Saturday 3 January 2009

Review – Bernard CORNWELL – “Sharpe’s Gold”

Publ: 1981
Pensby Library
ISBN: 0 00 817314 4
Genre: historical fiction; Napoleonic wars;
Pages: 302p
Continuing the reading of this series
Rating: ***** **


What led you to pick up this book?
Continuing the reading of this series

Describe the plot without giving anything away.
Typical Sharpe plot, this time taking place behind enemy lines as Wellington sends Sharpe, now Captain of the Light Company of the South Essex, to retrieve some gold. The slight problem being it is owned by the Spanish and in a village occupied by the French. Needless to say, Sharpe tries to steal a girl as well – whether he steals the gold and/ or the girl is for you to find out.

What did you think of the characters?
I am well in my comfort zone with Sharpe because i have read so many I feel I know him inside out. A few old favourites appear again in this book and a few new ones. All are entirely believable. Cornwell has a knack for making characters live.

What did you think about the style?
As good as usual.

What did you like most about the book?

At the moment (i.e. the residue of the Christmas holidays) I was looking for some comfort reading that didn’t take too much effort and this fitted the bill nicely.

Was there anything you didn't like about the book?

No.

Thoughts on the book jacket / cover.
I like this whole series of jacket covers (excepting Sharpe’s Christmas). This one is slightly inappropriate being from “Wellington’s March from Quatre Bras to Waterloo” by Ernest Crofts but no less attractive for all that.

Would I recommend it?
Yes, to any Sharpe fan though not an ideal one to be read as a ‘one-off’’ as it is very much in the middle of the series.

BERNARD CORNWELL – see Sharpe’s Havoc

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