Sharpe's Sword (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series #5)

I keep lists of the 20 to 40 books I read each year (anal, eh?), and this is the first in years I've given a full 5 stars. (I even forgive Mr. Cornwell now for the only regrettable book in the series so far, "Sharpe's Battle".) Highly recommended.


Sharpe does it again   August 24, 2001
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Why did I like this book?
*Excellent adventure
*Thrilling intrigue
*Exciting military strategies
*Extraordinary camaraderie
*Vicious villains

I don't know pick one...I enjoyed Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe's Sword". The year is 1812, the location is Salamanca Spain. It is here that General Wellington must battle the French forces for the Western portion of the peninsula. Wellington's goal is to defeat the French, Sharpe's goal is to survive and be with his men. Captain Sharpe finds himself surrounded by spies and treachery, friends become enemies and enemies become friends. Sharpe can only place his trust in his faithful chosen men or in the doughty Major Hogan. Everyone else is suspect. Unlike the other Sharpe books, "Sword" doesn't spend a lot of time with the battles. Sharpe is drawn into a different battle field... the battle field of palace intrigue. Before long Sharpe is sharing the company of the beautiful... and mysterious La Marquesa. He battles the evil Colonel Leroux. Leroux's claim to fame is his usage of torture and cruelty. Along the way Sharpe is shot, lied to and very nearly stabbed by the same sword he covets.

I started with the PBS/BBS series, graduated to the audio tapes and now have read most of the novels. I wholeheartedly endorse the Sharpe series. It's great entertainment.


More Intrigue, Less Battle, Still Excellent   July 4, 2001
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This entry in Corwell's Napoleonic Wars series follows the further exploits of Cpt. Sharpe during the Salamanca Campaign of June and July, 1812. It brings the same ingredients to the tale that can be found in abundance throughout the series: action, intrigue, a beautiful woman, gory battle scenes, and a lethal villain. This time, the villain is a French spymaster keen to discover the identity of England's top spy, "El Mirador," and destroy his network. Although captured at the very beginning, he later manages to escape and elude capture, almost killing Sharpe and Harper along the way. The following scenes of Sharpe's journal through the army medical corps is horrific. Cornwell follows the nastiness with some of the series most sentimental and tender moments, as he shows Harper's devotion in nursing Sharpe back to health. Interwoven is the now-married Sharpe's temptation by the lusciousness of "La Marquessa," a French/Spanish aristocrat at the top of Salamanca's social ladder. Here, Cornwell does exceedingly well at portraying the opulence of the upper crust, and Sharpe's discomfort in mixing with them. Kudos are also due for his seamless insertion of two historically based Irishmen as important supporting characters. Less successful is his sleight of hand at concealing the identity of "El Mirador," which somewhat weakens the enjoyment. The battle scenes take up somewhat less space than in some of the other books, but as always, are nicely done. Another fine entry in the series.


My 2nd favorite Sharpe's book   November 6, 2000
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This book had me from the start. The plot is more imaginative than many, and the battles are just as exciting. Helene adds a bit of excitement, also.

The historical notes, as well as the way in which the facts were weaved into the novel, continue to increase my appreciation of Mr Cornwell. I hope the well is far from dry!


Sharpe and Harper: a true friendship revealed!   July 18, 1998
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This book in the Sharpe series is one of my all time favorites because it illustrates the reguard that Sgt Harper has for his commanding officer. Wounded by a sadistic enemy officer, Sharpe's only hope lays in his friend Harper and Harper's construction of a replacement sword for Sharpe. While such a relationship between an officer and sgt probably was unheard of, it still makes a facinating read. One sees a strong resemblance between the Sharpe/Harper relationship and the Frodo/Sam relationship in the Lord of the Rings Series by Tolkien. Cornwell does a good job humanizing his characters in this book and making them seem so real to the reader.