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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
All of the Sharpe novels, not just the new one, Sharpe's Prey, feature genuinely complex plotting in which the reader is kept engaged not just by a central conflict but by a whole host of subplots handled as adeptly as his main narrative. How does Bernard Cornwell maintain such a high standard in his tales of historical derring-do and danger? The genre is a touch overcrowded these days, but Cornwell is unquestionably in the upper echelons, with a consistency that must give most of his rivals pause. It isn't just the formula that makes these books work so well (high-powered, vividly described action, conflicted protagonists risking both their lives and careers, impressive historical detail), it is another factor that has distinguished the author's books since his early work.
The year is 1807; Lieutenant Richard Sharpe is planning to leave the army. Against his better judgment, he is persuaded to accompany the Hon John Lavisser to Copenhagen in what is essentially an act of political skulduggery: they are to deliver a bribe and (hopefully) avert a war. But with the French ensuring that Europe remains at boiling point, Sharpe finds himself protecting his charge against French agents and struggling to ensure that the Danish battle fleet is not used to replace every French ship destroyed at Trafalgar. Sharpe is a character we know well and like, and his customary characteristics (tenacity, bloody-mindedness) are well to the fore here, but, as always, the other characters are equally strikingly drawn: Lavisser is a splendidly complex figure, as are several of Sharpe's nemeses. But it's that wonderfully adroit orchestration of action and plot that keeps the pulse racing, with the bombardment of Copenhagen and the massive bloodshed resulting in a truly impressive set piece:
Sharpe, from his vantage point on the dune, could see the smoke wreathing the wall. The city's copper spires and red roofs showed above the churning cloud. A dozen houses were burning there, fired by the Danish shells that hissed across the canal. Three windmills had their sales tethered against the blustering wind that blew the smoke westwards and fretted the moored fleet to the north of Copenhagen.
--Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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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First Sentence
Captain Henry Willsen of His Majesty's Dirty Half Hundred, more formally the 50th Regiment of West Kent, parried his opponent's saber. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Captain Henry Willsen of His Majesty's Dirty Half Hundred, more formally the 50th Regiment of West Kent, parried his opponent's saber. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having read ( and in several cases re-read) all of the Sharpe tales to date I now know what to expect from each subsequent entry in the series. There will be lots of action, plenty of swashbuckling, superb descriptions of battles and background scenes, regular love interest for our hero and of course vindication in the end for Sharpe and comeuppance for the villain. The stories are nearly always of a very high class, occasionally peerless i.e, Rifles, Gold, Battle & Revenge. The most recent novels including Trafalgar & this novel Prey have failed to attain the peak of earlier tales. Maybe the absence of Harper and Hakeswill (an unmatchable character!) has something to do with it. The plots are well written but don't seem to grab the reader as much as before. The love interest doesn't seem right coming as quickly as it seems to do on the heels of the previous one. Still I'm sure that it's impossible to be 5 stars with every novel and I look forward to the next one in this and every other BC series with just as much anticipation.
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've read all the other Sharpe novels, so it was inevitable that I would get round to this one sooner or later.
If you are a fan, you'll probably read it anyway. If not, I suggest you start elsewhere.
Not that this is badly written, but given its position in the chronology of the character (early but not at the start) and that it is the umpteenth book written by Cornwell about his most famous character (Richard Sharpe) I would be hard pressed to say it offered anything new or insightful about the character or the period.
If you are a fan, you'll probably read it anyway. If not, I suggest you start elsewhere.
Not that this is badly written, but given its position in the chronology of the character (early but not at the start) and that it is the umpteenth book written by Cornwell about his most famous character (Richard Sharpe) I would be hard pressed to say it offered anything new or insightful about the character or the period.
A bit of background might help those who are interested.
Richard Sharpe is a fictional soldier in the British Army during the Napoleonic period.
The earliest novel (so far) is set in India in the 1799 and the latest is set in South America (mostly) in 1820-21, but the core novels and the earliest written are set in the Peninsular war (Britain & Portugal vs. France in conquered Spain) between 1809 and 1812 leading inevitably to Belgium and the fields at Waterloo.
If you can think of a major (or even minor) British military engagement in that time period, Cornwell has written a Richard Sharpe book about it (except the 'War of 1812' ..but it may yet come if he can get Sharpe there and back before waterloo).
This novel is set pre 1809 in the lovely city of Copenhagen and tells the story of the British attack on the city. The device that gets Sharpe there is a plot to bribe the Prince of Denmark into surrendering his fleet to the Brits to prevent the French from getting their hands on it (as a replacement for the fleet they lost at Trafalgar).
I wasn't aware previously that we had attacked Denmark or that we shelled the population of Copenhagen into surrender...not a particularly nice episode in our distinguished past, but given our record in WW2 it shouldn't have been a surprise, so Cornwell gets an extra point for that.
Otherwise it is rather formulaic and while an entertaining enough read, does nothing to challenge the reader or their preconceptions about the lead character. We know so much about Richard Sharpe from the other novels (joined the army to escape poverty, became a sergeant and was raised from the ranks to become an Officer for saving the {future} Duke of Wellington's life in India) that this is just another slice of boy’s own adventure.
I'd give it three stars, because its only for fans of the series.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It seems Bernard Cornwell has got a thing for naval war recently with Sharpe's Prey and Sharpe's Trafalgar coming soon after each other. Here the role is less focussing more on the activities in port than at sea, but never the less it's a different and therefore exciting setting than the norm.
Needless to say the book delivers on all levels, this is Sharpe as we know and love him, battles, adventure, the fate of the war once again resting on this one man's shoulders (if only the British public knew how much we owed this one man eh? Indeed it seems old Dick Sharpe won every major battle of the Napoleonic War :p) and the beautiful girl (does Sharpe get her? What do you think?).
Cornwell has lost nothing over the years, each of his new books has been a joy to read, this is no exception.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sharpe's Prey
It is difficult to find different words to relate to the author and this character. I find both to be excellent in their seperate fields. Read more
Published 1 month ago by AE Wheeler
Re-run
This is a re-run from a previous title which I cant remember. However, it's years since I read it and it is still a good Sharpe, worth it at this price.
Published 6 months ago by R. C. Tuck
Excellent story set in little known Napoleonic campaign
This is a brilliant tale of suspense and intrigue. The author uses the opportunity of this early adventure to provide more detail of Richard Sharpe's background. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Lee Hanley
New edition
The book was in immaculate condition however from the product listing I thought this was new book not a new edition and thus I have already read the book and was most disappointed... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ms. E. M. Wordsworth
Sharpe's Prey
This is a good book from the series but be carful, the Amazon comment indicates it is new but the book was written in 2001 and I returned it as I already had it in my bookcase but... Read more
Published 7 months ago by JohnH
Sheba
Not his best but , as always, Cornwell is a good read. I am afraid both of us are getting older.
Published 7 months ago by Smee55
sharpes prey
i enjoyed this book but i did not find as gripping as some of the other sharpe
books
books
Published 12 months ago by bill grey
Cornwell at His Best
Sharpes Prey ( paperback ) This book is one of the best of the Sharpe series its non stop action tends to make you not put it down. Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by D. B. Taylor
Sharpe's Prey
This whole series of Sharpe books are wonderful, they are exciting and even for a woman they are really readable. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2009 by G. Ward
sharpe review
Product arrived in excellent condition and within the space of 2 days would have no problem in using them again
Published on 9 July 2009 by Mrs. S. Francis
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