Sharpe's Rifles - Bernard Cornwell

I normally don't buy a book after watching a film or television programme as I usually end up disappointed because the adaptation didn't actually live up to the written word. However, I was persuaded to have a try at reading Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books (by someone who knew I'd enjoyed the television series), and this, Sharpe's Rifles is the first that I have read. This is neither the first book in the series that was written, nor the first in chronological order, but actually corresponds to the opening episode of the television series (and was indeed written at series' producers request). I started with this particular book because I was curious as to how it would ...  Read the complete review

Sharpe's Rifles. Richard Sharpe and the French Invasion of Galacia,January 1809. Author - Bernard Cornwell I've had a rotten weekend.I can't stop sneezing,I'm burning up,heads thumping,I've no energy and my eyes are red raw.I'm sure this is a situation that many of us are familiar with;the good old winter blues.A perculiarly British experience,no doubt. Why are you wittering on about your cold when you're meant to be reviewing a novel? Simple,I'm getting around to explain that I've spent the weekend in bed. Well?So what? With little on T.V to take my fancy,I've found myself looking for something ...  Read the complete review

This Bernard Cornwell book is set in the aftermath of the devastating defeat of the army under Sir John Moore at Corunna during the Peninsular War in Portugal and is our first introduction to the character of Richard Sharpe. Cornwell ably describes the limbo that Sharpe finds himself in. As a officer promoted from the ranks his fellow officers see him as an upstart and the men in the ranks don’t believe he can be a “proper” officer because he isn’t of the gentry. Because of this antipathy towards him he is given the role of battalion quartermaster, a job reserved for either those that fail or like Sharpe are perceived to be above their ...  Read the complete review

Sharpe's Rifles is part of a series of books by Bernard Cornwell, the series is based on a fictional British Soldier, Richard Sharpe during the 17/1800's, it is historically fiction based on real battles and sometimes real events during this time. The books where originally during the Napoleonic wars but Bernard Cornwell has since written about his time before this war. This book was written 6th in the Sharpe series and was published in 1988, by HarperCollins and is also available in audio book. The Story Richard Sharpe has recently been promoted to Lieutenant from the ranks and given command of a squad of men in the 95th Rifle Regiment ...  Read the complete review

Sharpes Rifles and indeed every single one of the Sharpe series of novels by Bernard Cornwell are well worth reading. If you like your books to be entertaining, then you have to read this series. Sharpes rifles follows the journey of Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, a officer raised from thew ranks, as he trys to lead a small force of men to safety across French occupied Spain. The men he's trying to return think less of his abilities, and mutiny looks on the cards until a Spanish military unit helps to prove Sharpes worth, and the mens loyalty. Once you start reading this book you will find it almost impossible to put down, and when you have finished ...  Read the complete review