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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
I am a big fan of Bernard Cornwell. He writes great historical military fiction. I've read several of the Sharpe books (totally out of order) and enjoy his gutter-born, dirty-fighting British soldier and survivor extraordinaire.
I have read better Sharpe books than this one, although I certainly did enjoy this book. Waterloo is a daunting subject and one I knew nothing about except that Wellington won the battle. There is such a wealth of literature that Cornwell ends up describing the battle at a bit of a detriment to the Sharpe plot, which is hardly a plot at all. But the battlefield tactics descriptions were chilling and compelling. I was fascinated with the details of the different types of French cavalry and how they were used, the way infantry was deployed depending on if they were facing cavalry or artillery, etc. Cornwell does not shirk driving home the horror of war, and although he admires good soldiery, he also realizes the carnage that war leaves behind.
I have read better Sharpe books than this one, although I certainly did enjoy this book. Waterloo is a daunting subject and one I knew nothing about except that Wellington won the battle. There is such a wealth of literature that Cornwell ends up describing the battle at a bit of a detriment to the Sharpe plot, which is hardly a plot at all. But the battlefield tactics descriptions were chilling and compelling. I was fascinated with the details of the different types of French cavalry and how they were used, the way infantry was deployed depending on if they were facing cavalry or artillery, etc. Cornwell does not shirk driving home the horror of war, and although he admires good soldiery, he also realizes the carnage that war leaves behind.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It’s Sharpe at waterloo it does exactly what it says on the tin
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed reading this, much more than I thought I would. Details of the battle, the individuals involved, and the landscape enrich the story. Cornwell offers many quotes from soldiers of every rank, and these bring the scenes to life. This reads more like a novel than an historical account.
It took me a bit to become engaged in the story; I wondered why my soldier friend recommended this book to me, a civilian who does not typically read war stories. But then I got swept up with the visceral descriptions of war and humorous dialogue in between the battles. Most impressive were descriptions of the military strategies and technology. I also appreciated the Author's Note at the end which briefly summarizes the controversies about this important battle.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Whether it is Waterloo‘s legendary status that enhances Bernard Cornwell’s writing, or Bernard Conrwell’s writing that enhances the Battle of Waterloo, the end product is a masterful book that earns its place as the best in the Sharpe series (though I have not read Assassin or Devil yet!). We all know how Waterloo goes, and yet throughout the book I was genuinely convinced that the bottle could go either way - a testament to Bernard Cornwell’s excellent ability crafting tense and action packed stories that you cannot put down. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those who like the time period of the napoleonic war as it is a must! Although it is not the end of Sharpe’s story, the payoff of reading all 24 books, falling in love with the recurring characters along the way, particulate Patrick Harper, is such a satisfying payoff when you get to Waterloo - and the threat that any one of them could die adds to that aforementioned tenseness. Just such a great book.
medium-paced