Sharpe's Gold

Novel Review

I started Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series over the break and decided I’d try to read in publication order. Chronologically, this is the ninth book. As to whether it’s better to read in publication order or not, it appears fan opions are mixed. Pub order apparently better tracks the development of Richard Sharpe as a character, while chronological is more desirable for those who want a linear story. I’m planning to read them in pub order, mostly because its cool tracking an author’s development as a writer, and also, I’d prefer to read them the way they were originally experienced.

Sharpe’s Gold, published in 1981, is Bernard Cornwell’s second published novel. His first is Sharpe’s Eagle, which was also published in 1981. Whatever list I originally looked at put Sharpe’s Gold first, but I’ve since found that most lists put Sharpe’s Eagle first, so whatever. That’s my next read I guess.

Summary

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, Sharpe’s Gold introduces us to an already mature Captain Sharpe in command of an element of the British Rifles. The Rifles being elite British Infantry. Think Rangers as compared to 101st Airborne. It’s 1810 and the Peninsular War is going full tilt on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain and Portugal are allied with the United Kingdom against the invading First French Empire.

General Wellington gives Sharpe a secret mission—infiltrate French lines and retrieve a hoard of Spanish gold currently being “safe guarded” by Spanish partisans. It’s important to note that although the Spanish and British are technically allies, they don’t exactly trust each other.

The Spanish partisans in control of the gold are led by the sadistic El Católico, an expert swordsman and guerrilla fighter. El Católico also appears to have his own designs on the gold.

What follows is a straight forward action/adventure plot that moves quickly and never lets the momentum drop. Sharpe and his men, undermanned and outnumbered, must locate the gold, secure it, and then extract it, all while a war rages on around them. Added to this the additional complication of the especially duplicitous El Católico and his Spanish guerrillas who are intent on securing the gold for themselves. Due to the clever leadership of Sharpe, the Rifles consistently best both the much larger French forces as well as the Spanish guerillas.

What to Like

For those familiar with Cornwell’s novels, pretty much all of his main characters are archetypal warriors. That’s one of the things that make his novels so popular, and so great. They live to fight and they always do what’s best for their men (almost always past the point of insubordination). They are men of homeric virtue, and immune to 21st century moralizing. They are also typically pretty good with the ladies.

They also typically have a violent Irish sidekick, at least in the case of both Uhtred (The Last Kingdom) and Richard Sharpe. All of that is here and more. Sergeant Harper, Sharpe’s violent Irish sidekick, was one of my favorite parts of this book. Harper is a giant Irishman who carries around a seven barreled rifle (a volley gun or a nock gun) that knocks him on his ass every time he fires it.

Honestly loved this book and am looking forward to continuing the series. I give it 4 dead French out of 5. I’m almost positive anyone reading this is going to be familiar with Cornwell and Sharpe, but I highly recommend to anyone who likes Men’s adventure fiction or historical war fiction.