SHARPE’S ASSASSIN
By Bernard Cornwell
Harper Books
320 pages
This is the 23rd entry in the Sharpe saga; a series of historical fiction adventures by British writer Bernard Cornwell centered on the character of Richard Sharpe. The inspiration for the books came from C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower novels about a Royal Navy officer’s career from midshipmen to Admiral of the Fleet during the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Because he could not find a similar series for the British Army, Cornwell decided to write it himself.
His novels and short stories chart the career of a young London orphan who enters
the army rather than go to jail. It begins in “Sharpe’s Tiger” with Sharpe a
private in the 33rd Regiment of Foot who is continually promoted
until he finally rises to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in “Sharpe’s Waterloo.” The books were
so popular as to inspire a British TV series which starred actor Sean Bean.
We are fairly certain Cornwell’s legion of readers will need
no coercion from this reviewer to pick up this new chapter in Sharpe’s
fantastic life. As this is our first exposure to the character, we trust our
thoughts will inspire other novices to the fold.
“Sharpe’s Assassin” begins only a few short days after the
historic battle of Waterloo
and Napoleon’s defeat. The French army is in tatters and fleeing south to Paris followed by the
victorious British and Prussian troops. When the Duke of Wellington learns of a
conspiracy among French officers to have him assassinated in retaliation for
the defeat, he assigns Sharpe to proceed to the capital and there ferret out
the assassins. Sharpe and his companions, junior officers under his command,
begrudgingly take on the mission though all of them sick and tired of war that
seems endless in their eyes.
Once in the City of Lights,
Sharpe eventually finds evidence of a French battalion under the command of a
skilled officer known as the Monster. From the reports he uncovers, this fellow
named Lanier may very well be his equal in military tactics and ferocity. With
days of the British Army’s arrival, Sharpe foils a plot to blow up the mansion
in which Wellington
and his staff are residing. Ultimately he confronts Lanier face to face and
confirms his opponent is a very real threat and their eventual conflict will
most likely leave one of them dead.
Writer Cornwell’s genius is terrific depiction of combat scenes. His knowledge of period weaponry is perfect and his ability to pull the reader into the action itself is masterful. By the books final battle sequence, we found ourselves cheering Sharpe and his men as they rally under his banner for one final, glorious victory. “Sharpe’s Assassin” is delight to anyone who appreciated good historical adventures. It made us wish we’d met Richard Sharpe a whole lot sooner.
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