Sharpes Books

A Bloody Good Read

Sharpe's Enemy

Sharpes enemy 1812, Gateway of God
Published: January 1984

ISBN 0-14-010430-5 (paperback edition)

Sharpes Enemy gets 4 1/2 stars - 5 stars on the merits of the first chapter alone.

Sharpe's Enemy is another great example of the Richard Sharpe series of Books.

The opening scene with the discussion between Captain Richard Sharpe and General Nairn is magical. truly gripping character writing that makes me smile like an idiot whilst reading it. If you would ask me which 10 pages of Bernard Cornwell must everybody read, its probably going to be that scene.

Any the book proceeds an a familiar direction. A suitably despicable senior idiot gets brought into play for Sharpe to fall out with, a dangerous mission is embarked upon and things appear as usual.

Obidiah Hakeswill makes a unwelcome return, and is a despicable as ever, and also a reprise from another old, familiar and beautiful face is very enjoyable.

Making his first and welcome appearance is 'Sweet' William Frederickson, a character meaner, dirtier, more hard fought and more violent than Sharpe himself. Sharpe and Harper have found themselves a soul mate.

Without giving too much away another top notch story, with deserters to be brought to justice, an old foe to vanquished, maidens? to be rescued, senior officers to be insulted, honorable frenchies to be beaten in battle and a tragedy waiting to happen.

It all goes on with the usual gusto and panache we expect from one of Bernard Cornwell's books. One thing to note is that Bernard had obvious read a good French cook bock before writing this Novels as I am sure from descriptions give in the book most people could serve up a 5 course french banquet.

Highlights of the book are the conversation with Nairn at the start, dinner with the French, Sharpe's stand to sideline Sir August Fathingdale, and Sharpe's tactical deployment of the rocket troop.

Synopsis

The newly promoted Major Richard sharpe is sent to pay ransom for the wife of a senior British officer from a band of deserters. He encounters his nemesis sergeant Hakeswill with the deserters and is refused the hostage. A rescue is then mounted in which sharpe rescues and old friend and realises that his small command is all that stands between the French army approaching and the north of Portugal.

Sharpe not only has to work out a way to beat the vastly superior french force but to persuade his reluctant but incompetent superior officers that they need to stand and fight.

Sharpe's Enemy - Main Characters

Major Richard Sharpe
Sergeant Patrick Harper
Captain William Frederickson
Major General Nairn
Major Ducos
'Marshal' Pot-au-Feu
Obadiah Hakeswil
Josefina Lacosta
Sir Augustus Farthingdale
Colonel Dubreton