Sharpe's Havoc: Richard Sharpe and the Campaign in Northern Portugal, Spring 1809

If you have never heard of Sharpe or read a book by Bernard Cornwell then this isn't the book for you, this book is a long awaited installment of a great series of books.The thing I like most about this book is not the great adventure Sharpe is unwittingly participating in, you get that with every sharpe book. Its not even the great accounts of true, historic battles that seem to put you in the heart of the action, you get that with every Sharpe book.This book is my new favourite simply because of the way its written. The style is still the same just it fits the book better, you just fall right into the book. The Sharpe series has developed as much as Cornwell has developed as a writer. The newer books seem to have a 'worn in' feel to them, they fit like an old boot, its a comfortable, fitting read for the Sharpe fan, you won't be disappointed.

It's always a cause for rejoicing to me when I have the chance to read a new novel about Richard Sharpe and his exploits in the Napoleonic era. These books are excellent reading, and you also receive a "ground-pounder's" view of the wars of that time. This isn't the elite "from the command post" view, but from the guys who actually did the fighting, up close and really dirty. The writing is first-rate, and the characters quite well drawn. The plots keep the reader moving swiftly, and the pages are turned with great anticipation. Just when it appears that the author may have exhausted the scenarios of the war years in his books, he gives all of his faithful readers hope for the future when he says at the end: "Sharpe and Harper will march again". That is fantastic news!

What Sharpe does is to give us a good story, and then makes it a good history lesson also. You either like them or do not not. After reading this one I then went back and reread all of the other ones just to make sure they were as good as I remember them to be. They give you an excellant idea of the French/British wars, and then for good measure they go back into India also. Sharpe and Wellington, along with Napolean are the constant characters. As those who know, Sharpe comes up from the ranks, from Private to an officer, which did not happen in England in a class society where everyone knew their place. Good war stories, good character studies, and good history. I just think that the series is wonderful, and this one is as good as any of them. Read it, and then do your self a favor and order all of these series, and enjoy yourself.

For long-time fans like me who found "Sharpe's Prey" below par, I'm pleased to say that this one returns to first principles, frog-bashing in the Peninsula; and the author is back on form. If you wondered what happened to Sharpe, Harper & Co. after they joined forces on the retreat to Vigo (Sharpe's Rifles, Jan. 1809) and before Talavera (Sharpe's Eagle, July 1809), here's the answer. The Greenjackets are in the wilds of Portugal where the best Sharpe stories are set. Richard Sharpe is a disgruntled rifle lieutenant not long promoted from sergeant (not as unheard of in the British army as people think, especially when there was fighting to be done). Marshal Soult, 'Duke of Damnation' and aspiring King of Portugal, is closing in. Is all lost? Wait! an obscure sepoy general called Wellesley has landed at Lisbon ... I'll leave the plot there except to say that it's a ripping yarn (and I've been reading them for twenty years). We meet an upper-class villain fit to take on Sir Henry Simmerson; a beautiful, runaway heiress; and a young Portuguese officer of character and education who has a thing or two to learn from Sharpe. Deja vu? Well, some of the best vus are deja. There have been better ones than this but not many. The atmosphere is as thick as Dan Hagman's tea. There are passages of real sardonic humor, which comes as a relief after the last outing. The action sequences are many and unsurpassed. My only regret is that an old favorite, Sweet William the one-eyed architecture fancier, hasn't shown up yet. This isn't the best, but the time slots are filling up and Cornwell makes good use of them. Sharpe and Harper march again. What are you waiting for? And if you didn't understand any of the above, still read the book.

On a time line with other Richard Sharpe books , this one would fall between Sharpe's Rifles and Sharpe's Eagle : May 1805.This highly entertaining novel has Lieutenant Richard Sharpe and his sidekick Patrick Harper battling not only the "Frogs" but a mysterious British officer Col. James Christopher , an operative of the British foreign office , as well as a deserter from his own company of riflemen.The novel starts with Captain Hogan , Sharpe's commanding officer by default , sending the riflemen into the mountains to find a missing young Englishwoman named Kate Savage. It seems that Miss Savage has disappeared from her home in Oporto , Portugal , just as the French army under Marshal Soult is moving in to occupy the city. Hogan also asks Sharpe to "keep an eye" on Colonel Christopher for him. We are then introduced to Christopher as an arrogant and otherwise slimy member of the aristocratic English upper class who is in romantic pursuit of Miss Savage. As it turns out , the young lady in question is the heiress to one of the major Port wine producing lodges in Oporto. It also turns out that Christopher has other things than Miss Savages' best interests in mind.In combination , Christopher and Miss Savage lead Sharpe and his half company of riflemen on a perilous chase into the mountains of Northern Portugal , skirmishing with the French army , and their lives emperiled by Colonel Christopher's treachery. Sharpe has made common cause with a young Lieutenant of the Portuguese army , Lieutenant Jorge Vicente , and proceeds to train the young officer and his band of soldiers. The battle scenes are classic Cornwell ; Sir Arthur Wellsley arrives in Portugal and sends Marshal Soult packing over the mountains back to Spain , with Sharpe , Harper , and Lt. Vicente in hot pursuit of the now treasonous Christopher and Miss Savage.In summary , a very well paced and entertaining Sharpe novel. There are no dull or flat spots (unlike some of the Patrick O'Brian "Aubrey-Maturin" novels I have recently read). I just started this series a few weeks ago ; I am now a Bernard Cornwell fan! No real warts on this one--5 stars.