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 enlarge | Author: Bernard Cornwell
Creator: Paul Mcgann
Publisher: HarperCollins Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $22.70
Buy Used: $18.75
You Save: $3.95 (17%)
Avg. Customer Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 4131916
Format: Abridged
Media: Audio Cassette
Number Of Items: 2
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 3.9 x 0.7
ISBN: 0001048945
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780001048942
ASIN: 0001048945
Publication Date: September 25, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Not bad but not my fave Sharpe novel April 1, 2006
"Sharpe's Sword" is a decent entry into the Sharpe series, but I happen to tend to prefer the Sharpe adventures that are primarily military rather than the ones with espionage plots. And, for my taste, "Sharpe's Sword" is a bit heavy on the spy angle and a hair light on the battles. But the book's action scenes, while failing to rival those in, say, "Sharpe's Rifles," "Sharpe's Eagle" or "Sharpe's Company," are still pretty satisfying. "Sharpe's Sword" is far from the weakest of the generally very strong Sharpe series (of the ones that I've read so far, I'd say that "Sharpe's Prey" my least favorite), but it doesn't quite rank among the very best, either.
The best Sharpe novel October 21, 2004
I've been reading through the entire series chronologically and up until now i've been hard pressed to pick a favorite. After reading Sharpe's Sword however i have a clear choice.
In Sharpe's Sword, Cornwell gives the reader his true best - putting together a plot so interesting that one can even claim that in this novel it trumps his ability at "battlefield writing" where i believe Cornwell is the best living author- and that's saying something.
If you want a good introduction to cornwell's writing ability and you don't mind starting most of the way through a series i highly recommend Sharpe's Sword.
Spies and battles October 15, 2004
This novel was reprinted by Signet in 2004. The story is set before, during, and after the battle of Salmanca. Sharpe crosses paths with the evil French Colonel Leroux, a man who will kill his own followers if it suits his purpose, and is given orders from General Wellington to hunt him down. Events lead Sharpe into a relationship with yet another woman, and we find him cheating on his wife. Experience has never taught Sharpe never to trust a woman, and he gets what he deserves.
Sharpe is given up for dead, but miraculously rebounds with the help of Sergeant Harper, and if able to rejoin his company during the battle. Enemy agents and misinformation play a role in the planning of the battle. Some secret identities become a bit transparent as the story progresses. The White Hats win, at least if you are on the side of the British.
Sharpe and Salamanca, 1812 September 27, 2004
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I always thought this one of the better Sharpe novels. After reading it again after seeing both the battlefield and city of Salamanca I was confirmed in this belief. The descriptions of the city of Salamanca are accurate. This is a lovely place, and Cornwell no doubt was moved by its beauty to impart these feelings into the novel. Sharpe's confrontation with Leroux is your standard bit we have come to expect in these novels. The action is well paced and quite good. Even Sharpe's affair with the mysterious "Golden Whore" while predictable is nicely done. The wound that he receives from Leroux is dramatically done, although I doubt he could have recovered so well in such a short time. Sharpe's pain and suffering in the Dying Room are thoughfully done. One almost feels his delirium. The central piece in the novel is the battle of Salamanca itself, sadly lacking in the TV version of the novel unfortunatly. Here Cornwell writes what he does best, battle descriptions. The violent ebb and flow of this epic confrontation shows Cornwell at his best. This was truly the deciding battle of the Peninsular War, and probably was the most balanced in terms of forces and troop qaulity on both sides. After having visited the battlefield, Cornwell's description falls nicely into place. Of course Sharpe saves the day as usual, but its believeable. One of the better novels in the series.
Possibly the best in the series! May 13, 2003
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
In order of publication, this is the 5th book in the Richard Sharpe series , but the 11th in a "timeline". As such , the author Bernard Cornwell has smoothed out his writing style to give Sharpe a lot more depth of character and a three dimensional aspect lacking in some of the earlier adventures. In addition to Richard Sharpe ,Major Hogan , Wellington , and Patrick Harper , there are many interesting new characters introduced--La Marquesa (Helena) , Lord Jack Spears , "El Mirador" , and of course a vile villian , Colonel Laroux. All of these characters are artfully blended to achieve an exciting military adventure in which our hero Sharpe is gravely wounded ,and is rescued by his friend Patrick Harper. After being nursed back to health , Sharpe seeks his vengance against the man who wounded him. The plot of this story involves a possible comprimise of the intelligence network of Major Michael Hogan and the possible exposure of his top agent , the mysterious El Mirador. Colonel Laroux , sent by Napoleon Bonaparte himself to destroy El Mirador , proves to be a ruthless enemy devoid of any honor. To reveal any more than this would indeed compromise the book's enjoyment for the reader , so I'll stop right here. This volume seems to have it all--excitement,intrigue,romance,and of course the inevitable battle action! Of the 11 volumes I have read in timeline order , this one is right at the top of "my list" along with "Sharpe's Tiger" and "Sharpe's Triumph" for sheer entertainment value and excitement! Five stars and highly recommended.
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