Sharpe's Eagle

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English

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The first book in Bernard Cornwell's epic Sharpe series, which completely transports the reader to an unforgettable time and place in history. At Talavera in July of 1809, Captain Richard Sharpe, bold, professional, and ruthless, prepares to lead his men against the armies of Napoleon into what will be the bloodiest battle of the war. Sharpe has earned his captaincy, but there are others, such as the foppish Lieutenant Gibbons and his uncle, Colonel Henry Simmerson, who have bought their commissions despite their incompetence. After their cowardly loss of the regiment's colors, their resentment toward the upstart Sharpe turns to treachery, and Sharpe must battle his way through sword fights and bloody warfare to redeem the honor of his regiment by capturing the most valued prize in the French Army—a golden Imperial Eagle, the standard touched by the hand of Napoleon himself.

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ISBN
9781101220016
9781481576871

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Kirkus Book Review

First in a series of novels about the Napoleonic Wars, this covers the Talavera Campaign of July 1809. Richard Sharpe (""a low-born bastard"") has risen through the ranks and after ten years has become a lieutenant in the 95th Rifles fighting the French on the Spanish peninsula. We meet him amid lice and maggots (from his leg wound), wishing his battalion would be posted home: he's too poor to buy his next promotion. But Sir Arthur Wellesley (soon to be the Duke of Wellington) assigns Sharpe's troops (35 riflemen) to accompany the newly-arrived, immaculately-tailored South Essex Battalion on an expedition to blow up a big bridge. Leading the South Essex is Colonel Henry Simmerson, a perverted nincompoop who flogs his men, has himself bled, and thinks Sharpe a damned disgrace. But Sharpe shows him up by teaching the South Essex how to fire four shots a minute, and as they march to the bridge he's distracted by beautiful Portuguese widow Josefina (who will, alas, be violently raped). At the bridge Simmerson fires a ludicrous volley at out-of-range French troops; the bridge blows up with the English stranded on the wrong side of the river; the slaughter is heavy. And, now promoted to acting captain, Sharpe determines to capture the Frenchmen's most precious flag, subverts a near-mutiny brought on by Simmerson's lust for mass flogging, and joins in the difficult victory at Talavera. Nicely-edged characters, technicolor action, clipped narration--a solid series send-off. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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