Sharpe's Battle: The Battle of Fuentes de Onoro, May 1811

After finishing this book I thought it was one of the best of the series. This is the book that pits Sharpe against as Enemy like himself, Brigadier Loup is a great French commander, he commands an 'elite' Battalion known as the Loup Brigade. Like Sharpe's own rifles, these are a well-trained unit.The book in general is typical Cornwell writing, you get a dose of history, a bit of romance and a whole load of heroism and action. Once you read a Sharpe novel the battle scenes get you gripped, you find yourself living it, smelling the acrid cannon smoke, tasting the foul, salty gunpowder of the muskets. This book is typical Sharpe and then some, the battle with Loup is like a clash of the titans, I recommend this book greatly, its one of the best of the series.5 Stars

When I first read this book, nearly three years I found it intriguing, exciting, and delightful. A few weeks ago I picked it up and read it again, and it was just as good the second time around, especially the meeting of Loup. Cornwell certainly out did himself with this one. It is a story of lost honor, mixed in with some espionage, all centered around a historical campaign in the Spanish highlands, 1811. I disagree that Cornwell did not have his heart in this novel. In fact I believe that it is one of the finest in the series-more "underground" action and plot twists than most, which keeps the story ever moving and ever interesting. Highly highly recommended.

Once again, Bernard Cornwell has written an exciting page-turner of a book. I found it very addictive - staying up late at night to finish it. I recommend it to all who enjoy a good historical action/adventure book in the genre of Horatio Hornblower.I can't wait to read more books of the Sharpe series.

This is one of the best historical novels I have ever read. The only part I didn't like was the small history of what realy did happen at the end. It was a jolt back to reality.

Once again Mr. Cornwell takes us onto the battlefield of the French and the British (and Portuguese, German, Spanish, and Irish, et. al.). He does it with exquisite accuracy. Only one or two writers are able to make me feel the battlefield as can Mr. Cornwell. You can feel the dirt, the grit, heat, and the life of a soldier in 1811 in Portugal. Mr. Cornwell does an admirable job of letting you know what is being done and being used without distracting from the story. You pick up bits and pieces of historical information as you move through the story and only realize that you have learned something downstream. For instance the black armband of the Rifles' signified its wearer being a Chosen Man. This piece of information is slipped into your consciousness while describing a lost Green Coat (which had such an armband) and describing the importance of the loss to its wearer. It is done in a couple of sentences, but done. This is the way Mr. Cornwell conveys and colors his story. He describes Wellington, but does it in human terms and in the telling one learns about this man in some detail without realizing it. The battle scenes play on a screen in your mind as surely as a movie in a theater. Mr. Cornwell is at his best when describing battle itself. The Sharpe series is remarkable in many respects. And this book is certainly fine member of that family.