July 1809 (The Sharpe Series - The Talavera Campaign

This is probably one of the best Sharpe novels in the series. It was one of the first that Cornwell wrote and his attention to the details of the Talavera campaign is excellent. Here we have Sharpe and his detached half-company of rifles doing standard duties on the skirmish line. There is a minimum of running around behind the enemy lines defying the odds as we so often get in the later novels. The episode at the bridge is a study of military incompetence. Sir Henry Simmerson, our classic snobby bad Anglo-aristo, becomes one of Sharpe's perenial enemies here. People like this did try to make life difficult for Wellsely in English politics and the novel picks up correctly on that, albeit a bit heavy handed at times.
The high-light of the story is certianly the build-up to the battle of Talavera in 1809. This was one of Wellsely's most difficult and dangerous battles, and his most costly after Assaye in India. The battle scenes are carefully constructed and taken heavily from Jac Weller's well known "Wellington in the Peninsular". Sharpe is cleverly inserted into the action in ways which are believeable and mesh with the history. His double confrontation with Messhrs. Berry and Gibbons illustrates how many old scores were likely settled during the confusion of battle.
Wellsley won a narrow victory at Talavera, winning his title of viscount Wellington, but losing a quarter of his army in the process. Cornwell does a great job describing the fascinating horror of Napoleanic combat. This is really his forte, and the descriptions of French columns slamming into British lines is right out of Jac Weller. This book is certainly vintage Sharpe, and remains one of the best.
It is a pity that the television version of this novel could not convey the scope of the battle. The tongue and cheek nature of the TV productions does a bit of dis-service to Cornwell in that way. Still, one of the best early Sharpe books.

This is technically the first in the Bernard Cornwell Sharpe series, and because of that, the first I read based on a timeline I saw on Mr. Cornwell's site. Granted, I started this series because I'd seen the Sharpe movies with Sean Bean, but don't let that detract from a wonderful story. Sharpe's Eagle is a fascinating story of the Napoleonic Wars (The Peninsular Wars) one rarely hears about. The detail of the battle, the battalion inner-workings, firearms of the day, and landscape were enough to keep me interest throughout the story.

As for Richard Sharpe, I found him to be a hard character, willing to do anything to get the job done (soldiering, the only thing he knows) but an honorable man, too. He fights for what he believes in as much as for what his commanding officers tell him to. Brought up from the ranks, a near impossibility in the British army at the time, Sharpe is far from what other officers consider a gentleman, and yet comports himself much more gentlemanly than they. It's part of his charm as well as what often gets him into trouble.

In the Historical Note, Mr. Cornwell mentions what really happened at Talavera, yet despite that, and the liberties he took with history, instead of being indignant, I'm far more curious. I'd usually toss this book against the wall and never read another in the series, yet the writing and story intrigue me to read more.

The supporting characters are equally well drawn, especially SGT. Harper, who follows Sharpe throughout the series. I look forward to reading more of their exploits.

Sharpe's adventures in Iberia continue, leading up to the pivotal battle of Talavera. Now an army under the command of Sir Arthur Wellesley advances from Portugal into Spain, facing a huge Napoleonic force but with the possibility of defeating it - if Spanish allies and raw troops just landed from Britain hold up their end of the bargain. A big if. Sharpe chafes as he sees others purchasing high rank, mostly undeserved, while his own accomplishments go unrewarded.

Sharpe salvages some honor from a disastrous preliminary defeat, when a mission to blow a bridge becomes a fiasco, and finds himself promoted. But he's now under the command of Simmerson, a politically connected parade-ground martinet with no idea how to fight a war. He will destroy Sharpe's career unless Sharpe can win a signal victory on the battlefield redeeming the regiment's lost honor. Simmerson's equally useless nephew Gibbons, an arrogant dandy, from whom Sharpe rescues the lovely camp follower Josefina, becomes his enemy as well. Watching Sharpe's back throughout are the two Irishmen, Major Hogan the engineer and the redoubtable Sergeant Patrick Harper.

As enjoyable as the others, this book only lacks Cornwell's usual battlefield clarity. The book includes no map, and Cornwell's verbal layout of Talavera, the Tagus river, two tributaries and some key hills never really came clear to me.

In the second of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels, Richard Sharpe finds himself in Spain, still in the fight against the French and still commanding his cherished green jacketed Riflemen. Sharpe is not a happy man, though. With his home regiment, the 95th Rifles, back in England, Sharpe has no way to either resupply his threadbare men or to gain his next promotion. Further, he has ostensibly been saddled with Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson, an armchair soldier who knows everything about battle -- even though he's never been in one. Sharpe's Riflemen, along with Simmerson's untried battalion, the South Essex, are dispatched on what should be an easy assignment. However, Simmerson exceeds Sharpe's worst expectations by leading the South Essex into a needless battle that turns into bloody rout. But Sharpe manages to salvage the day and a portion of the South Essex's pride. Sharpe receives no gratitude from Simmerson, though, only blame and Simmerson's promise to see him busted back into the enlisted ranks. So, as Sir Arthur Wellsley's army marches to what will be a decisive battle at the town of Talavera, Richard Sharpe's mind is on enemies ahead and beside him, and on an act of crazy-bravery that he must perfom to not only save his career but to keep a promise to a dead friend.

The first Sharpe novel by Bernard Cornwell isn't perfect. The pace drags at times and the gun capture scene in the first part of the book isn't portrayed in a plausible manner. But this is still a very entertaining debut and it's easy to see why readers wanted more Sharpe adventures. Recommended reading.

"Sharpe's Eagle" may have been the first Richard Sharpe novel that Bernard Cornwell wrote, but the formula of this novel permeates the entire series. For fans of "you are there" historical fiction of a military bent, that is a great thing.

I came late to Cornwell's Sharpe series, after having read many of the author's other works (the Grail Quest novels, the Warlord trilogy, "Stonehenge," and "Redcoat"). So I have been able to start at the "beginning" of the Sharpe saga with "Sharpe's Tiger" and the India trilogy. Accordingly, Sharpe and his fellow Riflemen as well as many of the commanders are familiar characters by now. It's interesting how smoothly "Sharpe's Eagle" fits into the series even though it was the very first novel.

"Eagle" recounts the British army's struggles in Spain against the French and, even more so, their Spanish allies. Look for some notorious Spain-bashing as Cornwell derisively depicts its rag-tag infantry led by lazy peacocks for officers, including a real historical event where thousands of Spanish infantry are spooked by their own musket barrage! Not much subtlety, here.

Fans of Cornwell's novels will also recognize the villain of the piece, fat Colonel Simmerson and his nephew, Lieutenant Gibbons. Sharpe, our admirable hero, has done a rare thing and won his officer's rank solely by merit, largely unheard of in the British army. Instead, most officers bought promotion after a suitable period in a given rank, and Cornwell is of the opinion, his idol General Arthur Wellesley notwithstanding, that this led to dozens of craven British officers, all of whom seem to encounter Sharpe during their career.

Colonel Simmerson leads his battalion, including Sharpe, to the ultimate disgrace - losing their battlefield colors. Foisting the blame onto Sharpe, Simmerson hopes to avoid shame himself as well as to send Sharpe to a death sentence serving in the disease-infested West Indies. But Sharpe has another idea - salvage the battalion's pride by doing the impossible - stealing one of Napoleon's eagle standards from the juggernaut French infantry.

An action-packed novel, "Sharpe's Eagle" also finds time for Sharpe to have a little romance, but this element of the story is entirely secondary to the main focus, which is Cornwell's unrivaled mastery of depicting a battle scene. A mere 270-odd pages, "Sharpe's Eagle" will defy your efforts to put it down.

I highly recommend reading these books in chronological order, and this was the recommendation of the good people over at Bernard Cornwell's website as well. Get reading!

Set around the Talevera campaign of July 1809, this first installment in the Sharpe saga deploys all the elements found throughout Cornwell's entertaining Napoleonic War series: the friendship between Sharpe and the Irish Sgt. Harper, their bravery and cunning, the ignorance and arrogance that pervaded the foppish upper class officer corps, a beautiful woman, and rousing battle scenes. Cornwell uses this first book to firmly establish the absence of meritocracy in the British army of the time, as armchair commander Simmerson needlessly leads the South Essex (including Sharpe and his Riflemen) into a debacle in which they lose the King's Colours, thus disgracing the whole army. Also clearly established is the tension between Cpt. Sharpe, who was promoted from the enlisted ranks for an act of heroism, and the upper class officer corps, who paid for their rank, irrespective of any actual military knowledge or ability. Simmerson and his toadying nephew Lt. Gibbons attempt to place the blame for the rout on Sharpe, and his only hope to save his rank is to perform an outrageous act of courage in battle at Talevera. Meanwhile, there's a beautiful Spanish woman he rescues from Gibbons and a crony, whose honor he must avenge. All is resolved at the Talevera, as Cornwell clearly and crisply recounts the military maneuvering on both a macro and micro level without getting overly technical. Also introduced in the book are Major Hogan, the Irish engineer who develops over the series into Lord Wellington's spy, as well as Lord Wellington himself, who is fond of Sharpe, but not hesitant to use his deadly skills. Above all, Sharpe is presented as a full action hero, strong, smart, roguishly handsome, honorable, deadly and ruthless. A perfect start to an engaging historical adventure series.

This is another entry on the Sharpe series. It is fun, entertaining and very readable. Cornwell's research is as excellent as usual. He takes some licenses for the shake of the story and continuity, but this is OK. Some people are outraged by the portrait of some of the real historical characters, but historical characters are rarely depicted accurately in historical fiction, so I think this can be forgiven. Besides, usually a more serious account of these characters is given at the end of the book on the Historical Note.

Many people insist in compare this series with Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander. I don't think this is fair for any of the series, they are different entities. What they have in common is that once you start you may get hooked and devour one book after another...

And in the literary world today that is a rare and marvelous thing.

Information taught me that Sharpe's Eagle was Bernard Cornwell's first Sharpe book. It does not escape me that the genre is more favored by male readers than the female ones.
Sharpe's Eagle is a tiny bit different from the rest of B.C.'s series, probably because this was the first in about 30 years of writing, it (still) has a hint of awkwardness. It is clear however that Bernard Cornwell is a great story teller. I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to read real historical fiction.

Sharpe's Eagle is an exciting and riveting drama set in the 19th century and follows the story of Richard Sharpe and his doughty band of comrades. I listened to the unabridged audio edition of Sharpes' Eagles, and I really, really liked it. My only issue with Cornwell's writing is that some of his characters are similar to other characters in other series (such as the Starbuck series). Also, I think Cornwell's characters are somewhat shallow. I would like to see him concentrate more on developing characters which are more than just same archetypes. Overall, this was a great book, sure to delight fans of historical action-adventure.

First in the series, "Sharpe's Gold" gives the reader a vivid sense of warfare and adventure. These are good books to read if you've enjoyed Hornblower (C S Forester), Aubrey/Maturin (Patrick O'Brian), or Bolitho (Alexander Kent) novels. They are easier to read and less crowded with fact - ornithology, sailsmanship - than O'Brian's books. There is quite a bit of repetition from book to book - Sergeant Harper's amazing seven-barreled rifle is explained often enough to begin to sound preposterous. But it's probably true - the author has researched the subject thoroughly.
If you want more literary merit there's Stendahl ("The Charterhouse of Parma") or Tolstoy ("War and Peace") to cover the same territory in more depth -- and just as vividly.
Surprisingly the actor who plays Sharpe in the TV series looks a lot like John Wayne did in 1933.

I love the Sharpe books. I'm amazed that Cornwell can be so prolific (in addition to the dozens of books in the Sharpe series, he's written novels on the American Civil War and early Britain) and produce books that are always spellbinding and entertaining. The history appears to be very accurate and well researched. He even visits and walks the battlefields before writing. Sharpe's Eagle is a good one. Of course, you have to get into these books with the understanding that they're violent (as war always is) and that Richard Sharpe is a pretty ruthless fellow, at least when it comes to disposing of his enemies on the British side. It is this violent and ruthless nature that makes Sharpe a successful (you might say amazing) soldier.

I have been working through the "Sharpe" novels as I am interested in military history and having been to Portugal I know some of the territory he is writing about. He paints a good picture and the history is part of the novel. I also like his comments at the end about the actual history.

tha battle descriptions were great. C obviously knew what he was doing. good details. the book is ort of happenings form a soldier's life in the napoleonic war. there are good and bad people. one snob officer not knowing anything, a few men becoming sharpe's enemies. intrigues, warfare, plunder etc. all right. good work from C. but there's not much of a plot, more like an outline of warfare and intrigue. my main problem is the way the characteres were described. a snob that never learns. an evil man. a good soldier, poor, unjustly not promoted. and C's sense of injustice got a bit tedious. at times i got annoyed by this. his characters were at times hard to digest. i don't know whether it was because of the stereotypes or not.

Avenging the loss of his Battalion's colours, Richard Sharpe and his trusted friend Sergeant Patrick Harper, set out to capture a French battle standard... an Eagle.
In Sharpe's Eagle, Cornwell again gives us the detail, and the fearsome exhilaration and confusion of personal combat and brings it to life. As with Sharpe's Rifles, I couldn't put this one down. As soon as I read it, I had to go to the library and get the next one.

A good read with periods or exciting prose. At times it seemed that the impossible situation could not be resolved, and then the tide of battle shifted to make escape possible. Looking forward to the further adventures of Sharp!

The second in the acclaimed Sharpe series, Sharpe's Eagle finds Captain Sharpe and Sergeant Harper on a mission to turn the Light Company of the South Essex, commanded by a horrid idiot named Simmerson and his second in command Gibbon, into a crack outfit. Filled with searing action, brutal dialogue and pure swashbuckling adventure, Sharpe's Eagle is perhaps one of the best Sharpe books ever.

Sharpe's Eagle details how our hero, Richard Sharpe, along with Patrick Harper capture the first French Eagle, a french standard, in the heat of battle to redeam the demoralized South Essex regiment who early in the novel lose one of their colors due to the bumbling of Col. Henry Simmerson. Sharpe utilizes this heroic act to save his career and gain a fame that gains him a place in the heart of even the Prince of Wales. A must read for any Sharpe fan and probably one of Cornwell's best novel's of all time!

I have read many historical novels in my life and this one ranks high on the list. Cornwell does a very adequate job of conveying the feeling to you that the society of Britain is changing due to the coming of mass industrialization and the changes in class based military that eventually put merit before social standing. His use of analysis of the actual battlefield tactics of the Napoleanic era is fascinating and although the work is fiction I believe that a student of European history would find this to be a useful work to "get in the mood" to study more mudane and boring aspects of the time period. I would recommend this as a suitable book for a highschool history class or early college history major.

"Sharpe's Eagle" is "The Triumph and the Glory" of the Napoleonic War novels. What Rustad's WWII novel does for the Second World War, Cornwell's skill has done for this earlier era. I'm more familiar with war novels about 20th Century conflict, but greatly admired Cornwell's Civil War books so thought I'd give his Richard Sharpe books a try. I'm glad I did! He brings his gift for drama, flair for characterization, and vouminous knowledge of the military art to the fore with "Sharpe's Eagle."

I previously skipped over Sharpe's Eagle-the second in the BBC's television adaptations from the novels by Bernard Cornwell- because I was reading the book. The first Sharpe novel by Cornwell, Eagle is a fine historical work. Surprisingly, the TV adaptation does the written word justice.

When we first meet Richard Sharpe in the Eagle novel, he's a lieutenant raised from the ranks after rescuing Wellington years before in India. Sharpe is a scarred and rough soldier, originally a member of the 95th Rifles. After being left behind by his regiment during battle, Sharpe and his remaining handful of crack shot riflemen move to the South Essex battalion. Sergeant Harper is as close to his superior officer as one in the ranks can be, but Sharpe has his eyes on a captaincy won on the battlefield-a promotion that cannot be taken from him. He can't afford to buy a commission like the spoiled gentlemen do. New colonel Sir Henry Simmerson doesn't make things easy for Sharpe-nor does young and greedy Lieutenant Christian Gibbons. The slick nephew of Simmerson contests Sharpe on and off the battlefield. Both men are vying for the affections of abandoned but high class and expensive Portuguese lady Josefina. Sharpe slowly realizes that the only way to gain respect, wealth, fame, and promotion is to capture an imperial eagle.

Written in 1981, Cornwell might have a tough time publishing Eagle today. Although there's currently 21 Sharpe books-the most recent Sharpe's Fury was publishing in 2006-British born Cornwell's writing style is distinctly European here. (Later Sharpe novels are more American in feel and have become influenced by the television series.) Cornwell's British-ness doesn't detract from the story; the historical accuracy, the richly detailed locales, characters, or Napoleonic vibes. In fact, that British-ness adds to Eagle's charm. Some Americans, however, may have a slow start adjusting to the English wording and punctuation. Fortunately, once you're into the book, these quips disappear. The battle action comes off the page, revenge, even romance. Unlike his hesitant Napoleonic compatriot Horatio Hornblower, Sharpe knows what he wants and usually gets it. Whether it's a little lovin' or the fine line between murder and killing on the battlefield, the reader is routing for Sharpe.

Director Tom Clegg's 1994 adaptation of Eagle takes all the good from the novel and places it onscreen. Script writer Eoghan Harris sometimes gives us line for line dialogue from the book. Harris knows the written Sharpe to the T, and it shows onscreen. The attention to detail and the pull of material from the Sharpe canon keep Eagle authentic to the books and the history.

Sean Bean plays the titular Sharpe to perfection. Even though the reader reads time and again of the dark haired and scarred Sharpe, the blonde Bean carries all Sharpe's rough edges along with his intelligence and veiled sensitivity. Daragh O'Malley is likewise ideally cast as Patrick Harper. His scale and wit bring the Irishman to life. In a book and film with so many characters-officers and soldiers coming and going with each storyline-the entire cast of Sharpe's Eagle looks and feels the part. Some folks just don't look like they belong in a period piece, but everyone here is either Napoleonic gritty or perfectly Jane Austen. Assumpta Serena is beautiful yet strong as guerilla leader Teresa Moreno, and new Bond Daniel Craig is a young and delightfully ruthless addition-even if his Lietuenant Berry has swapped vile places with Lieutenant Gibbons onscreen.

But of course, movies have to change up a few things. Written years later as a prequel, Sharpe's Rifles introduces the Sharpe characters to each other, naturally making a good fit as the first film adaptation. Much as I like the Teresa Moreno character, her premature introduction in Rifles and her odd place in the Eagle film diminishes the onscreen relationship of Sharpe and Josefina LaCosta (Katia Callabero). It's also a bit confusing later on in the Sharpe's Enemy film when Elizabeth Hurley plays Lady Farthingale-one of the aliases used by Josefina in the novels. More riflemen are also given names and personality in the television series. Only elder statesman rifleman Hagman appears in the early novels. Later novels, of course, incorporate the onscreen Chosen Men.

The film adaptation of Sharpe's Eagle brings the book's essence to life. Every time I watch, I think to myself, `this is a damn good show.' Sharpe's Eagle is neither a perfect book nor a perfect film. Both are, however, as near to perfection as is perhaps possible. Fine storytelling, characters, love triangles, action, history. If you're a fan of all things Napoleonic or even if you just like English period pieces, Sharpe's Eagle is not to be missed in either medium. Look for the DVD in several available Sharpe collections. The novel may be elusive in big box bookstores, but it is definitely worth the used store hunts or online purchase. Do, however, be prepared to read the other twenty books- Eagle is that addictive. Just look at all the Sharpe reviews I've done!

"Sharpe's Eagle" is "The Triumph and the Glory" of the Napoleonic War novels. What Rustad's WWII novel does for the Second World War, Cornwell's skill has done for this earlier era. I'm more familiar with war novels about 20th Century conflict, but greatly admired Cornwell's Civil War books so thought I'd give his Richard Sharpe books a try. I'm glad I did! He brings his gift for drama, flair for characterization, and vouminous knowledge of the military art to the fore with "Sharpe's Eagle."