Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Signet (2004), Edition: Reprint, 319 pages
Description
The greatest threat to Wellington's Salamanca Campaign is not Napoleon's Army but France's deadliest assassin. He's already failed to kill Captain Richard Sharpe once. Now he's getting a second chance. Colonel Leroux is killing Britain's most valuable spies, and it's up to Richard Sharpe to stop him. Thrust into the unfamiliar world of political and military intrigue, Sharpe must tangle with La Marquesa, a beguiling, extraordinarily beautiful woman whose embrace is as calculating as it is passionate. As she leads him through a maze of secrecy, cunning, and deception, Sharpe relentlessly pursues Leroux, determined to exact his revenge with the cold steel of his sword.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Joycepa
#14 in the Richard Sharpe series.
Wellington’s army—and therefore Richard Sharpe—is in Spain, near Salamanca, still fighting the French. But there’s a new element in the mix—Napoleon’s personal intelligence officer, Colonel Leroux, who has been tracking down and eliminating the network
By accident, Sharpe encounters Leroux under disguise. Later, in another meeting, Leroux, with his sword made by Kligenthal, breaks Sharpe’s cavalry sword and nearly kills Sharpe. Determined to get Leroux’s sword, Sharpe pursues his nemesis through the intrigues that end up in the Battle of Salamanca.
Although this book gets off to a slow and somewhat awkward start, it soon picks up and Cornwell delivers a faced-paced, exciting story such as we have learned to anticipate. The plot is excellent. Of course, the usual battle is the piece de resistanceof the novel, and it lives up to all the other superb battle descriptions that Cornwell has written in the series. Sharpe is not the most sensitive hero in literature, but he continues to interest as he does evolve, if slowly. But then there are so many more books to go! Sgt. Harper continues to provide a foil for Sharpe.
As usual, there is an excellent Historical Note that provides more information on two characters in the novel that were historical figures. He waxes lyrical about Salamanca and, as usual, describes the battlefield as it currently exists. He also gives directions to the battlefield of Garcia Hernandez, the site of the magnificent charge of the King’ German Legion.
Another magnificent installment in this superb series. Highly recommended.
Wellington’s army—and therefore Richard Sharpe—is in Spain, near Salamanca, still fighting the French. But there’s a new element in the mix—Napoleon’s personal intelligence officer, Colonel Leroux, who has been tracking down and eliminating the network
Show More
of spies who supply information for Wellington’s army. His latest coup is someone who will lead Leroux to the coordinator of the network, known only as El Mirador.By accident, Sharpe encounters Leroux under disguise. Later, in another meeting, Leroux, with his sword made by Kligenthal, breaks Sharpe’s cavalry sword and nearly kills Sharpe. Determined to get Leroux’s sword, Sharpe pursues his nemesis through the intrigues that end up in the Battle of Salamanca.
Although this book gets off to a slow and somewhat awkward start, it soon picks up and Cornwell delivers a faced-paced, exciting story such as we have learned to anticipate. The plot is excellent. Of course, the usual battle is the piece de resistanceof the novel, and it lives up to all the other superb battle descriptions that Cornwell has written in the series. Sharpe is not the most sensitive hero in literature, but he continues to interest as he does evolve, if slowly. But then there are so many more books to go! Sgt. Harper continues to provide a foil for Sharpe.
As usual, there is an excellent Historical Note that provides more information on two characters in the novel that were historical figures. He waxes lyrical about Salamanca and, as usual, describes the battlefield as it currently exists. He also gives directions to the battlefield of Garcia Hernandez, the site of the magnificent charge of the King’ German Legion.
Another magnificent installment in this superb series. Highly recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member 5hrdrive
The Battle of Salamanca takes a back seat to the complicated tale of espionage that Cornwell weaves here. It's quite a good story, not quite up to the best of the Sharpe novels, but the twists and turns and double-crosses are very entertaining. Lots of Harper and Hogan in this one, which is always
Show More
good. Show Less
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
Thee battle of Salamanca, the first battle in the Peninsula where the duke of Wellington took the tactical offensive, is the centrepiece of a rather ordinary Sharpe novel. The ending of this book feels odd to me. As a fencer, I'd never abandon such a lovely piece of art. I know that this is a
Show More
spoiler, but it reveals a philistine side to Richard Sharpe that leaves a sore taste in my mouth. Show Less
LibraryThing member KateSherrod
Very true to the Sharpe formula, this one stands out for the quality of writing (a fight on some stone steps had me wincing at every sentence) and its perfectly slight note of mawkish sentimentality at novel's end. And a kickass calvary charge!
LibraryThing member Fence
All the usual Sharpe ingredients are present here: war, women, and treachery.
This is the fourth in the series, or at least was the fourth book published. It isn’t the 4th chronologically any more. In this novel, Cornwell has Sharpe run up against Leroux, a French Colonel who has managed to
I always enjoy reading the Sharpe books, but never find all that much to say afterwards. Fun, a good read, and they always make me think of Sean Bean so they can’t be bad :)
This is the fourth in the series, or at least was the fourth book published. It isn’t the 4th chronologically any more. In this novel, Cornwell has Sharpe run up against Leroux, a French Colonel who has managed to
Show More
discover the identity of many British informers, including the spymaster El MiradoI always enjoy reading the Sharpe books, but never find all that much to say afterwards. Fun, a good read, and they always make me think of Sean Bean so they can’t be bad :)
Show Less
LibraryThing member morrisonhimself
It's bloody, violent, mostly a- or im-moral, and it needs better copy-editing.
But "Sharpe's Sword" does one thing well and one very well: 1) except as noted by the author, it does stick to real history, and, 2), it shows how vicious and insane war is.
And, by 2), it shows how vicious and insane
If even one reader would reach the conclusion that governments, and their component politicians and bureaucrats, commit or enable and encourage most of the evil in the world, this book and its series and their author would have justified their existence.
But "Sharpe's Sword" does one thing well and one very well: 1) except as noted by the author, it does stick to real history, and, 2), it shows how vicious and insane war is.
And, by 2), it shows how vicious and insane
Show More
governments, especially central governments of large nations, are.If even one reader would reach the conclusion that governments, and their component politicians and bureaucrats, commit or enable and encourage most of the evil in the world, this book and its series and their author would have justified their existence.
Show Less
LibraryThing member waldhaus1
Makes me want to visit Spain and see Salamanca. Sharpe continues to demonstrate both his humanity and his prowess.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1983
ISBN
0451213432 / 9780451213433