Sharpe's Tiger (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series #1)

This is the first Sharpe novel I've read and what a mistake it was to wait so long. My general avoidance of fiction, especially of the serial nature, caused me to foolishly ignore this series. Sharpe's Tiger was a mixed blessing: Yes, I loved the book, but as another reviewer warned, I am now addicted. Thankfully, I picked the right book to start with, this being the first chronologically in Sharpe's military career.
Now, rather than go into detail about the plot and characters (which have been adequately covered in other reviews) I wanted to underscore how impressed I am with the historical accuracy. Cornwell has been first rate in his attention to detail and in describing the conditions of military life in the British Army of the period, even in drawing distinctions between regular army regiments and those of the British East India Company.
But even more impressive is the amount of research that must have gone into writing such a novel. With historical fiction you always have people such as myself looking for errors and making pedantic statements like, "But the 52nd Regiment of Foot was never involved in the attack on Java". But Sharpe's Tiger, and presumably the rest of the series, is meticulously researched. Probably not one person in 10,000 has heard of the battle of Mallavelly (the only reference I have found is in Vol.4 of Fortescue's History of the British Army which is, sadly, long ago out-of-print) yet Cornwell presents a robust picture of this engagement.
Being particularly interested in the Peninsular War (the setting for many of the other Sharpe adventures), I was elated to finally discovered what so many fans of Cornwell had known for a long time: The Sharpe series, like Hornblower, is sure to be a classic of this genre.

This is the first Sharpe series book that I read, and it won't be the last -- I plan to follow the series in chronological order (although that's not the order in which Cornwell wrote them).
Richard Sharpe is an infantry grunt who joined the British army to avoid jail for his crimes. Beaten down by his sergeant, trudging through southern India in England's ubiquitous (woolen) redcoat, he first considers fleeing the army but is soon framed for a whipping after encountering his first firefight. Events and a sympathetic officer contrive to launch Sharpe into a spy mission to rescue a British officer who is in the custody of the Tippoo of Mysore -- the man whose kingdom the British are trying to topple in order to control southern India and who has planned a surprise for the British for their impending attack on his fortress.
Cornwell keeps the action flowing, uses his viewpoint characters well and has vast knowledge of both his general historical subject as well as the tactics, arms and daily life of the British army in the Napoleonic era. Sharpe is a common soldier with a strong will to survive and an appreciation of loyalty and bravery, not a super-heroic James Bond with old weapons. And Cornwell doesn't pull his punches regarding the darker aspects of British imperialism. This is accessible writing that flows, unlike other historical novelists who write with an eye for the arcane. Good stuff.

The character of Richard Sharpe was first introduced to readers in 1981 through the wonderful novel, Sharpe's Eagle. That excellent book recounts the exploits of Sharpe and his squad of "Chosen Men" during the Battle of Talavera in Spain 1809. In the years since, Cornwell has written more than 20 Sharpe novels to great acclaim. With Sharpe's Tiger he has created a worthy place to begin a wonderful journey with Sharpe. This book introduces us to Sharpe at the very beginning of his life in the British Army of the early 1800s. In this book Sharpe is not a brash lieutenant trying to prove that he belongs as a commoner among the aristocratic ranks of British officers. Here he is a simple private trying to survive a sometimes boring, sometimes deadly mission to expand and bring order to Britain's holdings in India while fighting powerful native forces. Unforgettable characters we will see in later books (The evil Obadiah Hakeswill; the honorable Hector McCandless; the naive but brave William Lawford; and of course, Arthur Wellesley, who will become Wellington) are introduced for the first time here as we learn how Sharpe became the man that captured an eagle at Talavera and rose from the ranks to become a famous British officer. Read this book if you like adventurous historical fiction with great characters and interesting settings. I guarantee you will want to read the whole series by the time you finish three chapters.

This book is fast paced and full of adventure. The author does a really good job at describing the characters and the backdrop of the story. I know almost nothing about this part of history and the author does a really good job at explaining everything so one understands how everything of that era works. This book is what I love about reading, finding out new things and Sharpe is a great protagonist. Will definitely read more of the Sharpe series in the future.

This is the first thing I have read by Bernard Cornwell, and I am glad that I have the series to yet read. I found this a fast-moving, slashing story and one has the impresion that it is carefully researched. I read my encyclopedia's entries on the siege and battle of Seringapathan and as far as I could tell the book is all right, except that the fictional characters are not mentioned in the article. (: We all know of Arthur Wellesley but some of us did not know of Baird. In the Brittanica article on Baird we find: "In the defeat of Col. Baillie's force by Hyder Ali, Baird was taken prisoner, and remained a prisoner for four years. After a short interval at home he returned to India in 1791 and took part in the campaign against Tippoo. After serving at the Cape of Good Hope he returned to India, and took part in the last war against Tippoo. Maj. Gen. Baird stormed Seringapatan and became master of the place where he had so long been a prisoner. He was bitterly disappointed when the command of the place was given to Sir A. Wellesley..." So nice to learn accurate history from rip-roaring fiction. I have read all the reviews to date (32) and agree with the good things everybody says.

Sharpe's Tiger is the first chronologically (although not the first written) in Bernard Cornwell's acclaimed Richard Sharpe series. In Sharpe's Tiger Private Richard Sharpe is in India fighting with the 33rd Regiment. His regimental officer is inept, and his sergeant is the evil Hakeswill, but overall Sharpe is happy. Then, his woman catches the eyes of his superiors and Sharpe is set up for death. He is tricked into hitting an officer and sentenced to a brutal flogging. Yet, despite the flogging Sharpe is saved by his colonel Arthur Wellesley and sent on a secret mission with a young officer named Lawford. Sent to a impregnable fortress controlled by the Tippoo, Sharpe must battle British and native forces to complete his mission. Failure means hideous death, but success could lead him to more wealth than he could possibly imagine. Once again Bernard Cornwell writes a rolicking adventure. By taking Sharpe back to the beginning, Cornwell brings an added dimension to his classic character. It is interesting to see Sharpe grow and mature as a soldier. Overall, I highly recommend this volume of historical fiction.

After reading several of Bernard Cornwell's other novels, I finally decided to take the plunge into Cornwell's longest series to date, the Sharpe Series. "Sharpe's Tiger" is the first novel in the Series' chronology, and it sets the table by creating one heck of a character in Sharpe and also giving him some heroic exploits, to boot.

It's 1799, and Richard Sharpe is a Redcoat with the rank of private in the King's Army in India. The British, desperate for trade and Empire, wage war against the dastardly Muslim overlord, the Tippoo. Capitalizing on the native Hindu population's less-than-enthusiastic support of this outsider, a Scottish colonel obtains critical information about the defenses of the Tippoo's city-palace-fort, Seringapatam. Just before he is able to return to British lines with the vital news, Colonel McCandless is captured and thrown into the Tippoo's dungeons.

At the same time, Sharpe dreams of escape, both from the dead-end life in the British army and also from the corrupt, brutal thumb of Sergeant Hakeswill. (Fans of Cornwell's other works will recognize Hakeswill's type -- a loathesome combination of hypocrisy, strength, and iron will, coupled with the small-yet-vital benefits of rank.) But some of Sharpe's superiors recognize that there is a spark in Sharpe that separates him from the rest of the soldiers, and Sharpe is charged with staging a desertion in an attempt to infiltrate the Tippoo's dungeons and learn what McCandless knows. A risky proposition, under the best of circumstances, but even more so with the Tippoo.

For the Tippoo has two ways of dealing with those who displease him . . . like spies. First, he could put you in the hands of his "jetti," the Hindu strongmen who kill prisoners with brutal feats of strength. Or, worse, the Tippoo could throw you to his tigers. A more horrifying end for an Englishman from the stews of London cannot be imagined.

All this is set among the siege of Seringapatam, and Cornwell once again reminds us that he is second to none when it comes to writing a riveting, clear, concise battle scene. Tactics and strategy are as compelling as the chaos of the battlefield in Cornwell's hands, and this siege gives him plenty of opportunity to "have some fun" on the battlefield. Fortunately, Cornwell is equally in command of daily life in 1799 India, as his characters ring true as people of their time and cultures (even the Tippoo, who may be a villain, isn't all bad), and Cornwell describes the heat and beauty of the Indian landscape vividly.

Hardly an epic, "Sharpe's Tiger" is what Graham Greene might call an "entertainment." This does not belittle or trivialize the work in any way -- a great book doesn't have to necessarily be "Great Literature." Without a doubt, after "Sharpe's Tiger," I'm going to be diving into all of Sharpe's exploits as soon as possible. Check it out.

Like many novels, my interest grew as the story advanced. The author is able to reveal a dark side, an evil in men that is so sinister as to give a reader a tremble. And there are not just a few of these evil types that churn up in Cornwell's Sharpe novels. Perhaps the character development of the delightful and good natured types that are "done dirt" by the evil characters spurn greater interest in these novels. Our hero is not always able to overcome the odds. He doesn't always come out on top. But one gains a great respect for Private Sharpe, flawed hero that he is, not just because of his survival skills but his sense of street justice.

Of course, this book also informs us of real history. It is based upon real events. Cornwell is so successful at placing the reader in the shoes of the private in the Royal Army that one truly senses the emotions, the smells and sights of the soldier. The tale provides twists and turns of a good plot as well. Anyone that loves history will enjoy this one!

I have read the Warlord Chronicles and the first of the Grail Quest series and found both of them fantastic fast-paced fun. Bernard Cornwell is absolutely brilliant at writing historical fiction that has both gripping story lines and breathtaking action. He is a master at changing tone at a moment's notice, giving plenty of time for the odd piece of romance or comedy whilst never getting bogged down and deviating too much from the important bits.
In Sharpe's Tiger, chronologically the first of the score of Sharpe novels, Cornwell has our hero a dashing, raw recruit of the 33rd regiment in India. At the island fortress of Seringapatam, the Tippoo, enemy of the British, is holed up plotting an alliance with the French to remove the British from his lands forever. When a senior British officer is captured, Sharpe is given the task of saving him, as a way out of the huge number of lashes he has just been given as punishment for striking an officer. The sentence is the result of the utterly odious Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill's incessant victimisation of the soldiers beneath him - Sharpe being his least favourite.
And there the fun begins. Firstly the infiltration of the fort, then the discovery of the captured officer and then the escape. Except Sharpe cannot do anything the easy way. In fact the beauty is that he seems to go out of his way to find the trickiest route, causing as much mayhem as he does it. It is a credit to Cornwell that Sharpe never suspends belief for the sake of more amazing thrills. Everything he allows Sharpe to do is possible and in some instances, probably rather close to a re-enactment of some courageous derring-do of a real-life British soldier 200 years ago or so. It is the adroitness of Cornwell's writing that he manages to carry this off with such aplomb. If you like this sort of thing, then I think it safe to say there is no better than Mr. Bernard Cornwell.
And now onto Sharpe's Triumph (I am doing them in chronological order, you see, I believe that to be the best way.)

This first series installment introduces us to protagonist Richard Sharpe, an orphan from the gutter whose only shot in life is as a lowly private in the British Army, and whose only real skill is fighting. Sharpe does have related skills and virtues - honesty, wit, courage, initiative and resourcefulness among them - which is why the time spent with him in each book is so enjoyable.

Sharpe reports to the diabolical Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill, who exists primarily to cheat and scheme money out of his subordinates, and secondarily to torment them for sheer enjoyment. Hakeswill lusts for Sharpe's girlfriend and wants to sell her to a brothel owner, and so trumps up a scheme to have him flogged to death.

But Sharpe is saved when he gets tapped to accompany an officer on a dangerous mission: finding a high-ranking British spy who has reconnoitered the defenses of Seringapatam. This is the stronghold of the fabulously wealthy Tippoo Sultan, the main obstacle to British rule of southern India.

Sharpe and Lt. Bill Lawford, good-hearted but naïve, find themselves swapping roles across class lines as they work their way towards the imprisoned Colonel McCandless, impersonating British deserters. Sharpe has more street smarts and finds himself in the unusual position of giving an officer orders.

All Cornwell's distinctive touches are found here - the luxury and misery of India, the fabulous wealth and huge harems of the powerful, the dreary lives of the British rank-and-file, and the exquisite tortures meted out by cruel rulers, who might have prisoners torn apart by sadistic musclemen or fearsome tigers. Cornwell pays meticulous attention to 19th century siege warfare.

In some ways he is even more compelling a character than Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey: Aubrey, from gentry, has some natural allies, but Sharpe's natural state in life is alone, back to the wall, with no allies but the converts he makes as he serves side by side with them. Sharpe's ingenious but totally plausible improvisations allow him to, whatever the day is, seize it. The Sharpe books are delightful.

This is the first chronologically in the Sharpe series of adventure novels and the first that I have read. I liked "Sharpe's Tiger." It's easy to read, fast moving, authentic in detail, and describes a real historical event, apparently with a substantial degree of accuracy. Cornwell knows his business, at least well enough to fool me.

The story revolves around the siege of Seringapatam in central India in 1799. Sharpe is a 22-year old private in the army, unlettered, crude, and brutal -- but also quick thinking and a natural leader. Reprieved from a flogging for misconduct, he is sent on a spy mission to Seringapatam to gather information about the defenses of the city before the British attack it.

Arthur Wellesley, the future Wellington, England's greatest soldier, is a character and is portrayed as cold as Lucifer. In fact, perhaps the most memorable feature of the book is the picture it gives of the appalling conditions of servitude for British soldiers in 1799. The French and the Indian Maharajahs, by contrast, are more humane in many respects.

I like to read series in their chronological order and I liked "Sharpe's Tiger" well enough to now proceed onward to the next in the series. I suspect I will learn more about the Napoleonic Wars from the series than I have ever learned from history books.

Smallchief

Absolutely outstanding kick-off to the Richard Sharpe Series. Coming from a traditionally non-fiction enthusiast, I was really quite hesitant when I picked up this book. Historical fiction for me was skeptical at best and could never really grip you as tight as a war diary or vivid description of fighting men during the Napoleonic Age. But I was proved wrong, and in that case seriously proven wrong. Cronwell's vivid portrayal of Private Richard Sharpe is a fabulous journey to an exotic time in the British Empire and their domination over India. Thoughtful, provoking and full of adventure, this book is a must read for any avid fan of Napoleonic history, historical fiction, or excellent writing.

Sharpe is a private in his majesty's army who is tasked with the seemingly impossible -- getting behind enemy lines to find out the information from a captured spy master.

Sharpe is the perfect hero. He is a bit bad, so he doesn't annoy you with his perfectness. He is funny, complicated and takes the reader on adventures that have them gasping to see what happens next. The writing is vivid and really makes you feel like you are right in the middle of the battle. Its a great introduction to a character readers will fall in love with. I can't wait to pick up the next Sharpe book.

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After having read the Starbuck serie (Civil War) from B. Cornwell, i had great expectations. To my great delight, the same feeling of plunging in the middle of an historical battlefield seized me after a few pages, making me forget about (every bloody thing I had to do in) my new house for a few hours.
SHARPE'S TIGER is the first in the serie (of about 12) in chronological order. Even though Mr. Cornwell does'nt write them this way, if you want to appreciate the historical flavor and Sharpe's career in Her Majesty's army, you want to read them chronologically.
The reader looking for nice fancy figures of speech will be left unsatisfied. Political correctness is also left in the closet. It is blunt, direct cannon-fodder daily life we are looking at and it is written that way
You may disrespect these incompetent officiers, having bought their grade, you will probably hate Sgt. Hakeswill, the potence saved maniac. you will feel pity for Mary and the destiny traced for her.
One thing is sure, we will all finish that book with the smell of gunpowder floating around us and a smile in the historical note about general Wellington
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This book is the one all Sharpe fans have been waiting for, Sharpe before he got his commission. The book sets Sharpe as a raw recruit off to fight in India. As with all the Sharpe books you great a great insight into the battles fought in the past, this book is no different.
The history lesson we get here is of the siege of Seringapatum (1799), the island fort of the Tippoo of Mysore. Sharpe sets of on a mission with the promise of promotion and finds himself going from prisoner to hero. The rest you have to read, i don't want to spoil the plot, just know its a great read from a great author.
This is the first of a series of books set in India (Tiger, Triumph, and Fortress) all of which are fantastic. The book introduces us to the beginning of the Sharpe Hakeswill relationship, which is a great part of the Sharpe series.
This book sets Sharpe off on his voyage, which will one day see him serving next to the Prince of Orange at Waterloo. If you're new to the Sharpe series I recommend reading them in order, the story constantly evolves and it just gets better and better.
5 Stars.

This book was a breath of fresh air and a great begining to the Sharpe's in India series. I was disapointed with the last two novels (Sharpe's Trafalgar & Sharpe's Prey). I had missed Sharpe's Tiger for some reason and just picked it up and was VERY pleased.
The story of Sharpe as a private under Haskwell, and the Tippoo was just plain first rate reading on a par with the best of the Sharpe series. No slow storyline, no useless characters, just action, adventure and plotting on a high note.
Like Sharpe we find ourselves respecting his foes and wishing a better fate for them. This is the joy of the story.
In an old comic (King Conan #7) the barbarian says "It is good for a man to have brave enemies so he can remember them after he has slain them." We see that same respect from Sharpe and the British Army in this battle. It will make you want to march with Sharpe (in text) through India.
Buy it!

Richard Sharpe and the battle of Assaye form the conculsion of this book. Richard Sharpe is young, scared, in India and has to do what is called "dessert" his own regiment to infiltrate the Sultan's domain to get information for the English army so that they can overcome the Sultan and have a victory that is well executed and well planned. Most of the English believe that Sharpe has turned traitor so that he can penetrate the domain of the Sultan who does have tigers in the city and Sharpe does have his mooments with the Tigers, and he has his moments where he is taught to read in prison with the bible, and taught to love a woman who is another mans wife, who he gives some of the sultans illegal jewels. He learns that he can be used as a man to get the job done in a fight, and he learns that he can be used as a pawn and he learns that he can learn to survive on his own if he has to and not to rely on the army if he gets himself in situations that he cannot handle. We see the boy who is the ruffian and a child of the gutter come to life, we see the boy become a man, and we again see the brilliant writing of Bernard Cornwell who has thrilled millions with the stories of Richard Sharpe! I look forward to his next book and hope if you are a fan of Sharpe that you will read this volume. The character of Richard Sharpe becomes more of a man than the child that he was who joined the British Army to overcome poverty and a penniless existence, its the story of a character who learns to read the bible and makes a friend of the officer who teaches him to read it, its the man against the tiger, and the tiger loses. Its the man who takes gold and jewels to survive and better himself its the story of a beloved character by Bernard Cornwell as a young man, who develops into the Colonel who defeats Napolean at Waterloo its the story of Richard Sharpe who came out of the gutter and became an officer and a leader of men, its the story of a man who will rise in the ranks to be an officer and a "sometimes" gentleman. I recommend this book if you are a fan of Bernard Cornwell and the Sharpe series.

I must admit that I love Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series. The characters are always memorable, the story interesting(and based partly on fact), and the battle scenes very exciting. This isn't the first Sharpe book I've read, but it's the first in chronological order, and that made it even more of a pleasure to read. Richard Sharpe is only a private in his early 20's in this one, and his tough but likable personality and incredible bravery are fully intact, so you'll be cheering for Sharpe in no time. Obadiah Hakeswill, Sharpe's nastiest enemy, and one of Cornwell's best characters, plays a significant role in this book which makes it even more interesting. Just like the other Sharpe novels, as soon as you finish it you'll immediately want to read the next one. So be warned: Sharpe becomes an addiction very quickly. But hey, and addiction like this is a good thing, right?

I've read the first two entries in the series. Great so far. Viscerally persuasive military details, great characters. Sharpe must get better at killing the dastardly Hakeswell. Stop delegating the assignment to tigers and elephants. Says so in the scriptures.

I picked up this book on a whim and was introduced to an outstanding author, resulting in me tearing through the next two books in the series in less than two weeks. Mr Cornwell crafts an amazing story that is not only fast-paced and leaves you turning pages late into the evening, but also manages to provide little snippets of historical insight along the way.

I love history anyway, but the little bit of history these stories provide is just enough to set the tone without overburdening the story and dragging it down. I absolutely love his writing style and and will continue to read all his books.

This novel becomes the chronological first one in the whole series that appears to number at least nine novels. In this one, we meet Richard Sharpe as he is on his first real campaign as a soldier. He is a Private and is involved with the conquest of India. This book is obviously intended for young teen male readers as it is heavy on the military arts, combat, explosions, and adventures and is very light on the romance side. Sex is abundant, but is handled in a very discreet way without much explanation as something that just takes place and is not really discussed.

We are introduced to our hero and find out that he is being picked upon because one of the women who accompany the army on its march is his, but the wicked Sergeant of his company lusts after her and is trying to find ways to discredit Sharpe and take over his woman. The book is full of stereotypes which include, in addition to the crazy Sergeant; the drunken officers; the gallant but rough-edged enlisted men; the gentlemanly enemy officer; and many more.

The novel's plot is also quite straightforward and after the first chapter or so, you can predict pretty much exactly what will happen. By the end, Sharpe is the hero and gets promoted (in two armies no less!); he shows up his officers as being vastly superior to them; and manages to be in the midst of all the important action without really being even scraped.

Another way in which you can tell that this is a novel for young readers is the pacing. Sharpe becomes a deserter, and within four days is inducted into the opposing army, manages to become a hero in that one and gets a medal and a promotion. Three days later he completely turns around the situation in favor of the British and is promoted again while managing to kill tigers; strongmen; soldiers; and even some high ranking officers and officials. All of this while being tutored on how to read; made a confidant of Generals and Colonels; and catching the eye and attention of many high ranking officers. Wow.

In all, I do not want you to get the impression that this is a bad book. It is not since it is aimed at a very specific audience. For those readers this book will be very captivating. The pacing is quick, the adventures interesting, and the resolution of everything within the 380 pages of the book seem plausible enough. The writing is highly competent and while the characters do not really develop in any sensible way through the course of the book, that will likely not be noticed by the intended audience. I would certainly recommend it to the same age of teen readers who enjoy reading Alexander Kent, or the Hornblower series as this series is the same idea, just taking place on land.

It's 1799 in India, and Sharpe is 22, a private and thinking of deserting. His arch enemy, Hakeswill, is making his life a misery, and he is bored of the army routine of "hurry up and do nothing". Provoked into striking Hakeswill, Sharpe is flogged. After only part of the sentence is carried out, he's then offered a special assignment. From then on we are taken on a fast and furious action-packed ride based around the Siege of Seringapatam, with Sharpe joining Lieutenant Lawson on a mission to infiltrate the enemy to seek information and free Lawson's uncle who has been captured by the Tippoo.

Cornwall makes no effort to gloss over the privations and unfairness of army life, particularly for the rank and file, and spares no detail of the blood and gore of the events leading up to the siege and the final battle itself. Chronologically, this is the first episode of the Sharpe saga, and is based on real-life events, and the author openly acknowledges where he has altered proceedings giving as his reason "... fictional heroes must be given suitable employment".

This is a well-written and researched book, with loads of local colour and much 19th Century cant to evoke the atmosphere of the times. Its fast paced action gets you hooked into the storyline right from the first page, and I found myself unable to put it down. Admittedly, Sharpe's attitude towards women is definitely not PC, but does reflect both his character and the prevailing attitudes of the times, and we are provided with some glimpses of his softer side.

If you're looking for a pacey adventure based on historical fact, then I recommend "Sharpe's Tiger" as a great introduction into an engrossing series. For those of you wanting more details of the history around the Sharpe series, Cornwell recommends the timeline by Brian Timmins at [...]

I've been hearing about the Sharpe Series for years now and on an impulse the other week I picked up "Sharpe's Tiger," chronologically the first book in the series but not the first one written. I'm really pleased that I did.
After a somewhat slow start, the book gains momentum and it's full speed ahead through to its thrilling finale. Sharpe is one of those characters that appeals to both men and women - he's a swashbuckling action hero with a sexy sort of charm. The novel is steeped in vivid depictions of battle, historical milieu, and a colorful cast of characters that includes one of the most dastardly villains I've come across in several years. Certainly not for the faint of heart, Cornwell's descriptions of battle carnage are brutal.
I look forward to picking up the next installment. Great summer reading!

I wish I'd been warned before beginning the Richard Sharpe series, but I received Sharpe's Tiger as a gift, and before I knew it, the damage was done.

There's nothing classic about these books - they're quickly read and digested. But they are incredible mind-candy and difficult to put down. There's also a heck of a lot of them, and given that they weren't written in a chronology synchronous with the chronology of Sharpe's exploits, it takes a little running around to read them in order.

Having begun with Sharpe's Tiger, it seems to me to be the best place to start - introducing the reader to Sharpe himself, the execrable Obadiah Hakeswill, Mr. Lawford, and Wellington. It is interesting to see how Cornwell starts to lose track of certain details as the novels skip around in time, but he's written so much that it is certainly hard to keep track of everything.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Bernard Cornwell is another nom-de-plume for Stephen King, given the prolixity of his work and the none-too-subtle repetitive patterns of each book. I won't know for sure until Richard Sharpe comes out in favor of abortion and against nuclear energy. If the authors are one and the same, then Mr. King has found another way to extract my hard earned money.

Anyway - great entertainment! But the kind of books that make me wonder why I don't just get a library card.

Sharpe’s Tiger
“Sharpe’s Tiger” is a historical adventure novel written by Bernard Cornwell. The novel’s setting is set in the great lands of 1799 India. This is the beginning of the pre-napoleonic era. Where battles were not decided by the number of troops an army may have, but by the discipline and the training of said army. The novel’s main character is a Private in the 33rd of foot of the British army. His name is of course is Richard Sharpe. If I were to describe Richard Sharpe with one word I would simply call him a hero, because of how cunning and clever Sharpe is.The British have one goal in mind, and that is to capture the great city of Seringapatam. By doing this they would be able to dethrone the muslim tyrant that rule overs the land. This seems like a simple task, but this muslim tyrant has proved to the British time after time again that he is a formidable enemy. He is told to have untold riches, so much so that he is able to put hundreds of rockets and cannons on his Capital walls. He is truly an enemy to be feared. And he becomes the enemy of Richard Sharpe soon after a “misunderstanding” with Richard sharpe and a sergeant. Sharpe struck a sergeant after a heated argument about Sharpe’s lover. Sharpe is then tried and sentenced to death by the whip. During the flogging Sharpe is saved by the company’s general. This happened because Sharpe was chosen to be sent on a secret rescue mission. He was sent to the very city that will be under siege in the upcoming weeks to rescue a Colonel McCandless. The plan was for Sharpe to go with lieutenant Lawford and infiltrate the Tippoo’s army by posing as deserters, but Sharpe decides to bring his lover to tag along on this dangerous mission. The plan will officially kick after they get accepted into the army, than they would have to find a merchant in the city. This merchant will know what to do from there, but the plan was doomed from the very beginning because the merchant that they were suppose to find was executed days before they embarked on their secret journey. Soon after they were accepted in the Tippoo’s army Sharpe figured out that the tippoo had a trap in place for the British. They were planning to blow up the gap between a wall that the british were to breach. Soon after this shocking discovery Sharpe’s and Lawford’s cover was blown because a sergeant by the name Hakeswill (the same sergeant that Sharpe punched) told the tippoo everything to save his own life after he got captured. So Private Sharpe and Lieutenant Lawford were sent to the dungeons to rot to death with Colonel McCandless and Hakeswill. They stayed there until the day of the siege. That’s when Sharpe picked the lock and killed the “guard” with a pistol that was given to him by his ex lover. Sharpe released his friend Lawford and McCandless and went off to blow up the mine. After a gruesome massacre of the Mine’s guards involving rockets. Sharpe then blows up the mine before the British’s line men get to the gap in the breach saving hundreds of lives. Within minutes after the explosion the Tippoo realizes he has lost his city and attempts to escape, but he is cut off by a British line men. In the end Sharpe was one who takes the Tippoo’s life, and the loot that the Tippoo had all over his body. The book ends on a strong note with the Tippoo dying like warrior, and Sharpe becoming a sergeant.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in adventure novels, historical novels, or anyone who just want to read a great book. This book was an amazing read. It had great characters and amazing “visuals.” It made you feel like you were right beside Sharpe during the siege of Seringapatam. When I was reading the book I started to get emotionally get attached to some of the characters. My favorite character from the book has to be the Tippoo. He was truly a king worthy to rule over Mysore. In the end of the book the Muslim tyrant is fighting alongside his soldiers near the breach, which I found pretty cool. He was just a likeable character in my opinion. The Tippoo and Richard is what made the book such a great read. I can’t stress this enough when I say that I highly recommend this book.

This is the first in the James Bond style Sharpe series, focusing on Sharpe's earlier times in the British regiment as a private.

It's close to the turn of the century . .. late 18th century . .. and focuses on Sharpe's time in India as different groups struggle for power of the realm. Through luck and desperation, Sharpe goes undercover with a lieutenant to rescue a colonel from a fortified enemy city. This colonel is vital because he has crucial information for the British to take the town successfully.

A fun enough read but I find myself enjoying Cornwell's non-Sharpe novels the most.

STORY/PLOTTING/EDITING: B minus to B; CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B; ACTION/ADVENTURE: B; OVERALL GRADE: B; WHEN READ: 2010 (revised review mid November 2012).

SPOILERS: I still remember the Eastern Indians ruler who executed people by pounding a spike into the back of their head. The weakest part of the wall was another piece which comes to mind.

Bernard Cornwell is a master of historical fiction. As with Agincourt, Warlord chronicles and the last kingdom, I could not put this book down. This novel is not the period setting story detailed in the above mentioned books rather it follows the exploits of a great soldier in the exciting battles by the british in India. As with all Cornwells books it is set in a wonderfully adventurous time period, relaying historically interesting periods of war hungry rulers on groups of amazingly strong people. A little slow starting but stay with it , you will be rewarded. Editing errors are unexcusable as noted in previous reviews.

Whether you're a longtime fan of Sharpe, or a newcomer, this s excellent story is as good as any in the long-running series. Longtime fans will love to finally get the details on some of the longstanding background material (Sharpe's infamous lashing, the Sultan Tippoo's jewels, Lt. Lawford's teaching him to read, etc.), while newcomers will find themselves at the chronological start of the series. Set in 1799, the book finds Sharpe a lowly private serving in Mysore in Southern India, as the 33rd Rifles are part of a large force seeking to destroy the Muslim ruler of Mysore. Cornwell does his usual masterful job of showing the unpleasant life of a common soldier on the march in a scorching distant land. It is a life so unpleasant, and rife with injustice (most of it at the hands of Sharpe's longtime psychopathic nemesis, Sgt. Hakeswill and the pliant and corrupt drunk Captain Morris), that Sharpe is weighing the pros and cons of deserting.

The first half of the book establishes all this, as well as Sharpe's romantic relationship with a half-caste woman (one of the main points of contention between he and Hakeswill), and as well as the larger background. The Sultan's army is melting backward to hole up in the island fortress of Seringpetang, where they hope to hold out until the monsoon season forces the British to retire from the field. However, there is intrigue afoot, as a French advisor to the Sultan whispers encouraging words from Napoleon (then in Egypt), while a top Hindu advisor is the subject of the advances of a British spy. The British spy learns news of vital importance, if the fortress is to be conquered, but is thrown in jail before he can get the news out.

Meanwhile, Sharpe has been suckered into an act of insubordination which seems certain to doom him. Fortunately, his fair-minded superior Lt. Lawford insists on Sharpe accompanying him on a suicide mission to rescue the spy. The second half of the book is this James Bondish mission, as the duo make their way to Seringpetang in the guise of deserters, and join the Sultan's unit of European mercenaries. From there, there's lots of tension, as Sharpe and Lawford try and maintain their disguise while proving themselves and trying to locate and free the spy. The book climaxes with the British assault on the fortress, as Sharpe and Lawford try and get the critical information out the the British in time.

It's all great stuff, and Cornwell has such command of his material and characters that it just flows smoothly. That's perhaps part of the advantage of writing the books out of chronological sequence, he knows the characters so well that everything feels pitch-perfect. Sharpe is, well... Sharpe. Gritty, angry, crafty, and brutal. Hakeswill is menacing and madly violent. Col. Wellesley (later Duke Wellington of Waterloo fame) is priggish, snippy, and cold. The Sultan is cruel, and yet brave. Based on historical events, the book is packed with intrigue, action, a vivid setting, and is a great adventure.

This is the first Sharpe novel I have read, although I did catch some of the TV series. I am not a fan of multiple formula novels churned out by lazy writers, and I was suspicious of this series.
But Cornwell has done something different here. He has taken real events, from the career of Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington). Then he has inserted the character of Richard Sharp, a canny ex-thief ranker in the British Infantry. One of the men Wellington was to describe as "Scum of the Earth" after Badajoz. From the viewpoint of Sharpe we see the business end of the British Army, a worms eye view of the rise of Wellesley and the Indian and Peninsular campaigns.
What you are getting is real history fleshed out with a cracking good story. And it is very well done! I am very tempted to dig further into this substantial series of books. I can see why they have become so popular.

Late to the Sharpe series so starting at the beginning. Glad I did. Like many, you can't help but like Private Sharpe and the story and book were very entertaining. It involves just enough historical fiction with historical facts. I'm moving on to the second book and see no reason not to recommend this read. Characters from all parts of the good guy bad guy spectrum can be found.

This is the first book of the Sharpe series, not the first one written; but the first chronologically. 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 the Tipoo Sultan, but historical characters are rarely depicted accurately in historical fiction, so I think this can be forgiven. Besides a more serious account of the Tipoo life and character 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.

Chronologically, this is the first adventure of the war-loving soldier, Richard Sharpe. I am new to the series, but if the first three books are any indication (The India Trilogy), I will read them all.
The author, Cornwell, is a perfect blend of great storyteller and excellent writer. Cornwell's discription of the siege of Seringapatum is beautifully rendered. The reader can feel the heat and exaustion, hear the swish of saber and whine of bullets. Often, in books that deal with military history, the reader may find himself slightly confused as to troops movements and tactics, but not here. Cornell is such a fantastic action writer, that it is all crystal clear. The reader can sense the flow of action, picture the battlefield perfectly, and understand the reasons behind the decisions; and all without hampering the surge of action.
The characters in the novel are particularily well drawn. This is a story with great villians and enemies. Especially enjoyable is Sharpe's nemisis in the novel, the horrid Obadiah Hakewill, Sharpe's sadistic sargent. I also like the author's portrait of The Tippoo Sultan. while it would be hard to call it a sympathetic portrait, Cornwell takes pains to write this enemy in truthful, fascinating strokes.
Just a great piece of work and one of the few books I have read lately that have kept me up all night reading. Onward, Mister Sharpe!

It is commonly believed that Cornwell has never been behind a bad book. The Sharpe series was universally excellent, even his contemporary thrillers were good, and A.Mack is not known as a lover of contemporary thrillers. The writing is excellent on this work. The charachters and the action is portrayed superbly. When I first bought this book I had read most of the Sharpe series and had also read the Warlord Chronicles. Cornwell wrote the books set in India after most of the books which were set later, when Sharpe-watchers had given up on new Sharpe material, and it did not disappoint. It needed to be written because Sharpe often described Hakeswill and Captain Morris in the Peninsula, and readers wanted to hear about Sharpe's days in India, about which he was reticent in the Peninsula. Indeed the only objection which I have is to the cover. A different edition has a picture of an elaborately carved rifle on the front, and I believe this to be superior to the one displayed.
PS- This book gave me two of my greatest ambitions- to visit India, which I have subsequently done with my latest girlfriend, and to drink three bottles of wine at one sitting, as Morris did, which I have just embarked on the process of achieving....

Several years have passed since I first read the Sharpe series . I found it a four star series then and it remains so on second reading. If you enjoy the series, told don't miss the short stories (3) that are worth searching for.

Bernard Cornwell's 'Richard Sharpe' series is one of the best historical fiction series ever written, and to have a new Sharpe adventure is a pleasure! Even better is to now have an adventure of Richard Sharpe's younger soldiering days before Wellington promoted him to Lieutenant in 1809 Spain, to read of Sharpe's adventures in India, and it is my hope that Mr. Cornwell brings us more of Sharpe's adventures in India (although I will miss reading about Sharpe's escapades,adventures, and battles with Sergeant Patrick Harper at his side). SHARPE'S TIGER, although an adventure in itself to be read at any period in the SHARPE series, is another wonderful way to introduce readers to Richard Sharpe, the best damn soldier ever in the British Army, now or ever!

In 1799 Private Richard Sharpe is in India fighting the Tippoo Sultan's army in Mysore. This is the first of many Sharpe's novels and I am excited to begin reading this series.

Sharpe is barely literate but fighting is something he shines at. He makes an enemy of Sgt. Obadiah Hakeswell who engineers Sharpe into a punishment of 2000 lashes. Lt. Lawford stops it at 200 by taking Sharpe on secret mission into the enemy to discover their future actions. Sharpe takes his woman, the widow Mary Bickerstaff with them.

There are more troubles and dire happenings than any serial from the silent movie days. This is a great story and can't wait for the next one.

The only thing holding this from being a 5 star is Frederick Davidson's narration is a little bland and boring for this story. I believe there are other narrators for the rest of the series, or I might not be able to continue to listen.

Fun story with lots of action.

I haven't read all of the Sharpe books and since I've been getting them at the library I haven't been reading them in order either. But I have to say it hasn't diminished my enjoyment of them one bit. Great fun and a great antagonist! Sharpe's Tiger is my favourite at this point- I love the dynamics between Lawford and Sharpe! I also loved how Sharpe faced the tiger and the jettis- maybe unrealistic as some other reviewers have claimed but not overtly so and great fun anyway. Oh and the part where he "shoots" McCandless and later admits he would have shot him for real if he had too? Just a hint of the ruthlessness that Sharpe is capable of and which sets him apart from many "heroes". Anyway, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventures and hard bitten heroes!

I was particularly taken by this books clear and easy to read style, coupled with a story that flowed effortlessly. Late 18th century drama unfurls convincingly with rich colours, good imagery and well crafted human relationships and I found myself observing Sharpe as if he were my friend. His relationship with Lieutenant Lawford becomes deeper as the adventure rattles on, and more interesting, when contrasted with the brutal and savage natured Sergeant Hakeswill. I found a bit of myself in all the characters, and that was this books special charm. In all, it was well written armchair reading: "Boys Own" action adventure stuff....

This was my first experience with Bernard Cornwell, and I was most satisfied! Sharpe's Tiger is the first chronologically in the career of Richard Sharpe. He is a private in the British army and the action takes place in India around 1799. Cornwell is a good writer, and the story is superb. There are shades of Indiana Jones, as Sharpe is a resourceful and immensely likeable hero. There is adventure, suspense and superb characterizations. It was one of the most fun books I have read in a while, and I can't wait to read the next installment. Highly recommended for anyone who likes history or adventure.

Historically accurate and extremely well researched, this beginning to the series gives a compelling, if not stark, look into the life of a British foot soldier during the time of the Napoleonic War, although this book takes place in India. Though the main character was initially a bit too cold to truly like at first, I realized early on that he wasn't really heartless, just battle-hardened. He grew on me quickly and I found myself rooting for him through the whole book. I can't wait to read the whole series.

I became aquainted with Cornwell through his Grail Quest series, and then I read the Last Kingdom. I was reluctant to read the Sharpe novels for the obvious reason that if I got hooked on them then I would be in for a lot of reading-there are just so damn many of them. However, I read Sharpe's Tiger and was blown away. I quickly burned through his Indian campaign and read Trafalgar. And I must say it was quite an introduction. My advice is to start with these, and then take a break. Come back in a few months when you are ready for a new campaign.

You will love the rich historical detail, the action and the character development. Cornwell doesn't dissappoint.

Enjoy.

Mr Cornwell writes historical fiction like no other. I've read the series in the past, but it's one of those you can go back to and reread with the same enjoyment as the first time. Although Sharpe seems able to dodge bullets with the best heros, I guess it would make for a short series if he was killed in the story's first volley. The book itself takes place in India in 1799, with Sharpe a private in the British army. The series itself spans the Napoleonic era, describing the world through this soldier's eyes in vivid detail.

Maybe you have seen the Sharpe miniseries that was produced by A&E. I have, and like them just fine. But of course the books, where tens of thousands of men can march with the stroke of a pen, as so much better. This is the first of the Sharpe novels, and is set in India, not Spain as was the series. Sharpe's first run in with Wellington, a commander in India. A great novel by a great writer and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the age of Napoleon.

This is one book of more than a dozen about a man who rises in the ranks of the English military. He is the "Sharpe" referred to in the title. I have read them all and feel very fortunate to have done so. If you want a wonderful reading experience, read the Sharpe books in order. Wonderful characters, great history, compelling action, and all-in-all one of my all time favorite authors. Cornwell has written other historical fiction that are not "Sharpe" books and I did not like them half as well. But the "Sharpes" are without equal in the genre.

The Sharpe's series is historical fiction at its best. Cornwell does a thorough, scholarly job for his books and Sharpe and the other characters are wonderful. The reader of the audio books, Frederick Davidson, is one of the best in the business. He has mastered every character in the series: Sharpe, the producct of the lowest London class as well as the French, the upper crust British, the lower and uppercrust Irish, the Spanish Grandees and the foot soldiers, the Germans, etc.

I love the Cornwell books. I enjoyed the PBS series. The best, however, is the audio version read by Frederick Davidson. It brings to light a wonderful group of books.

I 'read' this book by listening to it on audio book recordings. Fabulous! Simply fabulous! I am going back for more of the same series. These books, especially the audio books, would be a great present for anyone who is perhaps on the fence about reading but loves history.

Im giving it 5 stars because Bernard Cornwell's story deserves that rating. However, whover edited the ebook version needs to be sacked. Theres a typo on every page, almost makes it hard to read. Staying is almost always staving, Mary becomes Many, the list goes on. Its like they outsourced the editing to the country the book is set in.

It never ceases to amaze me how a story so full of historical detail can be so consistently entertaining. 'Sharpe's Tiger' has the series' protaganist, Richard Sharpe, serving as a lowly private in India in 1799 and infiltrating the stronghold of the Tipoo Sultan before the arrival of the British army. Many factors contribute to Cornwell's remarkable novel, but the one that stands out is the character of Obidah Hakeswill, an antagonist so loathsome he is sure to go down as one of the great literary villans of all time.

I can't believe I hadn't heard of this series before now. Characters are interesting and colorful. Story moves at a good pace with several unusual twists. I love the way Cornwell blends history with his characters.

I love this author and do buy his new books on Kindle at full price and I heartily encourage new fans to check this series out. But I just can't make myself fork over $9.00 for a older book which stinks because I would love to have the whole Sharps series on my kindle.

Once more into the bloody English army with Private Richard Sharpe in the chronologically first novel of this series. They're in India. Battle of Seringapatam. Very fun, since I've been watching the TV series on Netflix. Lovely (likely the wrong word) to once again picture Peter Postlethwaite as the villanous Obadiah Hakeswill. And oh, yes, of course, Sean Bean as the unconquerable Sharpe.

I've never read any of the Sharpe series before - I'm so pleased I tried this one. It's a jolly military romp in India; the British are attempting to overthrow the ruler of Mysore, Tipoo Sultan, but he's no walkover! In the ranks young Sharpe is getting an indecent dose of bullying from his sergeant and is up for a flogging that will kill him... ooo-er! Thrilling stuff, boy's own, just the ticket!

Wow -- everyone loves this but me! I don't get it -- I read Cornwell's Agincourt right before this book, and they're almost identical books. Pretty much the same characters in the same situtation -- just 300 years apart. The same lead character, the same female companion, the same strong leader, the same completely evil villian.....it really lacks creativity for me. The good are completely good, and the evil are completely evil -- I've seen more balanced characters in a Steven King novel. On top of that, the coincidences in this book are outrageous. How many times can the hero and the villian happen to accidently run into each other all over India?

I enjoy learning about the British army and their battles in India, but the writing seems very lazy and schlocky to me.

After devotedly reading through all 11 (or was it 12) other books, I picked this up without even looking past the title and author. I wasn't disappointed!!
It is a delight to read military fiction which doesn't spare the gritty ugly side of war or ignore the occasional repite of commaraderie. It is even more of a delight to have a hero who is so human. Perhpas it makes heroism more in the grasp of the mortal man by realizing just how fallable they all start off and finish...

I have long been a fan of Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series but somehow had never gotten around to the Indian series that is the prequel to his first, Sharpe's Rifles.Sharpe's Rifles (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series #1)]] Wow. He is one of the best writers of historical fiction ever and the realism that he brings to his descriptions of battle, treatment of soldiers and life in the 18th Century British army is simply unrivalled. If you are a fan of this stuff, do not miss this one. Wow. He is one of the best writers of historical fiction ever and the realism that he brings to his descriptions of battle, treatment of soldiers and life in the 18th Century British army is simply unrivalled. If you are a fan of this stuff, do not miss this one.[[ASIN:0140294295

My brother told me about the 'Sharpe' series and so I read Sharpe's Tiger. AWESOME!!! From the first page, Bernard Cornwell paints the picture of what life was like for enlisted 'grunts' in 1799. You can almost feel the heat of the desert and feel the grime. Cornwell puts you in Sharpe's shoes. It's written so vividly that it's like you're right there. I'm glad that there are 20 books in the series. I'll be reading every one. I LOVE discovering authors that I haven't read that write this well.. READ IT, YOU'LL LOVE IT!!!

This book is a great example of well done Historical
Fiction and I enjoyed it a great deal. Mr. Cornwell
said in his interview, which I read, that he is not well
known in this country. All I can say, is that he should be!
I saw a movie adaptation of Sharpe's Eagle and another
novel on the History channel and enjoyed them fully.
I will be ordering more of the Sharpe series soon!!

I began my Sharpe reading with this book and it was responsible for the obsession that followed. Sharped is a little more rounded in this one then others he has some sort of sense of humor. Also Lt. Lawford and Col. McCandless are both strong characters. Obadiath is as wicked as ever and Sharpe has some nice moments when he out does Hakeswill. The battle scenes are so vivid that you think your inthe breach and can smell the blood and powder. There is also a large bit of sneaking around the enemies lines and Sharpe must even pretend to be a traitor to his country. This book is jam packed with excitment, intrigue, and fun. But I warn you once you start you wont be able to stop until you have read the last page of the last book in the series enjoy!

I wish History classes at school were as much fun as this! The lead character, Sharpe, is a vulgar, down-to-earth, moral englishman and skillful soldier born in 'whore steet'. He mixes and gains respect from the elitist British officers. I've read 2 books so far and love the lead character. I also gain a history lesson at the same time! It's fascinating to google the battles and places at the same time as reading the books. Thank-you Mr Cornwell!! I'll read them all.

Ever since Cornwell's first Sharpe book, fans have wanted to know the complete story of Sharpe beginning his climb up the ranks of the Brittish army. A real treat for readers is the appearance of Sgt Obidiah Hakeswilll, the villian who has become a favorite of mine. This book is well writen and one of my personal favorites of the Sharpe series. It seems to show more of the vulnerability that is encased in the young Richard Sharpe. The battles in India also add to the readers understanding of Brittish colonialism. After completing this novel I could not help but eagerly await the next Sharpe novel "Triumph".

HAVING RECENTLY FINISHED THE EXCELLENT CIVIL WAR BOOK(BLOODY GROUND) BY MR CORNWELL ,I WAS EXPECTING TO BE LET DOWN BY THIS NEW BOOK SHARPES TIGER. HOWEVER THE BOOK BLEW ME AWAY, THE CHARACTER RICHARD SHARPE IS EVEN BETTER THAN NATHANIEL STARBUCK. THE BOOK HAS EVERYTHING YOU WOULD WANT DRAMA SUSPENSE COMEDY AND BRUTALITY. MR CROMWELLS DESCRIPTIONS OF BRUTAL EXECUTIONS AND WAR ARE EXTRAORDINARY PLUS HE SHOWS US ONE OF THE MOST VILE DESPICAble characters I HAVE EVER READ SGT HARESWILL. IF YOU LOVE EXCITING HISTORICAL DRAMA YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. I DEFY ANYONE TO READ IT AND NOT THOROUGHLY ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE. TOUCHE' MR CORNWELL YOU ARE AMAZING.

Woo flippin hoo. What a great time traveling ride. If you love Hornblower, Killer Angels, Master and Commander you will love Sharpe. Do yourself a favor and grab as many of these titles as you can for a penny plus shipping.

I began reading the Sharpe series after seeing the programs onPBS, and I am very hapy that I did. The writing is crisp, and thebooks are consistently entertaining. I see the author is now going into Richard Sharpe's past (before the Peninsula Campaign), and I am pleased that there will be more of these works coming in the future.

Bernard Cornwell's books really come alive for me. Cornwell's great attention to detail on the equipment and techniques used during this era appear to be merely the tapestry upon which he paints the fictional accounts of Sharpe's adventures. His characters and stories seem very real and I actually find myself worrying during suspenseful and dangerous scenes. I would highly recommend these novels to anyone interested in this period of history.

I have read many historical works of fiction. However, I had really no prior reading experience with this era of Indian/British history. This book provides an exciting adventure about British soldiers in late 18th century India.

Particularly follows the trials and adventures of a hardened soldier. This is not about any ordinary soldier. Rather, it's about Private Richard Sharpe.

I expected to find solid adult historical-fiction from the early period of the Napoleonic Wars. Instead I got simplistic adventures, stock characters and a dopey narrative full of spies and Tigers and prison escapes and implausible derring-do. This reminds me of the old Flashman series of books that I thought was so clever when I was a kid. But those were satire. Unless Sharpe's Tiger is meant to be Young Reader fiction or is a tongue-in-cheek satire I have to assume that the author is an overrated hack who can write decent dialog but is totally clueless when it comes to plot or character.

What do I say about this overhyped waste of paper?

Well, the history, clearly, has been meticulously researched, and great pains have been taken to write the characters actions, etc., around the known historical facts in such a way as to not mislead anyone. This is why I'm giving this 2 stars, instead of 1. I will give a point for good research. That said:

I don't think the characters are particularly well drawn, not even Sharpe himself. The 'villians' in particular were melodramatic and unbelievable.

I kept thinking that the whole thing read like an old DC comic book. Not that they were bad--but they WERE simplistic, and so is this.

I got sucked into this by a fanatic Sean Bean fan who made me watch several of these movies last weekend--which has strained our friendship, let me tell you. I decided to read a couple of the books, thinking maybe there would be something more to the books--those ridiculous movies, not even the substantial attractiveness of Mr. Bean could overcome. Alas, it's clear to me now that it's the attractiveness of Mr. Bean, and not the quality of Mr. Cornwell's writing that have all these 'Sharpie' people captivated. Imagining Mr. Bean as you read helps, but not enough. Not enough.

If you're looking for good information about the battle of Sera-who-sis and the Tippy-toodle, this might be the book for you. Otherwise, I recommend you give the whole series a pass. I say that having read the next two, and neither of them get any better. I refuse to waste any more time on this crap. I'll re-read Patrick O'Brian!

Cornwell is a talented writer-- crisp and engaging, with some sparkling dialogue and characterizations (though not of the protagonist). His Sgt. Hakewill is an absolute delight as the over-confident buffoon/sadist ("Says so in the scriptures"). He carries the story along briskly, giving a believable account of everyday life and the brutality of war 200 years ago. All of that got me eagerly through the first three novels (India), with gradually diminishing returns until I lost interest after the fifth, Sharpe's Prey.

A major shortcoming is the failure to put local events in the context of the Napoleonic wars. But the fatal problem was the plotting. Repetitive, often shallow and sometimes preposterous, with some plot lines left hanging. I also thought he did a poor job of developing the rather unlikable hero.

I was pained to see the book jacket comments comparing Cornwell to O'Brian. Not even close, at least for those who have had the time to lose themselves in O'Brian's 7,000 page dense, unconventional, often amazingly satisfying story of the friendship between an English post captain and his Irish/Catalan physician/naturalist/spy. Forester (Hornblower) and Pressfield (Gates of Fire) are also first rate historical novelists. Not so the talented Mr. Cornwell.

My first exposure to Richard Sharpe was via the series aired on PBS.I'm inclined to think this an advantage since it makes visualization of these brilliant spectacles that much easier.When I think of Sharpe I can't help but see Sean Bean.But even without this aspect Cornwell's work is without equal when it comes to verisimilitude.His eye for detail,and the exhaustive research he must have done into military equipment,organization,tactics and customs of the period really brings the story to life for anyone with an affinity for authenticity.

I have read all this series by Mr. Cornwell. I especially enjoyed the description of Wellington's campaings in Spain and France from the perspective of a junior officer in addition to the description of Richard Sharpe's struggle within the hidebound military system of the times.
I grew up with C.S. Forester and first learned of the Peninsula Campaign in Rifleman Dood and The Gun. Much like Hornblower he (Sharpe) rose through the ranks by merit alone.As Hemmingway recomended Hornblower to "Anyone literate I know" I recommend any of the Sharpe novels to everyone I know who enjoys a excellent story or loves history.

What can I say about about this author except that he never fails to disapoint. After having read his Arthur and Starbuck series it took me some time to get around to the Sharpes series and now I wonder why I waited so long. A great story, very realistic battle scenes and even some great humor to. This is a great introduction to the character Richard Sharpe. I highly recomend this book to anone who enjoys history and adventure. My only criticism was that it was to short, despite their being many more Richard Sharpe books!

Sharpe's Tiger moves along at a cracking pace and captures the life of times of soldiers in that era very well. A good rollicking read and it's not hard to imagine that Cornwell spent a previous incarnation trudging through India with a trail of bibbis behind him.

This was a rollicking fun read, EXCEPT for the unconscionably numerous typos and completely wrong words! (nun for rum, for example) Perhaps I am overly annoyed by such sloppy publishing practices, or maybe I should volunteer for the job.

I have read all of Cornwell's Sharpe series and highly recommend them. Take the time to savor them as when you are finished they are gone. Just the many of the other great reads of the past quarter century-A Boy's Life, Hotel New Hampshire,Over the Edge, Spenser, Lawrence Block,etc.-they are presents you introduce your friends to. Clearly Cornwell will "flense" your resistance to beginning this great series. I rarely give five stars to any writer. Turn off the History Channel and start reading!

This book is the greatest adventure I have ever read. This is Indiana Jones and the Charge of the Light Brigade. This is simply what most writers aspire to. Cornwell is a genius at description and character and action.

I bought this book for my son. I've read most of the series several years ago, and my 15-year-old is an avid reader. So I suggested this series to him. He ate it up. Now I'll have to pony up for the rest of them.

While the book is entertaining, I just want to point out that many people from Karnataka (former Mysore state) do not see Tipu Sultan as a brutal dictator but as a patriot and a martyr. This doesn't detract from the book's merits as an entertaining novel in any way, however.

This book gives the background in detail of the hero. Even though it is the latest in the long series - it is really the first book. It answers all kinds of questions about Sharpe. Very well written, easy to follow. And as usual an exciting yarn. For old fans it is a great incite into the hero, and for new readers, it sets the stage for the series

This is great stuff for the armchair adventurer with a a bad case of nostalgia for the old colonial days. The author's Boy's Own Paper-style still holds appeal for those raised to serve one's country while the tigers and heat of Mysore are there for good effect. Sharpe's the word with more to come, I hope.

I really liked this book as Cornwell seems to present blunt and realistic descriptions of life of the average enlisted man. A really good read. Take this book to the airport and you wont worry how delayed your flight is.

I love historical fiction. I've read Hornblower straight through, I'm reading Aubrey-Maturin, and I am constantly on a lookout for historical fiction that matches this caliber. When I saw the popularity of the Sharpe series, I was excited. A book from the same era, basically the same concept as Hornblower, and on land. Seemed like a great premise and I was hoping to get hooked. Unfortunately, the book was just far too simplistic. Just like one reviewer said, the characters are simple. They are melodramatic and cliche. There is absolutely no complexity to their personalities, it was like a Disney movie. Many of the sentences were poorly constructed and full of unrealistic dialogue. Historically, the action was just too unrealistic. I went on to the second book in the series suspecting maybe I was just in a bad mood when I had read the first. By the end of the first paragraph, my heart had sunk. The only internal turmoil I have encountered so far seems to have been taken straight from The Red Badge of Courage, only it is far more poorly written. Again the characters are Disney-like and childish. For a better alternative, I would recommend reading Aubrey-Maturin. It is far mroe realistic, in the actions, dialogue, and behavior.

I recently read this book and it was amazing.From start to finish i never got bored. It's a great book for airplane, car or bus rides. Good for Children or adults. This is Cornwells best series so far.

First of all, I am a big fan of the series. I have read many of them, although not in the chronological order. When I got my hands over this book I was thrilled. But then I got to the part when he made up verses of the "Koran".
This is not a real review, I have not completed the book because of that, but I felt I should at least state the mistake in it.
I pride myself for being open minded. I didn't object to the fact that the enemy were a Muslim. There were and are some incredibly stupid ones in history, it is human nature, but I could not go any further from the page where the made up verse was. I rated three, even though I suspect I would rate it more if I could complete it, I can't. It may sound silly to you, but I was offended.
I know it is fiction, but one of the things I like about Cornwell is how much research he puts in his books, I wish he made sure everything was correct in it, we muslims, do read other books too.

Sharpes Tiger by Bernard Cornwell is a brilliant work. Seeing Sharpe as a private was a real treat.It had been a few years since sharpe had had an adventure and this first book in the indian trilogy shows that Cornwell has not lost his magic touch.

This book is the best i have ever read. Bar none. Private Richard Sharpe is so believable that i find it hard to believe that he was not a real person. Sargeant Hakeswilll is cool too but sharpe rules

This was a wonderful book that I enjoyed a great deal! I recived it and the next two for my birthday 3 days ago and I finished the last one about an hour ago! I hope you read, and enjoy this book, and all of Bernard Cornwell's other books!

For those that read Sharp's adventures and saw the BBC video, Sharpe's Tiger finally fills in the blanks for you.

You meet private sharp in his first posting in India, his idiosyncrasies evolve from this first volume. His hesitation towards flogging, his experiences with superiors, the first meeting of Arthur Welsely, and the dogged contempt the soldiers seem to have for him.

You will find that Cornwell, one of my favorites, has seen that Richard Sharp is incomplete until we know the man that was behind the character we know and love.

The story is fantastic, the realism of battle intense, the picture that is painted of the massive fortress/city of Seringapatam, is one of a daunting, massive and impregnable in the classic thought.

You are there for the forlorn hope leading the charge, and discharging your weapon at the determined defenders. You are there in the confines of the city at the mercy of the insanely powerful Tippo Sultan.

Historically speaking the battle takes place pretty much as Cornwell describes. With his help you are able to participate in person.

Bernard Cornwell is acknowledged to be a fine author of historical fiction. I first became aware of his work when I watched Sean Bean starring as Richard Sharpe on the BBC. This is the first book in the series. It tells the story of Private Richard Sharpe of the British Army serving in India in 1799. Born the son of a whore, he accepted the King’s shilling and agreed to serve in the Army to survive. The novel is full of excellent characterizations and details of the period. There is plenty of action as Sharpe is offered to become a sergeant if he can survive this secret mission. If you enjoy military and historical fiction, buy this book and be introduced to the works of Bernard Cornwell. You won’t be sorry.

HAVING RECENTLY FINISHED THE EXCELLENT CIVIL WAR BOOK(BLOODY GROUND) BY MR CORNWELL ,I WAS EXPECTING TO BE LET DOWN BY THIS NEW BOOK SHARPES TIGER. HOWEVER THE BOOK BLEW ME AWAY, THE CHARACTER RICHARD SHARPE IS EVEN BETTER THAN NATHANIEL STARBUCK. THE BOOK HAS EVERYTHING YOU WOULD WANT DRAMA SUSPENSE COMEDY AND BRUTALITY. MR CROMWELLS DESCRIPTIONS OF BRUTAL EXECUTIONS AND WAR ARE EXTRAORDINARY PLUS HE SHOWS US ONE OF THE MOST VILE DESPICAble characters I HAVE EVER READ SGT HARESWILL. IF YOU LOVE EXCITING HISTORICAL DRAMA YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. I DEFY ANYONE TO READ IT AND NOT THOROUGHLY ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE. TOUCHE' MR CORNWELL YOU ARE AMAZING.

I love Bernard Cornwell. The beginning is The Sharpe series is nothing but a page turner. Historically accurate battle sequences mixed with complex characters and an amazing story line. Great book, worth every second.