Details Out Of Books Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe #6)
| Title | : | Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe #6) |
| Author | : | Bernard Cornwell |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 304 pages |
| Published | : | February 1st 2001 by Penguin Books (first published 1988) |
| Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. War. Adventure. Military Fiction |
Bernard Cornwell
Paperback | Pages: 304 pages Rating: 4.24 | 14222 Users | 374 Reviews
Representaion In Pursuance Of Books Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe #6)
Sharpe knew himself to be a tough man, but he had always thought of himself as a reasonable one, yet now, in the mirror of William’s nervousness, he saw himself as something far worse: a bullying man who would use the small authority of his rank to frighten men… In February 1809 the British army under Sir John Moore is routed by Napoleon’s forces and is in retreat to the port of La Coruna in North-west Spain’s Galicia region, hoping to escape in Dunkirk-fashion back to England. Lieutenant Richard Sharpe and the men of the 95th Rifles under his command become separated from the bulk of the troops, and are trapped at a river crossing, saved by Spanish Cazadores, led by the charismatic aristocrat Don Blas Vivar. Sharpe wants to head south to the border with Portugal to join the British garrison at Lisbon, a decision at odds with his men who distrust an officer risen from the ranks, and he is equally despised by officers of allied armies and the enemy alike. Vivar enlists them to first head west to accompany his men carrying a strongbox which, the Riflemen believe, contains gold and jewels to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy. Progress is slow and arduous, avoiding the roads, and they encounter a gutted village where they see at first hand the savagery of the French against the peasants. They journeyed through the night, climbing ever higher and always into the teeth of a wind that brought the chill from the snow which lay in the gullies of the upper slopes. Past midnight, from a wooded spur, Sharpe saw the far off gleam of the western sea. Much closer, and beneath him in the dark tangle of the lowlands, a smear of camp fires betrayed where men were bivouacked. ‘The French,’ Vivar said softly. Vivar, a passionately religious man, rails against Sharpe (an agnostic), but then they are side-tracked by an English couple and their niece, dour Methodist missionaries, there to convert the Spanish away from Papism, with little success. The French are persistent and Sharpe realises that they are after the coveted strongbox they have been duped to protect. Finally, in a high country fortress disused for centuries, Vivar reveals its contents and their destination as the city of Santiago (St James – the patron saint of Spain) de Compostello (field of stars), which he is to use as a rallying point, invoking the spirit of St James to help the Spanish rid the country of the French, as he had nine centuries earlier against the Moors. Naturally, some Spaniards disagree, seeing the French as “enlightened and progressive”. This is a novel on many levels, binding history with fiction. At its centre, a brilliant soldier and tactician, leadership thrust upon him yet with barely the skills to lead, who needs to gain the respect of his men. The reader follows his progress, from self-doubt to victory in battle (and there are several of those). Secondly, there is the attention to detail, of weaponry and uniform - the Riflesmen’s tattered rags and boot soles wound with twine, contrasting with the finery of the enemy. We learn what they eat (bare rations supplemented from what they glean from the land or are given by villagers). Then there are the smells of warfare: blood, vomit, horses chaffed and ridden almost to death and taking the brunt of the attack (not recommended for animal lovers). Finally there is the location itself, Santiago de Compostello, the destination of pilgrim tracks from across Europe for 1200 years, now UNESCO-listed and visited by millions. Verdict: a read to be savoured, not rushed.Be Specific About Books Supposing Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe #6)
| ISBN: | 0140294295 (ISBN13: 9780140294293) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | Sharpe #6, Richard Sharpe #9 |
| Characters: | Richard Sharpe, Patrick Harper, Michael Hogan, Daniel Hagman, Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington |
| Setting: | Galicia,1809(Spain) |
Rating Out Of Books Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe #6)
Ratings: 4.24 From 14222 Users | 374 ReviewsArticle Out Of Books Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe #6)
Number 6 in the Sharpe series.This story takes place just after the French defeated the British at the battle of Corunna in 1809. The British are in disarray trying to get to safety via the coast where the British fleet is waiting to evacuate the defeated army. The 95th Rifles are separated from the main army and are being harassed by French dragoons. There are constant rearguard skirmishes which are taking a toll on the troops of the 95th. In one skirmish the last, but one, officer is killed.My first introduction to Richard Sharpe, soldier & reluctant officer. This is the book that tells how Sharpe ended up as the Leader of his Rifle contingent. I know little of the battles in this era (1809) between Britain & France or Spain & France, so always interesting to me to learn something new. Cornwell definitely paints the gritty picture of difficult marches & bloody battles with the weaponry of the day. I found myself invested in the lives of the main characters, although
Cornwell is certainly the master of historical fiction. With Sharpe he gives us an eye witness to some of history's most interesting battles. The narrator of this series is superb, giving life to the events as they unfold. We are listening to this series on our four month road trip and enjoying every minute. A great series!
Sharpe knew himself to be a tough man, but he had always thought of himself as a reasonable one, yet now, in the mirror of Williams nervousness, he saw himself as something far worse: a bullying man who would use the small authority of his rank to frighten menIn February 1809 the British army under Sir John Moore is routed by Napoleons forces and is in retreat to the port of La Coruna in North-west Spains Galicia region, hoping to escape in Dunkirk-fashion back to England. Lieutenant Richard
Ah okay, I get it. I kind of messed this up. When I was browsing a used book store in Riverside, California for a return flight read (that was my first mistake, travelling cross country with ONE book), I picked up a copy of Sharpe's Rifles that helpfully had a #1 pasted to the spine and the inside sheet placed it as the first book in the Sharpe series. Listen, I have a love affair with Uhtred in Cornwell's Saxon Stories series. So I was fairly confident he could get me through a return flight.
So, this is the sixth Sharpe book I've read so far, and quite a brief span of time. I do this from time to time. I'll pick up a series and read until the fatigue sets in. Discworld is the most recent example. The trouble with this approach is that it results in needing to take a breather and as the author's style and tropes become so familiar, it breeds a sort of complacent dislike for the material. Not because it isn't good, but because the turns of phrase can be repeated, or in Pratchett's
0 Comments