Redcoat

Rating:
Summary: very underated
Review: this is by far cornwell's most undrated book. it is a hidden gem. because the sharpe's series and the starbuck chronicles are so hugely successful,and because it was never made into a series redcoat is often forgotten. redcoat is different from other cornwell. there is still the stories within the story. there are no real enemies like an obadiah hakeswill, but vane and scammell are pretty good ememies nonetheless. sam gilpin is a hero that could rival richard sharpe. what's most refreshing being an american, is to see the british side of the war, which is never told in the american history books. it was so interesting. william howe is a very likeable character. this is a great book, unfortunately there weren't any more.

Rating:
Summary: Conrwell Not Up To Par With 'Readcoat'
Review: Two of the great trademarks of Bernard Cornwell's 'Sharpe' series are immaculate historical reconstruction and action-pakced plots. With 'Redcoat,' Cornwell re-creates an era as only he can, but the story is far to slow and ultimately uninteresting. Two of modern literature's greatest villians, Obidiah Hakeswill and Pierre Ducos from the 'Sharpe' novels, inspire such hatred and loathing that they make the story's protagonist all the more heroic. In 'Redcoat,' however, the reader is one hundred and fifty pages into it before he knows who the antagonist is. The characters are for the most part unsympathetic and the plot really bogs down at times. That being said it should be noted that where this novel does it's author justice is in the vivid recreation of the American Revolution. The battles, generals, and soldiers on both sides of the conflict are treated with respect. The events of this book seem as real as though they happened yesterday. For those new to Bernard Cornwell I would recommend reading his 'Richard Sharpe' series first as 'Redcoat' is, unfortunatley, one of his weaker novels.