Sharpe's Sword
1812,Battle of Salamanca.
Published: 1983
ISBN 0-00-616834-5 (Paperback edition)
Enjoyable Stuff
Sharpe's sword is another of the Sharpe books which I truly enjoy. An excellent example of an excellent series
Characters and both believable and likeable, The story carry's you along, and you do not really know what is going on till it takes it final twist.
Unfortunately this is one of the books that the TV series felt the need to virtually rewrite and fell well short of what was offered in the novel.
The books greatest attractions are the characterisation and the sense of mystery it holds. The characters are captivating, vibrant and three dimensional. The plot twists and turns all the way through. nothing is certain until right at the end of the book.
It is one of the more complex Sharpe books and actually managed to surprise me in a couple of places. At more than one place I paused and thought I didn't see THAT coming. Even when I think something should of been obvious, Bernard has managed to disguise it well enough for me to feel both shocked and a little stupid at the same time.
Character wise Lord Spears in a remarkable char cater and La Marquesa is beautiful written and very desirable off the page. Patrick Harper really comes into his own in the book and we get to see a couple of more vulnerable sides to Captain Richard Sharpe.
This is another one of Sharpe Books that I truly Love, and would recommend to anybody.
Synopsis
A french spy with a exquisite Sword is captured by Richard Sharpe, but uses his parole to Kill Sharpe's Mayor, Flee and then take refuge in a besieged French fortress. Sharpe makes the acquaintance of both Lord spears and La Marquesa , a gallant exploring officer and a beautiful but bored nobel.
Major Hogan appears on the scene and informs sharpe of the spies name 'Philipe Leroux' importance and that he is trying to capture the chief British spy in the area called 'le mirador'. Sharpe is charged with protecting Le Mirador and capturing Colonel Leroux.
Sharpe is faced with the challenge of locating an unknown and deceptive enemy, protecting and unknown spy, whilst being distracted by a very beautiful woman. In this book Sharpe's faces what is the most perilous threat on his life.
Sharpe's Sword - Main Characters
Captain Richard Sharpe
Sergeant Patrick Harper
Major Michael Hogan
Sir Arthur Wellesley
Colonel Philippe Leroux
Hélène Leroux, La Marquesa de Casares el Grande y Melida Sadaba
The Reverend Doctor Patrick Curtis
Captain Lord Jack Spears
Sharpe Books
Wise Words
"On no Hamlett was no Irishman, he was a fool"
- Captain Hogan
