Movie Theater Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

[bignada]

Did a search on this forum before posting this. NOT one mention...

Watched the DVD sets last year and thought them tremendously well done. Sean Bean and Daragh O'Malley, plus Hugh Fraser as WEllington. Exceptional stories about exploits of Richard Sharpe throughout the British Empire from 1790 to 1825 or thereabouts.


Guns, guns, guns and swordsmanship, scenic locations, spectacular uniform detail and the books are even more detailed to impart awareness of what that period was like. Great music and period correct songs in the DVD series featuring voice of John Tam who also plays a continuing role in the show.

Sharpe leads a platoon of "chosen men", essentially snipers who are armed with Baker rifles. They fire 3 aimed shots a minute with their flintlocks and Cornwell discusses standard accuracy being 200yds compared to 75yds of the Brown Bess musket; up to 400yds with patched bullet in place of ball...

Anyway, the attention to detail is simply the best I've ever seen in any adventure novel or series. Only thing that compares was Frederick Forsyth's Dogs Of War where he describes everything that was done to launch the mercenary strike on the African country with the mining interests that needed better stewardship...

Do yourself a big favor and watch the Sharpe DVDs and then read the books.

Too bad Cornwell hasn't done anything (yet) on the Boer War and Crimean Campaings, or Zulu uprising; it would be superb!

 

[aqualung]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

Hi Bignada,

Well, as a Brit, I'm glad that you enjoyed "our Sean" in the Sharpe stories.

I've read pretty much most of the Sharpe series of books. I gave up because they became pretty 'samey' after a while. I could tell that Sharpe was going to win the girl, lose the girl, win the girl back AND win the battle, against ALL the odds. Yawn.

I like Steven Hunter's novels. Though I must admit that the last one I read, "I Sniper" was getting to the point where I kind of could guess what was going to happen, but it DID have a couple of twists, so I enjoyed it in the end.

I felt after a while that Cornwell was writing to a formula, but I'm told that some of his other series are quite good too. I've heard that Sharpe's Traffalgar (I think) is good.

Cornwell does another series about Northmen, it's set in the countryside around where I live.

Have you actually read the Sharpe series, or did you just watch the DVD's??

Neil

 

[bignada]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

Hi Neil,

I haven't read the full series yet, but finished Sharpe's Eagle over the weekend. Probably order as many others as I can find in our library system and read them in order. Working on Redcoat now, which is about our War For Independence.

I agree with you about the formula, but that seems to be what all the publishers want. I read all the Hunter books and was greatly insulted by how much disdain Hunter has for the family lineage of his bread & butter boy. The grandfather, father; all just a bunch of scumbags; then there's the half-brother...

I like Cornwell's attention to detail, and Eagle was significantly different from the TV show. Lots of detail and plot woven explanation about accoutrement and kit. Very little soap-opera in the books so far, of course the franchise is just getting started in Eagle.


I will have to look at Black Adder Back In Time again. Maybe they have Hugh Laurie or someone parodying Sharpe in the Wellington's Boots episode. Have to love when BA punches Shakespeare and knocks him on his ass. "That's for every British schoolboy and Ken Branagh", BA tells him. Shakespeare says, "Who's Ken Branagh" BA: "I'll tell him you said that"...

Cheers to ya!

 

[bolloxinaspanner]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

I thoroughly enjoyed the Shape's novels. Mostly for the detailed order of battle and furious action. But as far as attention to detail is concerned Cornwell is a distant second to Patrick O'Brian's ability to immerse one into the Napoleanic era. Land, sea, city, country, tropical islands, smoke filled gaming rooms, but especially at sea. He gives no quarter when it comes to ships jargon which is clearly another language altogether. The raging ship to ship battles are unequaled in literature. The friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey and ships surgeon/international spy Steven Maturin is nothing short of epic and epically incongruous. POB is, essentially, the closest thing we have to a time machine.

 

[bignada]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

I enjoyed all the Hornblower books many years ago. Got Sharpe's Trafalgar at library yesterday and am at the point in the story with the fleets opposing each other. Very fine reading. Will have to look into Patrick O'Brian; thanks for the tip!

 

[Arch]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

I first learned about Sharpe in a pub in Exmouth while at the RM sniper course, CTC, in 1994. It was on a TV on the wall and everyone got real quiet when it came on. Sharpe was covered in detail here in 2005. I have read them and seen the movies. Out of them, I would rate Waterloo above the others despite the sameness that is experienced after about 3.

Very few depictions (film especially) actually give the sense of being infantry in square against horse, or any real appreciation for marksmanship and micro terrain.

I call these types of books "brain candy" since they are a delight to have on hand while in airports and such, but really serve only to point you in a direction to find out more specific information about the Penisula War, or a "Forlorne Hope" for instance. "Guerilla" also comes to mind.

The road from private to field grade officer is not an easy one in any age. People tend to like you or hate your stinkin guts. And of course, there is always a good sergeant nearby to make the journey with you and to see that you do not fall.

Above all, Cornwell got this right.

On another note, if you like to laugh (howl really), George MacDonald Fraser's character Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC KCB KCIE
is a much better developed character, and the historical research much finer. Wiki' describes him as such:

<span style="font-style: italic">Fraser's Flashman is an antihero who runs from danger or hides cowering in fear, betrays or abandons acquaintances at the slightest incentive, bullies and beats servants with gusto, beds every available woman, carries off any loot he can grab, gambles and boozes enthusiastically, and yet, through a combination of luck and cunning, usually ends each volume acclaimed as a hero.</span>

I read the first one and then purchased them all and poured through them like an avalanche coming down the mountain.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

Harry Harrison's <span style="font-style: italic">Stainless Steel Rat</span>.

 

[bolloxinaspanner]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Greg Langelius *</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Harry Harrison's <span style="font-style: italic">Stainless Steel Rat</span>. </div></div>
What about it? You might mention a few salient points that impressed you.

 

[LegioX]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bignada</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did a search on this forum before posting this. NOT one mention...

Watched the DVD sets last year and thought them tremendously well done. Sean Bean and Daragh O'Malley, plus Hugh Fraser as WEllington. Exceptional stories about exploits of Richard Sharpe throughout the British Empire from 1790 to 1825 or thereabouts.


Guns, guns, guns and swordsmanship, scenic locations, spectacular uniform detail and the books are even more detailed to impart awareness of what that period was like. Great music and period correct songs in the DVD series featuring voice of John Tam who also plays a continuing role in the show.

Sharpe leads a platoon of "chosen men", essentially snipers who are armed with Baker rifles. They fire 3 aimed shots a minute with their flintlocks and Cornwell discusses standard accuracy being 200yds compared to 75yds of the Brown Bess musket; up to 400yds with patched bullet in place of ball...

Anyway, the attention to detail is simply the best I've ever seen in any adventure novel or series. Only thing that compares was Frederick Forsyth's Dogs Of War where he describes everything that was done to launch the mercenary strike on the African country with the mining interests that needed better stewardship...

Do yourself a big favor and watch the Sharpe DVDs and then read the books.

Too bad Cornwell hasn't done anything (yet) on the Boer War and Crimean Campaings, or Zulu uprising; it would be superb! </div></div>

You should read Cornwell's "Grail Quest" series. It's about the life of an English Archer. It truly kicks ass!

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

James Bolivar Di Griz, the <span style="font-style: italic">Stainless Steel Rat</span>, is another of those sainted antiheroes. S' all.

Greg

 

[bignada]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

Read SS Rat about 30yrs ago and wasn't too impressed.

Enjoyed ALL the Hornblower books. Regret never read Browne On Resolution also by CS Forester. Enjoyed the first several Casca books.

Enjoyed all the Bob Lee Swagger stuff until it became obvious that Hunter wanted to depict him as a scumbag redneck. The grandfather and Bob's father both had some "severe issues" (no spoilers from me), and his alcoholism and other character foibles actually made me despise Hunter. Swagger isn't much more than a fleshed out Mac Bolan, when it comes down to it. Would Mickey Spillane jack with Mike Hammer? Hell, no! The Mick had respect for his readers.

Cornwell does Sharpe very nicely. I've gotten through Redcoat, Trafalgar, Fortress, Company, Fury, and Eagle; halfway through Havoc now. By this time many authors seem to let the character go to formula. Like Jason Bourne, the first book was excellent; the second was just more of the same formula. I almost had to google to recall Robert Ludlum was the authors name. What does that telly you? All his shit goes the same way, so I quit reading him after Bourne 2.

We've had Crowe's Master and Commander dvd for 2 or 3 years and I never knew about O'Brian having done that series. So lots more books to read thanks to hidemember bollox above for that. After watching the Sharpe dvds, was more attuned to the details in Master Commander and watched that again a few days ago. The gunnery filming is even more impressive this time around.


On similar subject, Years ago read 365 Days by Ronald Glaser MD. Got the book as a Book of the Month club selection actually. His short stories The Shaping Up Of McCabe and the one about the team leader who'd graduated The Royal Malaysian Tracking School were tremendous. I've read most of the Gary Linderer and other LRRP memoirs, but never really found any LRRP VN fiction. Too bad there is no Sharpe or Aubrey of the LRRPs.

 

[Arch]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

"NOT one mention..." Yeah, much has been deleted from here over the years. Agree that it is not too bad. Sharpe is kind of like the Hardy Boys for Peninsula readers...

 

[bignada]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

Never read The Hardy Boys books; didn't care much for the Tom Swift series either. My favorite kid series was Tom Corbett and The Space Cadets. Had to love the one where Astro spends his Vacation on Venus hunting dinosaurs. Bought all his gear at the pawnshop... Lotsa fun for a 3rd grader.

Never really had any interest in Napoleonic France or anything English other than the comedies. Have now read about 5 or six of the novels and other than envisioning some of the characters as per the DVDs, the books were very steady with great action and dialogue. Am reading my first O'Brian novel and have to say that his style leaves me confused as to dialogue because he doesn't punctuate/format for an easy flow. Gets kinda tedious when you don't flow with who's saying what to whom. Too often I'm left with "huh?" so have to re-read the passage. O'Brian does describe shipboard life like no other I've ever read and so they are a great read.

 

[bolloxinaspanner]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

bignada, P.O.B. throws you right into the rat lines. If you don't understand the shipboard jargon, don't worry, if there is anything important he will bring it back and explain it, usually through Stephen. It does get easier as the series continues, I try to understand by the context. Doesn't always work but it is helpful. Trust me, by the time you get to The Reverse of the Medal you will regret that there are only 9 or 10 books left. You've inspired me, I may reread the series.

 

[bignada]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

I was impressed by the jargon. I was raised around boats, but didn't know all the sails by proper name and location. Earliest book I could find was Fortune Of War. Was a great read, and the Crowe movie took a few scenes from that book.

The Hornblower films are pretty good also.

 

[bolloxinaspanner]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

That's about 6 books into it. Lot of story before that. I bought several on ebay or at Barnes and Noble, when I couldn't wait.

 

[bignada]

Re: Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe Never read any better

Started Port Captain last night.

Watched Mask of Zorro with Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone a night or two back. Nothing like a good swordfight. Basil Rathbone was evidently The Real Deal during WWI the same way Christopher Lee was during WWII. Rathbone could really handle a sword...