This fifth instalment of the Saxon Stories is set during the early 890s when Alfred the Great is ailing yet is still the most powerful man in the divided England that he hopes to unite.As usual, the tale is narrated by the anti-hero of the piece, Lord Uhtred, who is a Saxon warrior with a liking ...
Bernard Cornwell is one of the most popular historical fiction authors around and his famous for his Sharpe series, which is about an English rifleman during the Napoleonic wars. Cornwell has written couple of the series as well, not as popular as Sharpe though. The Grail Quest is a series of 4 b...
‘My name is Uhtred. I am the son of Uhtred, who was the son of Uhtred, and his father was also called Uhtred.’This is the eighth instalment in the Saxon Series, set in 10th century Mercia and Northumbria, featuring my hero Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Uhtred, raised by the Danes is a pagan warlord, fig...
Cornwell is a master of historical research, and always finds a compelling point of view to illuminate the past. Unfortunately, Stonehenge seems more generic than inspired, and I've been trying to analyze why that is so. I loved Agincourt and his Arthur trilogy, which both kept me turning the pag...
This entry in the Sharpe series is unusual, in that unlike most of the other books (Sharpe's Gold is the other notable exception) it is based on fictional events, albeit inspired by actual characters and circumstances. It's also a particularly strong entry in the series, and perhaps my favourite ...
I don't know what it was about this one, but it felt a bit different from the mid-period Sharpe books so far. It just had a bit more grit and personality to it or something. Whatever it is, I could use a bit more of it--I always, always have a good deal of fun with Sharpe but lately the formulaic...
Once again Cornwell achieves a wonderful adventure focused on military action. This for me was perhaps the best of the six I’ve read from the 22 that feature Richard Sharpe, the brilliant and sardonic hero of a rifle brigade in Wellington’s forces during the Napoleanic Wars. In this, the 18th, ...
There are just so many good mysteries out there. The Starbuck books view the Civil War through the eyes of a transplanted New Englander fighting for the Confederacy. This is the 4th in the series. Not being a fan of the Southern point of view, I was reluctant to pick these up, but Cornwell te...
As with the first of Bernard Cornwell’s take on the Arthur legend, here we have a tale that uses little of the well-known legends, such as a magnificent Camelot or the Lady of the Lake. The famous characters of Guinevere, Merlin, Galahad, and Lancelot all appear, yet they all differ from the usua...
I've re-read it for the third time, so here goes. Minor spoilers ahead.Sharpe, now a Major of his regiment, begins the novel scouring the Spanish-French frontier of Napoleon's retreating troops. But after many battles in Portugal and Spain he begins to feel trepidation about his one -and possibly...
First read 27 Jan 2009: Love the battle, tactics, camaraderie, and the history. Twelfth in the Richard Sharpe historical military fiction series revolving around Captain Richard Sharpe in the Peninsular War in May of 1811.My TakeOne of the subplots has Sharpe facing off with General Loup while t...
Opinião:Já gostava de Bernard Cornwell mas, após a conclusão da leitura desta trilogia, passo a olhar o escritor com outra admiração, compreendo agora porque muitos dos seus admiradores consideram este o seu melhor trabalho. As qualidades que admiro no escritor, bem como o que tanto me agradou ne...
I've read and re-read the Sharpe series countless times. For me, they're arguably one of the finest collections of historical fiction written. Cornwell knows what he's doing and does it well. There are some easy potshots to take at the books. The biggest one is that each book is essentially the s...
Just as good the second time around, if not better! All of Cornwell's strengths are on prominent display here; an authoritative command of the historical setting, likable and lively characters, thoroughly descriptive language and brutal, gritty battles. He also has an inarguable gift for storytel...
Oh Bernard, how do you do what you do? If I could write like this man, well, I'd be one very happy chick. And I do not want to write like this to make money, or make fans, or make myself famous, I just want to have this skill for myself, to know that I can do it, to know that I can create magic ...
On April 10, 2009, I did a VERY short review: "Love the battle, tactics, camaraderie, and the history. "This time, I got into it a bit more, LOL:Seventeenth in the Richard Sharpe fictional military history series and revolving around Major Richard Sharpe and the South Essex. This one takes place ...
Thomas of Hookton resumes his quest for the Holy Grail following a bloody siege at Calais which results in an English victory. The Earl of Northampton, Thomas’ lord whom he serves diligently throughout the beginning of the novel, gives his blessing to the mission to find the Grail. With men-at-ar...
The year is 1812. Wellington's advance to Madrid has stalled at the town of Salamanca, blocked by the army of Marshal Auguste Marmont. As the two armies prepare for the battle everyone know is coming, Captain Richard Sharpe of the South Essex Regiment's light company captures, and then loses agai...
NOOOO!!!!! 6 months wait for the next book. This was GREAT!,Book three in the Saxon Chronicles is the best book by Bernard Cornwell that I have read. I had read his "Grail Quest Trilogy" before coming to this series, which I thought was a trilogy, but now know could go on much longer (it will be ...
No. 21, the final installment of the Richard Sharpe series.[return][return]Normally, when a series reaches a planned climax (in this case, the Battle of Waterloo), any books that come after are usually anticlimactic and have nowhere near the story-telling tension. Cornwell, however, true to form...
No. 10 in the Richard Sharpe series.[return][return]It s still 1810, and the British Army and Captain Richard Sharpe are still in Portugal. Bought by Sharpe s stolen gold, Wellington has had built enormous defences known as the Torres Vedras just north of Lisbon, constructed with Sharpe s stolen ...
Аз съм фен на Корнуел и преди съм го казвала. :)Поредицата за Старбък, обаче, успя да ме изненада с нещо нехарактерно за останалите книги - великолепно развитие на характерите. Характерите на героите в книгите на Корнуел са доста статични, включително и на главните герои, макар че при тях нещата ...
A thoroughly enjoyable that unlike most of Mr Cornwall's oeuvre is a stand alone novel. While there are several similarities to others of his works (mean sergeant, dead brother etc) there is enough about Redcoat to make it stand out from the Sharpes and Hooktons of this world. If anything it pl...
I found this to be up there with Cornwell's other sailing-related books. If it weren't his name on the cover, I wouldn't bother even picking it up, but he never fails to deliver a good story. This one is set in the 80s, and the story revolves around the drug trade, specifically cocaine, and is se...
Nord und SüdWegen einer Eskapade mit einer Frau hat Nathaniel Starbuck seine Ausbildung zum Pastor abgebrochen. Sein Vater, ebenfalls Theologe, ist nun überhaupt nicht gut auf seinen Sohn zu sprechen. Und so will Nathaniel lieber zum Elternhaus seines besten Freundes Adam reisen. Dass Adam aus de...
I don't often encounter historical/military novels that themselves have a strong sense of prior history the way that Sharpe's Eagle has, for the Roman Empire strongly permeates the book, especially in its opening chapters.We open with Sharpe and his rifle company* being drafted into yet another w...
Sixteenth in the Richard Sharpe historical military fiction series revolving around Major Richard Sharpe and the Peninsular War against Napoleon.My TakeIt starts brutally, slips into cleverness, and then wallows in the greed of a priest with dreams of becoming a cardinal. Being a priest is no gua...
Third in the Sharpe military fiction series set in the early 19th century. In this installment, Richard Sharpe has made Ensign while in India for saving Sir Arthur's life at the battle of Assaye.The StoryThe Mahratta confederation has rebelled against the English and it's Sir Arthur's job to subd...
This a novel about obsessions. Wounded Falklands war hero Nick Sandman is obsessed with overcoming his disability and returning to sea on his beloved ocean going yawl Sycorix. However, TV megastar Tony Barrister, who is obsessed with winning a prestigious trans-Atlantic race on his ocean racer Wi...
"He might not be a born officer, but by God he was a born soldier. He was the son of a whore, bereft of God, but a God-damned soldier."I've decided that the best way to approach the Sharpe series -- in which the publication order differs so radically from the publication order as to seem all but ...
First read: 2 Sept 2008. Love the battle, tactics, camaraderie, and the history. Fourth in the Richard Sharpe series set in 1805 and revolving around a jumped-up ensign who thinks he's better than he is. My Take I do so love Richard Sharpe! Okay, okay, so I fell in love with Sean Bean in the tel...
3.5 Stars Random Ramblings In chronological order, Sharpe's Triumph, is the second book of the Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe" series. This volume was written as part of prequels written about the Main Character, Richard Sharpe. Plot summary Sharpe has now been promoted to sergeant and been reassi...
I appreciated this as a window on the famous 1815 battle, with Sharpe a Zellig-like figure at key turning points. However, I missed Sharpe’s personal story as the main focus of the narrative rather than getting a sense of him being used as a tool to illustrate historical events. If you have re...
Dorcas Slythe is constantly humiliated and mistreated at the hands of her Puritan family and their servants. Then she meets Toby Lazender while bathing in a nearby stream and begins to dream of a life filled with love and beauty. Forced to marry Samuel Scammell she despairs but her "Father's dea...
First read Jan 13, 2009: Love the battle, tactics, camaraderie, and the history. Seventh in the Richard Sharpe military fiction series revolving around a lieutenant promoted up from the ranks. The action encompasses a retreat from Soult out of Oporto just before Wellesly arrives. My Take It's an...
There are so many things to like about Mr. Cornwell's "Sword Song," but what stood out for me was (decidedly "pagan" and Thor devotee) Uthred's unlikely friendship with two priests: the fierce Welsh warrior Father Pyrlig and King Alfred's adviser and scholar Father Beocca.Uhtred on choosing Fathe...