Customer Reviews

Sharpe's Honor

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the odd man out in the series (so far), which is a nice change. For much of the novel, Sharpe is out of the army, without Harper or Hogan, and on the run, trying to clear his name and win back his officer's commission.

The scene where Sharpe rescues his lover, a onetime French spy, from a nunnery is the funniest writing in the series so far (eight books and counting). And when a fortuitous explosion frees him from the French, the description of Sharpe wandering away, drunken and dazed, from the burning castle is surreal.

For anyone who thinks Sharpe is a one-dimensional hero character, Sharpe's Honor shows Sharpe's many weaknesses: his inability to sidestep a ruinous challenge to his honor; his blind obsession with a woman who is at best, fickle, at worst, treacherous; his destructive self-pity.

This novel concentrates on the interior worlds of Sharpe and other characters more than earlier books have. It's illuminating to see the battle of Vittoria from so many viewpoints. And Cornwell continues to show that truth is stranger than fiction by taking incidents that really happened, such as the bizarre looting of the French baggage train, and weaving them into the story.

Sharpe's Honor is another strong entry in the series.

Sharpe's Honor by Bernard Cornwell is an exciting adventure story. Please note spoilers as follows. Major Sharpe is challenged to a duel by a Spanish General and is nearly hanged for his trouble. Later in order to exonerate himself he attempts to capture his accuser, the conniving and beautiful La Puta Durada. La Puta Durada (one of the neatest names in fiction) which means the golden whore, can vouch for Sharpe's innocence. Along the way he meets a psychopathic partisan named The Slaughterer, a malignant priest who wants to restore the inquisition, and Major Ducos a French spy-master. Even though there was plenty of adventure, I missed some of the minor characters, Major Hogan and Sargent Harper are practically no shows. I admit that this story does not measure up to the others in the Sharpe series. "Sharpe's Company", "Sharpe's Gold" or "Sharpe's Rifles" are better entries in the series and more exciting to read. However, "Sharpe's Honor" has its moments. The battle scenes are very realistic and surprisingly enough we are treated to more battle strategy. Normally in Cornwell's Sharpe books the point of view is from the main character Sharpe, but this time we are given several points of view of the battle and one of them (refreshingly enough) from the French side. But I must warn you the battle happens very late in the story and by then most of the plot lines have been resolved. One interesting item in the story is the prevailing theme that Sharpe should have no honor. Primarily because Sharpe came up from the ranks (starting out as a private and working up to a commissioned officer). The only one who thought Sharpe had any honor is Sharpe himself. "Sharpe's Honor" is fun and a good read.

I've been reading Sharpe's adventures (mostly) in order. This book is my least favorite thus far. Several characters (Sharpe included) seem to act out of character. Eventually I just wanted it to end as it became predictably boring.

"A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." Matthew 13:57

Major Richard Sharpe is a living legend to the British Army, but he finds that others don't see him as even honorable. Not knowing the Biblical advice above, he takes it personally . . . and digs a deep hole for himself.

With the death of Sharpe's wife at the end of Sharpe's Enemy, the series was bound to take a new turn in the 16th book in the chronological order of events. It's a u-turn back toward the alluring charms of La Marquesa, the blond French spy whose treacherous wiles Sharpe cannot resist. Sharpe also has problems with temptations concerning his honor. Other men are even weaker when it comes to pride and greed in this entertaining look at the narrow line between doing the right thing and going off the rails.

Sharpe's Honor nicely balances several story lines that will entertain you:

1. The battle of Vitoria, one of the most important conflicts in the Peninsular Wars.

2. A French scheme to divide Spain from the British.

3. An act of revenge aimed by Pierre Ducos at Sharpe for breaking his glasses.

4. An attempt to re-institute the Spanish Inquisition.

5. A lust story involving Sharpe and the woman known as the Golden (lady who makes herself available to all comers).

6. A fascinating look at greed from several different several dimensions.

7. Sharpe's developing sense of self-worth. Now that he's a major, he sees himself differently from before . . . and wants to be better than his betters.

8. Deadly hand-to-hand combat.

Mr. Cornwell also mixes up his writing style. There are the usual sequences of blood-and-guts, but he also has some of the best comedy writing in the entire series. The mood shifts from deadly serious (almost depressing) to frivolous hilarity. These modulations in style and mood make this book much more entertaining than it otherwise would have been.

Other than the specific events involving what Sharpe does, the rest of the story is well connected to the actual events that occurred. As a result, the book provides more fascination than a mere fiction tail disconnected form history would.

Richard Sharpe, once a private in the British army's ranks and now a major in a battalion of the South Essex Regiment, seems to spend more time these days as an intelligence operative than as a soldier. It's 1813 and the British under Wellington have finally pushed Napoleon's occupying armies almost back to the Pyrenees. But a revenge-seeking French spymaster whom Sharpe insulted in the last book arranges for him to be charged with murder. And the "soldier's soldier" is convicted and hanged. (The End.) Actually, his friend, Hogan, has sent him off to find out why the French are pursuing certain policies -- and to recover his own reputation and clear his name if he can manage it. The book ends with Sharpe returning from the dead just in time to take part in the stunning British victory at Vitoria -- arguably the most important engagement in the Peninsular Campaign -- but Cornwell gives it very short shrift indeed. So while the actual story isn't bad, I'd still rather Sharpe spend his time leading his men in battle. That's where Cornwell's greatest talent is, and he seldom has to invent more than the minimum amount of detail -- which tells you something about what the Napoleonic wars in Portugal and Spain were really like.

As France is slowly pushed north in Spain, France suddenly gets a lift from Napoleon's victories in northern Europe. Ducos, his spy chief in Spain, plots a coup that would restore the Spanish throne, ally Spain with France and evict Britain from the country.

Instrumental to it is the lovely and treacherous Helene Leroux, now remarried to a Spanish marquess, who does not object to his demise as long as she'll get to keep her wealth. She doesn't realize it means the demise as well of Sharpe, whom she retains a soft spot for.

Caught fighting an illegal duel with the marquess, Sharpe is jailed, his life in jeopardy, when his opponent is mysteriously murdered. Wellington is under pressure to hang Sharpe to appease the Spanish public. And La Marquesa, "the Golden Whore", is shut up in a convent.

France has been retreating towards its own border with its wagons stuffed with Spanish plunder, but France's Marshal Jourdan sees his chance to finally vanquish Wellington, who has made so many French generals look bad. Wellington has only a desperate chance to turn the tables on Jourdan and keep the slow liberation of Spain alive. Ducos and his collaborators, a Spanish Inquisition priest and his vicious partisan brother, do everything they can to destroy Sharpe and the bewitching woman he can't forget. It all comes to a head at the battle of Vitoria, where the French are so confident of victory they set up a viewing stand for their ladies and mistresses, with their wagons full of gold and treasure parked nearby.

Poor end, but Sharpe's Honour Novel Another Page Turner
By Kristin Battestella

In the throngs of homebound illness, what am I doing? Reading Sharpe, of course. Bernard Cornwell's ninth novel in the series again adds depth that didn't fit in the fine on screen adaptation.

As I've mentioned before, the television series may have taken a few misses by filming the novels out of order and prematurely introducing characters. The Sharpe's Sword book comes before the Honour novel, yet the Honour film introduces La Marquesa-according to them, she's never met Sharpe. Fortunately, the novel expands on their unusual relationship from the Sword novel. Sharpe's wife is now dead, and he must find La Marquesa to prove his innocence and keep the fragile balance between England and Spain. But of course, Sharpe's motives are entirely manly; wishing to see the `Golden Whore' again.

I prefer Cornwell's writing when it is Sharpe dominated; Richard's conflicts, internal drama amidst historical dilemmas. Sure I like Sean Bean and action and the period production and cheekiness of the Sharpe films, but I don't read for those things. When Sharpe's Honour is intimately Sharpe, it is very much like Hornblower. Sharpe is the hero we love of course, but he's also a man, a common soldier caught in a world not of his making.

Unfortunately, Cornwell strays more and more from the close viewpoint of Sharpe and his friends as the series moves forward. After a lovely build up of Sharpe alone, then with La Marquesa; the latter third of the Honour novel switches between Wellington, La Marquesa, the French Marshals, even King Joseph. Of course Sharpe couldn't be everywhere for the big historical finale, but we spend so much time with strangers and history for the end. The epilogue about what happens to Sharpe is just that, an afterthought almost. You can't spend half a book with a man on a quest to reclaim his rank and then say, `Sharpe, now a Major again' and think that sums it up.

Cornwell is a historical novelist and of course he does a lot of research and his lavish portrayals of historical events are divine, but if I wanted to read a history book, I would. I'm interested in character, and conflict, and restitution. Despite a heavy handed action lackluster ending, Sharpe's Honour is a must for any Sharpe enthusiast. The character driven first half of the novel is worth a read.

in "Sharpe's Honor," Richard Sharpe is set up by the French spymaster Pierre Ducos. The plot is dastardly - Sharpe is accused of murdering a prominent Spanish general at a time when English-Spanish relations are at the most delicate. What else can Wellington do except throw Sharpe to the wolves of carpricious justice?

Well, plenty. If you have looked at the titles of this series, you know that Sharpe survives Ducos' gambit and lives to fight another day. The pleasures of "Sharpe's Honor" lie not in the plot but in Bernard Cornwell's telling of it. Here you will find all the usual Cornwell figures - a damsel in distress, a diabolical enemy of fearsome murderous prowess, and the reeling yet mighty French army.

Look for all the usual stock Cornwell features in "Sharpe's Honor." Love scenes, battle scenes, intrigue . . . it is such an exciting novel that it is almost a shame to give "Sharpe's Honor" a mere four stars. But there is something about "SH" that makes the novel a foregone conclusion. There is never any serious risk for our hero, because we know he will turn out right in the end. And while Cornwell writes another amazing battle scene in the climactic battle of Vitorita, we've almost grown accustomed to amazing Cornwell battle scenes. Long story short - this is a fun book, but does little to separate it from the rest of the Sharpe series to merit a five-star rating.

Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series is among the most entertaining sustained series available. Fans of the series will of course read "Sharpe's Honor," and enjoy it, but few will consider it a high water mark for the series as a whole. Check it out.

This is another entry on the Sharpe series. It is fun, entertaining and very readable. Cornwell's research is as excellent as usual. He takes some licenses for the shake of the story and continuity, but this is OK. Some people are outraged by the portrait of some of the real historical characters, but historical characters are rarely depicted accurately in historical fiction, so I think this can be forgiven. Besides, usually a more serious account of these characters is given at the end of the book on the Historical Note.

Many people insist in compare this series with Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander. I don't think this is fair for any of the series, they are different entities. What they have in common is that once you start you may get hooked and devour one book after another...

And in the literary world today that is a rare and marvelous thing.

This is Cornwell at his finest. Sharpe, wrongfully acused of murder, sets off in search La Puta Durada in order to clear his name of her husband's murder secretly engineered by Major Ducos. Sharpe, the continual underdog, manages to save his skin once again! Cornwell's work only seems to get better with time and this book is proof of his talent!