Amazon.co.uk: Sharpe's Prey: Bernard Cornwell: Books

Sharpe's Trafalgar by Bernard Cornwell

(33) �5.49

Sharpe's Rifles by Bernard Cornwell

(6) �5.49

Sharpe's Fortress: Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Gawilghur, December 1803 by Bernard Cornwell

(17) �5.49

Sharpe's Havoc by Bernard Cornwell

(17) �5.49

Sharpe's Eagle by Bernard Cornwell

(8) �5.49

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Hardcover: 260 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (23 April 2001)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0002258757
ISBN-13: 978-0002258753
Product Dimensions: 24.1 x 16.3 x 2.8 cm
Average Customer Review: (17 customer reviews)
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 274,613 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
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#47 in Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > C > Cornwell, Bernard > Sharpe Novels

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This is item 5 in The Sharpe's Adventures Series.

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

The Times
'What makes these books such a successful formula is the blend of action, well-researched historical setting, colourful characterization and a juicy sub-plot' --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Sharpe's Trafalgar by Bernard Cornwell

(33) �5.49

Sharpe's Rifles by Bernard Cornwell

(6) �5.49

Sharpe's Fortress: Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Gawilghur, December 1803 by Bernard Cornwell

(17) �5.49

Sharpe's Havoc by Bernard Cornwell

(17) �5.49

Sharpe's Eagle by Bernard Cornwell

(8) �5.49

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17 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

(17 customer reviews)

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

Good enough for existing fans..but won't attract newcomers, 28 Dec 2003

By	WJ Davidson (Edinburgh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sharpe's Prey (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.

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.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Good solid storytelling but lacking some of the normal spark, 8 Oct 2001

By A Customer

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.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Rediscover unpublicised history., 20 Nov 2002

By	A. J. Watson "Bones" (Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sharpe's Prey (Paperback)

Exactly what we have come to expect from Mr.Cornwell - intriguing plot, bloodthirsty action, skulduggery, espionage and (of course) the usual healthy dose of lust, both carnal and pecuniary.
Although, in this little-publicised episode in British history, Sharpe seems strangely inept and less logical than normal, doubtless due to his recent bereavement and near-bankruptcy. At times we see the hard man reduced to tears at some small reminder ... this unmanning shows in the guileless way he goes about his task of ensuring that a chest of gold gets to the right place with the desired effect. Instead, he lets himself be duped - and almost killed - several times before gathering his wits; which he does in grand style, saving the day, finishing the job and settling a few scores - looks like it all turns out fine in the end, doesn't it? Read it and find out...
The writing, and the action, flows so well that the book is finished before one realises - leaving one gasping for more.
Once again the tale is based on historical facts, brilliantly dramatised; and summarised in an illuminating appendix - Mr.Cornwell's place at the top of the military history writers' roll of honour is assured. *****

Incidentally, the background history to this is told in Richard Woodman's 'Baltic Mission' - also recommended.

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