Glory in the Midst of Bloody Battles and Duplicity
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If you haven't yet read Sharpe's Tiger, I recommend that you begin your reading of this exciting series with that book. The characters and story in Sharpe's Triumph will make more sense that way.
If you liked Sharpe's Tiger, you will probably enjoy Sharpe's Triumph even more. The story here is more historically accurate, the various battles are brilliantly described, and readers will find it easier to identify with Sharpe as the hero of the story.
As the book opens, Sergeant Sharpe has been sent to pick up some ammunition . . . a seemingly dull assignment that soon becomes quite meaningful. There's a rogue lieutenant from the British East India Company who has a bounty on his head, and Sharpe is soon drawn into the search for Lieutenant Dodd and the sepoys he took with him.
In the background, Sharpe has been enjoying a leisurely four years since he earned his sergeant's stripes in Sharpe's Tiger. The cushion that his wealth has brought is about to become a curse, however.
In the search for Dodd, Sharpe is presented with the opportunity to better his station in life, meets a new love interest, and has some hard choices to make.
The high point of the story comes in the detailed recounting of the Battle of Assaye which was important to defeating the Indian forces and helped establish the reputation of Sir Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington).
Those who don't want to read about the bloody side of war would do well to avoid this book.
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Superb
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I am so glad that Bernard Cornwell went back to do these. I was lucky enough to read all in date order (I got into these in the past 6 months). Reading the later books makes so much sense as they constantly refer back to previous exploits. It's really interesting to see him rising up the ranks, seems to make everything make sense. Typical rip-roaring Sharpe novel.... cant put them down!
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Truimph - certainly is
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The second of the Indian Trilogy and it continues in the same breathtaking read, every chapter glides along as we see Sharpe at Assaye and famously saving Wellesley during the battle. From that moment on, he is thrust into the role of officer...but he certainly ain't no gentleman.
The characters are great, Dodd is very good as is Pohlmann. Yet i never took to McCandless - he just reminded me of another Nairn. However, a great read.
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Sharpe at Assaye
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This book culminates with the battle of Assaye (September 23rd, 1803) which Wellington himself allegedly considered his finest victory. Before it gets to that however you're treated to the oh so familiar but never stale or boring ingredients of a typical Sharpe novel: colourful characters (one female too, off course), a fast-paced plot, vivid descriptions, and plenty of action.
Mindless escapism this surely is, but in that category few can rival Cornwell.
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Cornwell continues his betrayal
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I read all of the original Sharpe series in the eighties and thought that the series had come to it's natural conclusion with Sharpes Waterloo in 1990. I was very suprised to see Sharpes Devil a couple of years later and to my mind this was a book too far in the series. Cornwell was always writing other books including the excellent Redcoat as well as his nautical thrillers. When he started the Starbuck chronicles I was delighted and followed Nates adventures in the same manner as I had Sharpe's. Then, after the Sharpe series had been shown on tv Cornwell abandoned "The Starbuck Chronicles" mid-series (after four books)and resurrected Sharpe. Not to sound too cynical but the only reason for this betrayal of fans who had bought the new books and were following Starbuck could only have been money...Cornwell betrayed and sacrificed the Starbuck fans for a newer and more lucrutive market...the new Sharpe fans worldwide who came to the books after the tv series. In order to continue to cash in along came all the new books each one inserted in a different period of Sharpe's career. If you have read the original series you won't recognise Sharpe's description in the new books..because it's Sean Bean!...Thanks Bernard, how's the yacht?
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