. They want him to rescue a British officer who is being held prisoner by the Tippoo Sultan, ruler of Mysore, on the island of Seringapatam, that the British army is planning to attack. Sharpe accepts the mission and as difficult and dangerous as it is, it's a lot safer than being at the mercy of Hakeswill and Morris.
This is the 5th of Cornwell's books that I've read. I find his tales so gripping that I frequently find I'm still reading them at 4am, trying to discipline myself to close the book and get some sleep, but thinking "just to the end of this chapter", or "just a couple more pages". Sharpe's Tiger is another of his gripping, ripping yarns and a very enjoyable read. One of the things I really appreciate about Cornwell's books, is that (in the ones I've read so far at least), he writes a "Historical Note" at the end and you find that, although you've been reading fiction, it's fiction in a correct historical context. Many of the characters and events are real and have been historically documented and Cornwell is almost apologetic about slight changes he makes to real events to suit his story. Speaking of a huge, dramatic explosion that actually did happen, but in reality a couple of days before the battle began, he says, "I changed the nature of that explosion, and delayed it by two days, because fictional heroes must be given suitable employment". How true!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A real tiger among books
I originally bought this in hardback when it first came out as it is the beginning part of Richard Sharpe's Indian adventures and I like most Sharpe fans wanted to hear more about... Read more
Published 28 days ago by D. Bruford
Boys own adventure
First Sharpe novel I have read and was totally enthralled. Cornwell has the ability to capture the colours, sounds, dust, dirt and blood and transmit it vividly to the written... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Plato
Sharpe's Tiger
If you enjoy this writer, and the character, Richard Sharpe, then you will enjoy this book.
I have tried to read the books in chronological order because there are people who... Read more
I have tried to read the books in chronological order because there are people who... Read more
Published 7 months ago by AE Wheeler
Sharpe's Tiger
A very good read. A good story based upon authentic historical data. I think the book is better than the DVD. Recommended.
Published 8 months ago by AE Wheeler
My First Sharpe Novel
As a child I grew up watching the exploits of Richard Sharpe on television. I recently read George McDonald Frazier's 'Flashman' which put me in the mood for another horse and... Read more
Published 10 months ago by TheReader
A revelation.
Having been recommended this series by a few friends and a bit of searching where to start, it was with some trepidation I began. It was nothing short of an immersive adventure. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Oisin
fantastic introduction to great british hero richard sharpe
The siege of Seringapatam, India 1799. The introduction of Bernard Cornwell's great British Hero Richard Sharpe.
Now I never watched the TV dramatisation of this series. Read more
Now I never watched the TV dramatisation of this series. Read more
Published 12 months ago by janien
The first episode
If you read this book from cover to cover you will have started on the sequence of Sharpe books which all share an 'un puttable down' excitment.
Published 14 months ago by J. G. Craig
Great deal
I can recommend this seller. A brand new book delivered to Denamrk within 5 days, fantastic! Because I bought 4 books at the same time I paid less in delivery cost than expected,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Lars Rasmussen
So Glad I Discovered This Book
Having recently read Azincourt, I finally decided to start reading the Sharpe novels, having never watched the TV programme. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Suenos6
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