Another of Cornwell's series featuring Ricahrd Sharpe. I bought it cause I was going to Denmark where much of the action takes place. Good read.
Another page-turning adventure with Richard Sharpe, this time in Denmark.
This is the chronological Book 5 of the Richard Sharpe series.
Sharpe has finally made it out of India, off the seas, and into the green-jacketed 95th Rifles. As per usual, Sharpe is miserable, down on his luck, and in a scrape. The Army is sailing off to Copenhagen and Sharpe has been left behind.
I felt like this was a mostly-interesting filler book that Cornwell has added to the original series in order to flesh it out a bit. Sharpe finds himself in some interesting situations and a few new transitory characters are introduced, but there is very little that actually changes for Sharpe by the end of the book.
The main conflict centers around Englands plans to capture the Danish fleet before the French beat them to it. The story of the dreadful bombing of Copenhagen is a story that needs to be told, but in the scope of the Richard Sharpe series, this entire book felt more like a very detailed afterthought. It was interesting but not particularly important. Thankfully, Sharpe continues to develop as a character and that is what really made this particular book worth reading.
Sharpe has finally made it out of India, off the seas, and into the green-jacketed 95th Rifles. As per usual, Sharpe is miserable, down on his luck, and in a scrape. The Army is sailing off to Copenhagen and Sharpe has been left behind.
I felt like this was a mostly-interesting filler book that Cornwell has added to the original series in order to flesh it out a bit. Sharpe finds himself in some interesting situations and a few new transitory characters are introduced, but there is very little that actually changes for Sharpe by the end of the book.
The main conflict centers around Englands plans to capture the Danish fleet before the French beat them to it. The story of the dreadful bombing of Copenhagen is a story that needs to be told, but in the scope of the Richard Sharpe series, this entire book felt more like a very detailed afterthought. It was interesting but not particularly important. Thankfully, Sharpe continues to develop as a character and that is what really made this particular book worth reading.
The book begins with a good map of Copenhagen. I extended my service at Nelligen, W. Germany but chose to travel on leave to Vienna and so missed Denmark, thus the map is helpful. The story starts with an exercise in sword fighting in a London 'gymnasium' of sorts but Sharpe is not a participant. He is down and out, separated somehow from his Lady, has not found his footing in his new regiment, and bereft of his fortune in jewels (due to lawyers--I predict that somehow they are being held while the fate of the Indiaman is adjudicated and imagine that the dishonest EIC Captain spilled the beans that Sharpe had gotten them back in order to save his own neck). Sharpe is apparently going to get some revenge (and ready cash) from the master of the parish workhouse that did him (and others) so wrong. I am only partway through Chapter 2 so this promises to be a well written tale to read on the bus and subway, as have been the previous three books in this series by Cornwell.
Well, I wasn't entirely right on my suppositions, but I did enjoy the book and left it at the VA Hospital for others to read.
Well, I wasn't entirely right on my suppositions, but I did enjoy the book and left it at the VA Hospital for others to read.
Once again, I enjoyed Sharpe's adventures. Although, as far as the money goes...easy come... easy goes.
Sharpe travels to Denmark and back in this book. And he's not entirely happy about it. But I wonder how he will feel later on if, and when, he might find out about the lady he leaves behind. You don't want to be on Sharpe's list of enemies.
Sharpe travels to Denmark and back in this book. And he's not entirely happy about it. But I wonder how he will feel later on if, and when, he might find out about the lady he leaves behind. You don't want to be on Sharpe's list of enemies.
