Rating: 
Summary: A beginning that you will like.
Review: If you have read other Sharpe books, you will realize right away that the story goes back to the time before "Sharpe's Eagle". It serves to set the stage and introduce the characters that will populate the series thoughout the campaigns in Portugal and Spain. If you haven't read any other Sharpe stories and you like Historical Fiction that are enjoyable reads you are going to enjoy it.Don't get me wrong, as a story it stands alone quite well. Readable and entertaining are the first thoughts that come to mind. The battles/fights seem to be historically accurate as well as well written (not always the case with storied written about this time period). The characters are understandable, without appearing to be twentieth-century men being transported to another era. As Sharpe grows as a commander, you both empathise with his problems and cheer his accomplishments. The whole series is worth reading, and this a great prequel to the timeframe where most of the action takes place.... and there will be quite a lot of it! PS... The books are better than the BBC series.
Rating: 
Summary: Major Sharpe has enough brawn and brain to perservere.
Review: Major Sharpe has been given every gritty job possible in the campaigns in hopes of breaking him but his fortitude and intelligence shines through. In those special moments he also shows a remarkable sensitivity that is unique.
Rating:
Summary: Well researched and a well written period piece.
Review: One of the best books I have read in 1998. I will be getting the rest of the collection soon.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: One of the best novels in the Sharpe series. Unlike later novels, in which Richard Sharpe seems infallible and invincinble,
Sharpe's Rifles portrays the hero as insecure and uncertain of his abilities. The novel also introduces Sgt. Patrick Harper and
begins to develop the relationship between these characters.
Rating:
Summary: Rifles hits the mark!
Review: One of the best of the Sharpe series. A little more intriguing plotline than usual, but as usual Cornwell keeps things moving briskly.
Rating:
Summary: Great Action
Review: Reading Napoleonic books can become a bit dull without some imagery to add to the mixture. This and the other books (along with the good if low-budget TV series) really bring things to life. Excellent action, great attention to detail, especially in combat.
Rating:
Summary: 5 Cheers for Richard Sharpe
Review: Sharpe's Rifles by Bernard Cornwell is an exciting roller-coaster ride of battles and army life as seen through the eyes of Richard Sharpe, a newly made lieutenant in the English infantry. During the early 1800s most officers in the English infantry were of noble birth, however Lt. Sharpe, a former enlisted man comes from the ranks. He receives little respect from the men in his command and even less from his peers. The setting is in Spain during the French-Napoleonic invasions. The English (and Lt. Sharpe) are supporting the freedom fighters of Spain. His army has been defeated and the French are pushing the English towards the coast of Spain and into Portugal. Through a series of mishaps he finds himself under the loose command of a Spanish Major who is intent upon flying a holy banner from a major city deep within the French area of control. Sharpe must win the respect of his men, fight an invincible French Colonel, and vie for the attentions of a beautiful English missionary. I admit that I was a fan of the PBS series before I read the books. However, when you start this book you will have a hard time putting it down. Cornwell writes in plain English and his dialog is great.
Rating:
Summary: The penisular wars begin.
Review: Sharpe's Rifles is the book in which Sharpe gets his first command. It's the bringing together of two characters that will see the peninsular wars to an end. Sharpe meets Harper for the first time in this book, and it not what I expected. It is however a great tale of how the two soldiers came together. This book puts Sharpe in Spain, during the British retreat towards Corunna. This is a dark point for the British in the peninsular wars when French victory seems not so far off. Sharpe, while second in command of a detachment of riflemen cut off from the main British force, is soon to face the most challenging point of his career. Sharpe has to learn quickly when his commander gets killed and leaves him in charge. He needs to earn the respect of his men and lead them to victory. It's a great story and a great look at how Sharpe came to be so admired by his men. This book starts of many of the features that make the Sharpe series so great, it's a must read for all Sharpe fans. 4 Stars.
Rating:
Summary: The penisular wars begin.
Review: Sharpe's Rifles is the book in which Sharpe gets his first command. It's the bringing together of two characters that will see the peninsular wars to an end. Sharpe meets Harper for the first time in this book, and it not what I expected. It is however a great tale of how the two soldiers came together. This book puts Sharpe in Spain, during the British retreat towards Corunna. This is a dark point for the British in the peninsular wars when French victory seems not so far off. Sharpe, while second in command of a detachment of riflemen cut off from the main British force, is soon to face the most challenging point of his career. Sharpe has to learn quickly when his commander gets killed and leaves him in charge. He needs to earn the respect of his men and lead them to victory. It's a great story and a great look at how Sharpe came to be so admired by his men. This book starts of many of the features that make the Sharpe series so great, it's a must read for all Sharpe fans. 4 Stars.
Rating:
Summary: "Rifles to me!" ...Richard Sharpe
Review: Sharpe's rifles is the book that really starts it all. Cut off from the retreating army, Sharpe and a handful of Riflemen must team of with a group of Spanish resisters in an adventure similar to the quests for the holy grail. The book is an easy read and shows a unique side of the hero as Richard Sharpe truly learns what it is to lead troops into battle. This book shows essential elements of Sharpe and is a good read. Cornwell's genius begins here.
| 
