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 guarantee of being a Christian as Hacha proves. The story starts with a battle and ends with another. One in which the men can become rich beyond their wildest dreams while other men's dreams are destroyed. One in which Richard proves again that he's a fool for a woman. In between is invasion, escape, fighting, trickery, and too many prison cells.I do love Cornwell's characters. Richard certainly has a sliding scale of honor, but it's there where and when it counts. I do enjoy the respect with which Richard is held by [almost] everyone from generals on down to privates. I also enjoy how uncomfortable it makes him! I don't think Richard will ever be able to understand the esteem his fellow soldiers have for him. Sure, Cornwell has taken liberties with his characters and the battles, but he has preserved the feel for the time period and being on a battlefield. I sure can empathize with the cold, hard ground at night and the way Cornwell describes the cold, the heat, and the dust makes me grateful for today's conveniences! It's the most comfortable way I can imagine for experiencing battle and laying siege. It's terrifying enough just reading Cornwell's words and makes me very grateful to soldiers everywhere.The StoryThe story begins with our introduction to El Matarife, priming us for the terror of the knife fight at the end of a chain and continues with the very worried Trumper-Jones wondering if Sharpe really means to surrender.It's the Treaty of Valençay, named for the chateau where the Spanish king is held prisoner. A clever move to force the British out of Spain. One of Ducos' plans and he's working a series of scams one of which is the destruction of Major Sharpe with La Puta Dorada's help. Forcing Sharpe into a corner where he must defend his honor or lose it.The CharactersMajor Richard Sharpe commands a half-battalion of the South Essex Light Company and is viewed by other men as "a soldier's soldier, a man whose approval was eagerly sought by other men, whose name was used as a touchstone of professional competence". Even by the French! Teresa has been dead for a few months now and his daughter, Antonia, is growing up motherless with her aunt and uncle. Although, he has given all his money to her.His men include Sergeant Patrick Harper, a huge Irishman from Donegal and still living in sin with Isabella (see Sharpe's Company); Captain Peter d'Alembord, an accomplished duellist; Sergeant Huckfield; Captain William Frederickson, a.k.a., Sweet William, is half-German, half-English, a fearsome soldier with an eye for beauty, and has the charge of Sharpe's few Riflemen; Collip is the quartermaster who really needs to think before he leaps; Paddock is Sharpe's Battalion clerk; Regimental Sergeant Major MacLaird; and, Lieutenant Harry Price is still alive. Lieutenant-Colonel Leroy has been promoted and is now in command of the South Essex. Major Joseph Forrest has been sent to Lisbon to help organize stores.Major Michael Hogan is Sharpe's friend and the general's chief of intelligence. The Marquess of Wellington, Grandee of Spain, Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain and Duque da Victoria in Portugal is in command of all the armies. Between them, they rescue Sharpe and send him into danger to prove his innocence. Major Vaughn is the prosecutor in his trial with General Sir Edward Pakenham presiding. Angel is Hogan's spy and he's lending him to Sharpe for this mission. Poor Lieutenant Michael Trumper-Jones...he gets introduced to a Sharpe he had never expected would surrender! Helene Leroux, a.k.a., La Puta Dorada, is the Marquesa de Casares el Grande y Melida Sadaba and a spy for Napoleon (see Sharpe's Sword). Luis, the Marqués, is a Grandee of Spain, its new hero, a general, and Helene's husband newly returned from Brazil, and currently at Wellington's side. And easily led by the Church. Major Miguel Mendora is the marqués' errand boy delivering the challenge. Ferdinand VII is the imprisoned Spanish king whom Napoleon will return to Spain. On certain conditions. General Raoul Verigny is her current protector, persuaded to help Helene escape Spain with a fortune now that Spain knows her for what she is. Major Montbrun is a French officer and wants to make a deal with Sharpe that will benefit his master, King Joseph of Spain. Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan is in command of the French army at Burgos.Major Pierre Ducos is Napoleon's primary intelligence officer. Egotistical and confident in his immense superiority. Only Napoleon has his respect; all others are well beneath his regard or consideration. And he loathes Sharpe with a passion. El Matarife, a.k.a., The Slaughterman, a.k.a., Juan Hacha, is Father Hacha's brother and a partisan leader. He's not averse to enriching himself at the expense of his country or countrymen. Pedro Pelera is another partisan, but not a friend of El Matarife. Father Tomas Hacha is an Inquisitor for the Catholic Church in Spain, but more interested in his rise to power and restoring his family's fortunes.The CoverThe cover is one of the charcoal sketches with Sharpe rising up from the bottom and visible from the shoulders on up. He's holding his sword straight up at the level of his chin.The title truly is about Sharpe's Honor and the lengths he will go to retain it.
Action, drama, romance and some slightly sexier scenes for our dear Sharpe (and a bottle of Champagne). He is damn lucky and it's been great to see how much faith Harper has in him. I'd love to see that relationship really tested somehow, but these books are addicting. I'm conscious that I am reaching the end of the series and that knowledge is wholly depressing. I want Sharpe to have endless adventures. As for the Golden Whore, she's actually a character I somewhat like and I rarely like female characters, but she's a bit fun though can't be trusted at all and it's refreshing to find a spy who seems to have a problem taking her clothes off. Though, considering the other only major spy in the books, I think I'd rather Ducos kept his on... Cornwell ending with the title of the book all the time is half, 'Oh, not this again,' and yet, has that sort of comforting feeling of being in safe hands, guided through, given a proper end and that is what I love about Sharpe. The books have a beginning, a middle and an end. There isn't faffing about or boredom or some random part which makes you feel as though you're lost in a chaotic story which can only go nowhere. It's exciting, the pace is good and the characters are true to themselves. Now... onto the next book about "the scum of the earth".
Do You like book Sharpe's Honor (2001)?
“Sharpe’s Honor” is loaded with ironic situations. The whole series is based on the irony that the 19th century British Empire reigning aristocracy is protected, maintained and made wealthy by army soldiers and navy sailors that are made up of the lowest of the social classes. And, they are fighting against the armies of France where social revolution ousted the aristocracy. Of course, Emperor Bonaparte and French imperialism is a different kind of menace. In this story, the following ironic situations occur: Sharpe, a “killing machine”, is not supposed to fight a duel; Sharpe the hero is publicly hung my the neck until he is dead; Sharpe fights against a group of Spanish guerilla that are supposed to be allies; Sharpe is rescued by French forces (twice); Sharpe rescues the woman (twice) that has both sexed and betrayed him; Sharpe survives a massive explosion that is reminiscent of the gigantic explosion he set in “Sharpe’s Gold”; Sharpe is attacked by the Spanish locals that believe he is French; Sharpe morns the loss of his wife, is guilt ridden that he was unfaithful to her when she was alive, and has sex with the same woman, again … no more guilt? I guess that I love irony because “Sharpe’s Honor” is one of the most fun stories to read.
—Rog
This was a fun book. With all the duelling, womanizing and the big iconic battle scene it felt like a movie retelling and Sharpe was larger than life as in his best times.Sadly that led to our scruffy hero being a little bit driven by fate as a great conspiracy leads to Wellington being forced to hang his most priced rifleman in apublic display of justice and Sharpe (who got exchanged against a real criminal) going undercover to prove his innocence or at least his non involvement in the crime as
—Bjoern
Another excellent story - it moves away from the bigger battles (except right at the very end), but still serves up a rip-roaring treat! Sharpe is tricked into a duel, but it is stopped before either man is killed. However, when his opponent is found dead, he is the chief suspect. Sentenced to hang, he is rescued by Wellington, who wants him to go behind enemy lines and find out what is actually going on. Under a new name, he meets old friends and enemies, and has to stop a plan that could end the war by having the British thrown out of Spain.A really clever story with some brilliant twists. The ending, when Sharpe rejoins the army, is really funny. Well worth reading just for that. This is probably my favourite Sharpe story.
—Dark-Draco
