Customer Reviews

Sharpe's Story

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"SHARPE'S EAGLE wasn't written in a hurry. I had never written a book before and really had no idea how to go about it. Of course, I knew I needed a hero, but I never once sat down and tried to delineate him in my mind; instead I let him develop as I wrote the book."
- Bernard Cornwell (SHARPE'S STORY)

In this small book, Mr. Cornwell tells about his starting with only an idea for one book, his emigration from Belfast, Ireland to America with little money, and his decision to follow the love of his life, Judy, to live and write in a small apartment in New Jersey. What he wanted to write was one novel about a British soldier in Wellington's Army similar to C. S. Forester's sailor, Horatio Hornblower, in Nelson's Navy during the time of the Napoleonic Wars.

In SHARPE'S STORY, Cornwell gives the reader explanations of how he came to choose the names of his characters, which ones he liked the most (Obadiah Hakeswill, if you can believe that!), the ones he named after acquaintances and their children, information about the books' settings in Spain and Portugal, and why he continued to write about Wellington's Peninsular Campaign against Napoleon winding up with 21 novels and three books of shortstories about Rifleman Richard Sharpe. We also learn some tidbits of info about the TV series starring Sean Bean as Sharpe and Daragh O'Malley as sidekick Sgt. Patrick Harper. Finally, the last short segment concerns Cornwell's unhappy childhood growing up one of five adopted children in a very religious home. In this piece, entitled "Cakes and Ale," Cornwell informs us he included the essay "because [it] explains some of the murkier wellsprings from which Sharpe emerged."

This little book is not recommended for those who are unfamiliar with the Sharpe series. We who are fans of these books will enjoy reading about how Sharpe came to be and where the other main characters, both good and bad, entered into the novels. We can only hope that more of Sharpe's adventures will be forthcoming from the pen of Bernard Cornwell.

If a friend or family member is a Richard Sharpe fan of either/and books/films, this 100 page booklet is an ideal gift. Bernard Cornwell traces his history with Sharpe, "a rogue on our side", adding fascinating details on every page. Details, like hair color, villains, heroines, etc, will satisfy followers of this series, or pique the interest of new fans.

Plus, the author shares some insights into his own unusual life story, such his Peculiars family life and his search for his biological "tribe."

an interesting insight into how the series was created. would have made a nice article in a literary mag... not a book.

It's the story of how Sharpe came to be. It also shows how even the author came to see Sharpe and Sean Bean became one and the same. It was a quick enjoyable read.

Sharpe is a hero in the Grandest of traditions. It is great to get the back-story to the series and the author' personal observations. A worthwhile read for any fan of Sharpe

If you are a "Sharpie", then this book is a "Must read"! Not only do you get background on much of the Sharpe series, but also a very insightful look into the author's history & philosophy. A quick, invaluable read for those who can't get enough of Sharpe.

If you love Sharpe you'll love this book. Lots of interseting little tidbits and very easy to read or just dip into.

The "booklet" details the story of the creation of the book series written by Bernard Cornwell. The story line includes the authors creation of the character (and other characters) throughout the series origination and background. Bernard Cornwell gives insight into the creation of his character and story lines based (loosely) upon actual historical events. The booklet does give some good insight into the book series but unfortunately also takes away from the effect of the series by casting doubt upon the true historical facts interspersed throughout the series.

SHARP'S STORY is the mind behind Bernard Cornwell's fighting character, Richard Sharp. It is a behind the curtain look at how it all came about, the why of some things, and how some characters received their names, dispositions and fates. It is also a look at Cornwell, the author and how he views the characters that he summoned up, for good or evil.
This isn't a short novel or a long short story. It is similar to a one-on-one interview, answering some of the questions we readers seem to toss around in our heads after we have finished one of Cornwell's books.
It brings us all a little closer to the fictional SHARP we've come to know through the series and nicely fleshes him out. The CAKES AND ALE brief autobiography at the end of the book is a telling look at how the road to good intentions is paved with Hell. Children deserve better than what they sometimes get, but then in the formation and development of the writer the scars, painful as they are, need to be put to pen.
It's true that the 121 pages are thin for the cover price BUT in an age where we spend the same on a crappy movie or more for a less than satisfying lunch or for two double tall pretenditsitaliano's what we get with SHARP' STORY is far more entertaining, satisfying and keeps us buzzing for a good while.
If you enjoy the SHARP series (all 21 of them, at present) or know someone who does as well then forget the ugly Christmas sweater, singing trophy fish or overpriced coffee gift card, buy this book instead. It is reasonably priced and makes for a welcome present. It eh...says so in the scriptures.

There are a couple of these short stories that Bernard whipped out for Christmas release. Later when they were going to be published as a book, he corrected some of his details so they fit his story time line and sometimes he even had to correct the historical time line, also. This is the corrected version. For a story, I doubt I could have found the errors. He'd use some of his old charactors and places as well. I liked to read these in order. If you Google his book list (or his web page), you'll find that he wrote many of his books out of order. I bought them all and then stacked them in order on a historical time line. I didn't want to jump around. Have a good read.