Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and educational historical fiction
Review: The entire Sharp series is F*U*N*. The books are set during the Napoleonic Wars. Richard Sharpe--think in terms of James Bond with a muzzle loading rifle--is a rare bird indeed. He joined the army as an enlisted man, and through a series of heroic actions manages to become an officer. In the early 19th century, such promotions were exceedingly rare; but Sharpe saved the life of the future Duke of Wellington on the battlefield; this gave his career a jump start. Throughout his time in the military by dint of other feats of heroism, he continued to rise in rank. Richard Sharpe is unrealistically romantic and dashing, but Bernard Cornwell inserts enough details of the life of the ordinary soldier in the early 19th Century British Army, to make this and other books in the series worthwhile reading. Contemporary readers may find the fact that leadership positions in the British Army were purchased. Some of the officer class were outstanding--cf Wellington who never lost a battle. Cornwell describes in vivid detail what happens when an aristocratic idiot with no military experience attempts to command a regiment in battle. The inevitable result was a series of very stupid blunders that caused a lot needless suffering and death. Cornwell's explainations of military tactics are clear and vivid; so are his descriptions of early 19th century miltary medicine (shudder). Fans of the cartoon strip "Dilbert" will chorus "plus la change..." when they read about organizational and bureaucratic stupidity in the British Army. I am thouroughly hooked on the series. The film adaptations which have appeared on Masterpiece Theatre and repeated on the History Channel do justice to the books. I categorize the Sharpe books in the second rank of historical fiction. _The Name of the Rose_ is an example of what I consider first rate historical fiction. I put the Sharpe books in the same class as the many books written by Norah Lofts. Thanks Mr. Cornwell--I finally understand what happened at Waterloo! Let me reiterate--you'll learn a lot from reading the Sharpe series, and you will have fun reading them.
Rating: 
Summary: Best of the batch
Review: This first of the Sharpe's series is the best of the batch. Most of the books are at least 4 star quality, however this one is SO much better than the batch it is almost a shame to read it at the begining. (Start with the india series, so you can work your way here.) Lt. Richard Sharpe and his riflemen join an foray into Spain to destroy a bridge, he runs afoul of Sir Henry Simmerson (In the movies he is played to the hilt and makes a supurb foe, See sharp movie # 2, #8 & #9) The battle for the endangered colors is gripping, Sharpe is rough, blunt and just likable. Harper is great fun and the battle scenes are awesome. This is the start of something wonderful, however it will never be as wonderful as this on. Thank you B. Cornwell
Rating:
Summary: Best of the batch
Review: This first of the Sharpe's series is the best of the batch. Most of the books are at least 4 star quality, however this one is SO much better than the batch it is almost a shame to read it at the begining. (Start with the india series, so you can work your way here.) Lt. Richard Sharpe and his riflemen join an foray into Spain to destroy a bridge, he runs afoul of Sir Henry Simmerson (In the movies he is played to the hilt and makes a supurb foe, See sharp movie # 2, #8 & #9) The battle for the endangered colors is gripping, Sharpe is rough, blunt and just likable. Harper is great fun and the battle scenes are awesome. This is the start of something wonderful, however it will never be as wonderful as this on. Thank you B. Cornwell
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe's Eagle
Review: This is an exciting that puts in the field with Richard Sharpe. From the scirmish where he retakes the regimental colors to the battle where he tries to capture a French Eagle to regain honor for the regiment and himself. Bernard Cornwell does an excellent job of keeping the story flowing smoothly and the action and excitement coming. I had a hard time putting it down and it wasn't long before I was reading it again. And the best part of it, you don't have to read the previous ones to know how those stories play into this one. Mr Cromwell does an excellent job of explaining all important information. His knowledge of history the soldier's mindset makes this story take on a life of it's own, as if Richard Sharpe could have really existed. A must read for anyone who like or loves history and adventure novels.
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe at Talavera
Review: This is probably one of the best Sharpe novels in the series. It was one of the first that Cornwell wrote and his attention to the details of the Talavera campaign is excellent. Here we have Sharpe and his detached half-company of rifles doing standard duties on the skirmish line. There is a minimum of running around behind the enemy lines defying the odds as we so often get in the later novels. The episode at the bridge is a study of military incompetence. Sir Henry Simmerson, our classic snobby bad Anglo-aristo, becomes one of Sharpe's perenial enemies here. People like this did try to make life difficult for Wellsely in English politics and the novel picks up correctly on that, albeit a bit heavy handed at times. The high-light of the story is certianly the build-up to the battle of Talavera in 1809. This was one of Wellsely's most difficult and dangerous battles, and his most costly after Assaye in India. The battle scenes are carefully constructed and taken heavily from Jac Weller's well known "Wellington in the Peninsular". Sharpe is cleverly inserted into the action in ways which are believeable and mesh with the history. His double confrontation with Messhrs. Berry and Gibbons illustrates how many old scores were likely settled during the confusion of battle. Wellsley won a narrow victory at Talavera, winning his title of viscount Wellington, but losing a quarter of his army in the process. Cornwell does a great job describing the fascinating horror of Napoleanic combat. This is really his forte, and the descriptions of French columns slamming into British lines is right out of Jac Weller. This book is certainly vintage Sharpe, and remains one of the best. It is a pity that the television version of this novel could not convey the scope of the battle. The tongue and cheek nature of the TV productions does a bit of dis-service to Cornwell in that way. Still, one of the best early Sharpe books.
Rating:
Summary: Sharpe at Talavera
Review: This is probably one of the best Sharpe novels in the series. It was one of the first that Cornwell wrote and his attention to the details of the Talavera campaign is excellent. Here we have Sharpe and his detached half-company of rifles doing standard duties on the skirmish line. There is a minimum of running around behind the enemy lines defying the odds as we so often get in the later novels. The episode at the bridge is a study of military incompetence. Sir Henry Simmerson, our classic snobby bad Anglo-aristo, becomes one of Sharpe's perenial enemies here. People like this did try to make life difficult for Wellsely in English politics and the novel picks up correctly on that, albeit a bit heavy handed at times. The high-light of the story is certianly the build-up to the battle of Talavera in 1809. This was one of Wellsely's most difficult and dangerous battles, and his most costly after Assaye in India. The battle scenes are carefully constructed and taken heavily from Jac Weller's well known "Wellington in the Peninsular". Sharpe is cleverly inserted into the action in ways which are believeable and mesh with the history. His double confrontation with Messhrs. Berry and Gibbons illustrates how many old scores were likely settled during the confusion of battle. Wellsley won a narrow victory at Talavera, winning his title of viscount Wellington, but losing a quarter of his army in the process. Cornwell does a great job describing the fascinating horror of Napoleanic combat. This is really his forte, and the descriptions of French columns slamming into British lines is right out of Jac Weller. This book is certainly vintage Sharpe, and remains one of the best. It is a pity that the television version of this novel could not convey the scope of the battle. The tongue and cheek nature of the TV productions does a bit of dis-service to Cornwell in that way. Still, one of the best early Sharpe books.
Rating:
Summary: I lost sleep over this book.
Review: To be honest I am a confirmed fan of the works of Bernard Cornwell, including both the Sharpe series about the peninsular war against Napoleon, and the Copperhead series about the American Civil War. Sharpe's Eagle is the first of the Sharpe books written by Cornwell, though chronologically it does not come first. This is where he first introduced the charachter and his fellow riflemen to the world, hard-bitten, tough fighters to a man. We are shown how clever Sharpe is, what a good soldier, how loyal to his men and how contemptuous he is of superior officers who bought their commands and didn't earn them. I thouroughly enjoyed the book, following Sharpe's trials as he tries to keep an impossible promise made to a dying officer. As I said in my summary, I lost sleep over this book, and do not recommend it to anyone who has things to do.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor and disapointing
Review: Typically for the British: 1. Lack of objectivity 2. Lack of humility 3. Eagerness to blame the foreigners 4. The nationalistic bias 5. FEEL-GOOD atmosphere
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