Sharpe's Christmas: Two Short Stories (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series) [Paperback]

Bernard Cornwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

'Sharpe's Christmas' contains two short stories. In the title story Richard Sharpe, commanding the Prince of Wales's Own Volunteers, finds himself in a high, hard place with an enemy brigade on one side and a desperate force of Frenchmen fleeing their defeat in Spain on the other.

The second story, 'Sharpe's Ransom', is set in France, after the wars, when old enemies take Sharpe's woman and child hostage.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bernard Cornwell is the author of the Sharpe series, set during the Napoleonic Wars; the Starbuck Chronicles, set during the American Civil War; the Warlord Chronciles; the Grail Quest series and many other books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Sharpe Appreciation Society; First Edition as such edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972222014
• ISBN-13: 978-0972222013
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories > General
  • #65 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > War

More About the Author

Bernard Cornwell was born in London in 1944 - a 'warbaby' - whose father was a Canadian airman and mother in Britain's Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted by a family in Essex who belonged to a religious sect called the Peculiar People (and they were), but escaped to London University and, after a stint as a teacher, he joined BBC Television where he worked for the next 10 years. He began as a researcher on the Nationwide programme and ended as Head of Current Affairs Television for the BBC in Northern Ireland. It was while working in Belfast that he met Judy, a visiting American, and fell in love. Judy was unable to move to Britain for family reasons so Bernard went to the States where he was refused a Green Card. He decided to earn a living by writing, a job that did not need a permit from the US government - and for some years he had been wanting to write the adventures of a British soldier in the Napoleonic wars - and so the Sharpe series was born. Bernard and Judy married in 1980, are still married, still live in the States and he is still writing Sharpe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two great Sharpe adventures., January 28, 2004

By 

David Hassall (Wichita, KS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sharpe's Christmas: Two Short Stories (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series) (Paperback)

After reading the whole Sharpe series twice I decided to go ahead and purchase this book. At first I didn;t know what to expect, I figured it would be over just as quick as it started. This is the case, 60 pages takes maybe an hour to read. But the story, like always, grabs you from the start and keeps you reading.

These books are pretty much for Sharpe fans only, little about Sharpe is given away through these books. It is just a quick Sharpe adventure. I particulary liked Ransom.

These two stories are a must for any Sharpe fan out there.

5 Stars.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two short stories, January 20, 2004

By 

Fred Camfield (Vicksburg, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sharpe's Christmas: Two Short Stories (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series) (Paperback)

Unlike other publishers, this one numbers white pages, the copyright page, etc. There are 87 pages of actual text. Like Sharpe's Skirmish, this volume contains stories that were rewritten and republished as a fundraising effort. The price is somewhat high, but consider it a contribution to a worthwhile cause. They were originally published as Christmas stories in the "Daily Mail." The stories are very good, the first taking place on Christmas 1813 on the border between France and Spain. The second takes place in Normandy on a Christmas Eve following Waterloo.

While the first story deals with military action against the French, and Sharp meets an old acquaintance from India, the second deals with the conditions in France following the war, when unemployed soldiers became marauders. Sharp deals with an old enemy that he previously allowed to live, and finally settles in, at least for a time, on a farm in Normandy.

In a way, the second story deals with the question of disbanding armies after a war that lasted over 20 years. What do men do when they no longer have military employment?

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a pricey delight, December 7, 2003

By 

"okie580" (bergen county, nj) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sharpe's Christmas: Two Short Stories (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series) (Paperback)

i'm like an addict for cornwell's sharpe series. like 'sharpe's skirmish' before it, this is previously released material now presented in book form. here we get two (very) short stories, both taking place at christmas. in the first ('sharpe's christmas'), major sharpe is given the task of blocking the retreat of a french garrison, as another french brigade approaches from the rear. blood and mayhem ensue, but so does some rare french/english amity.
the second story, 'sharpe's ransom', takes place shortly after waterloo and sharpe has retired on half-pay to the french farmlands of normandy with lucille. some french hussars take lucille and their boy, patrick, hostage. how sharpe rescues them and at the same time wins over the reticent village fills the rest of the story.
once again, reading these stories was like visiting with an old friend. there's nothing really new here, but it warms the heart.