Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best in Series, August 3, 2001
Hands down, my favorite of the Sharpe series. Major Sharpe and some of his Rifle regiment are sent to help take a French coastal fort that defends access to a number of small craft the Navy needs to capture to make a huge pontoon bridge for the invasion of France. Of course theres a French spy, a pompous and greedy British Naval officer, an American privateer, Sharpes wife possibly dying from fever, and lurking behind everything, Sharpes nemesis, French spymaster Pierre Ducos. Sharpe has to leave most of his men behind (but not, of course, Harper), and easily takes the fort. However, he is stranded on land with a company of Marines and must suddenly hole up in the flimsy fort and hope for salvation. This is Cornwell at his best, inventing a non-historic situation for Sharpe, taking him out of his natural element, presenting him with overwhelming odds, and then having him improvise his way to victory. The siege is a wonderfully frantic affair, as Sharpe must contend with overwhelming enemy numbers, low ammunition, and a crumbling defense. Great stuff.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Good, January 11, 2002
It's 1814 and Napoleon's conquest is nearing its finish, Englishman Major Richard Sharpe is assigned to take the fortress of Teste de Buch. The fortress is deep inside enemy territory and close to the strategic city of Bordeaux. The task is to take the fortress, secure the route to Bordeaux and determine if the city will capitulate to the British. However, things do not go as planned. While taking the fortress, Shape frees an American pirate (French sympathizer) Captain Killick. Which earns him the enmity of Captain Bampfylde, the officer in charge of this mission. Later, after Sharpe leads an attack outside of Bordeaux he is abandoned by Captain Bampfylde. That leaves Sharpe stuck inside the fortress while the French lay siege. Sharpe is surrounded by Napoleon's forces and trapped deep in enemy territory. Things are hopeless, until...Bernard Cornwell writes good books. He is fun to read and his stores are always packed with adventure, action and intrigue. As with all of Sharpe books they keep you interested until the end. I have trouble putting them down. Cornwell's style is fast paced plots and he keeps the story going, you may guess the ending but who cares, half the fun is getting there. If this is your first Sharpe book don't let it be your last, Sharpe's Eagle or Sharpe's Company are among the best in the series. However, all of Cornwell's Sharpe books are good reads, you will not be disappointed.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best, if not THE best, February 5, 2003
When a quick raid on a French fort falls victim to cowardice and miscommunication it is up to Richard Sharp and his men to dig in and defend themselves. Can Sharp get his men out alive with nothing but their guns and an American privateer who may or may not be a friend? Lots of action and good battle scenes an excellent Cornwell book. This particular edition of the Sharp's series is one of my particular favorites. My favorite character Patrick Harper has a notable part to play(b y which I mean the part played by his seven barreled navy gun). If you are one of those people that likes to start a series from the middle and work your way back this is an excellent book to start with
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