Sharpe's Sword

by Bernard Cornwell

Book Overview

France's most ruthless assassin failed to kill Captain Richard Sharpe on the first try. He will never get a second. Sharpe follows Leroux across the battlefield, determined to exact his revenge with the cold steel of his sword. The best series character of the '80s.--Stephen King.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140243046
• ISBN13: 9780140243048
• Release Date: August 1987
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Sharpe and Salamanca, 1812

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!

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.

Best in the Sharpe series so far

I have been reading the Sharpe series "mostly in order". Sharpe's Sword, to my taste, was the best so far. Cornwell had really matured as a writer by this time. I would not have expected a description of a near-fatal wound and its effects on a character we absolutely KNOW is going to survive to be so riveting and stirring. As always, Cornwell's closing historical note is like dessert after a fine meal, or perhaps more correctly like the moment where a magician steps back to reveal his secrets -- and you're left more in awe than ever, wondering, "How does he do it?"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

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.

Sharpe and Harper: a true friendship revealed!

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.