Sharpe's Siege

I watched a tv version on Sharpe, and thought it would be interesting to see how the book read. Well, surprise, surprise, there are 20 books in this series and I just finished #7 and they are tough to put down and go take care of "chores". I've been staying up well past my bedtime (I'm a geezer) to read as far as I can before I drop off to sleep (I page mark with a plastic paper clip every few pages so I don't have to spend a lot of time trying to figure out where I was when I went to sleep). The books are exciting to read, the characters all have strengths and weaknesses (some with more strength, others with more weaknesses) and the battle actions are very vivid. You also learn a lot about the history of this time (good and bad)... too bad history wasn't this interesting when I was in school (many years ago).

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.

When a quick raid on a French fort falls victim to cowardice and miscommunication it is up to Richard Sharp and his men to dig in and defend themselves. Can Sharp get his men out alive with nothing but their guns and an American privateer who may or may not be a friend? Lots of action and good battle scenes an excellent Cornwell book. This particular edition of the Sharp's series is one of my particular favorites. My favorite character Patrick Harper has a notable part to play(b y which I mean the part played by his seven barreled navy gun). If you are one of those people that likes to start a series from the middle and work your way back this is an excellent book to start with

Hands down, my favorite of the Sharpe series. Major Sharpe and some of his Rifle regiment are sent to help take a French coastal fort that defends access to a number of small craft the Navy needs to capture to make a huge pontoon bridge for the invasion of France. Of course there?s a French spy, a pompous and greedy British Naval officer, an American privateer, Sharpe?s wife possibly dying from fever, and lurking behind everything, Sharpe?s nemesis, French spymaster Pierre Ducos. Sharpe has to leave most of his men behind (but not, of course, Harper), and easily takes the fort. However, he is stranded on land with a company of Marines and must suddenly hole up in the flimsy fort and hope for salvation. This is Cornwell at his best, inventing a non-historic situation for Sharpe, taking him out of his natural element, presenting him with overwhelming odds, and then having him improvise his way to victory. The siege is a wonderfully frantic affair, as Sharpe must contend with overwhelming enemy numbers, low ammunition, and a crumbling defense. Great stuff.

There are a few of the Sharpe books a fan would consider as being the best of the best: this is one of them.On only (I think) three occasions does Sharpe fight a battle which doesn't appear in the history books: a completely imaginary conflict which cannot rely on any preconceived notions of "how it really went".And Cornwell does it brilliantly. He takes Sharpe out of our comfort zone - away from his beloved Riflemen - and pops him into a no-win situation.Ducos is weaving his dangerous plots, the Royal Navy is represented by a money-hungry imcompetent coward, Harper has his six-barreled gun, there are Royal Marines, a thousand or so French troops, American privateers, and a decrepit fort set against a dangerous coast.What more could you want?Oh, yes: a battle. And what a battle it is. One of Sharpe's best. And the wonderful thing is... we know he's going to escape, even though the odds are insurmountable.There's a cliche seen all-too-often on the back of books: usually written by Clive Cussler, the words are "A roller-coaster ride! (Insert another author's name here) look out - you've got serious competition!"Well, it's a description that tells part of the tale. Once again, Cornwell delivers more than just a great, rollicking adventure. He tells a complex story which exposes more of Sharpe's ambitions, dreams, and fears. All of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books are good. Some are very good. And there are three which are simply superb: this is one of them.

'Sharpe's Siege' is a wonderful novel in Bernard Cornwell's multi-volumed work. This time Sharpe is under orders to take a French coastal fort with the help of the British navy. Eventually, Sharpe finds himself stranded in the fort thanks to the machinations of his old nemisis Pierre Ducos. With his back to the sea Sharpe adopts, what else, a cunning strategy to deafeat the French and save his men. A real highlight in the series and lot of fun.