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Sharpe #17
Sharpe's Honour
Major Richard Sharpe awaits the opening shots of the army's new campaign with grim expectancy. Victory depends on the increasingly fragile alliance between Britain and Spain, an alliance that must be maintained at all cost.
But Sharpe's enemy, the French intelligence officer Pierre Ducos, seizes a chance to destroy the alliance and take personal revenge on Sharpe. And when the lovely spy, La Marquesa, takes a hand in the game, Sharpe finds himself caught in a web of deadly intrigue and becomes a fugitive, hunted by enemy and ally alike...
But Sharpe's enemy, the French intelligence officer Pierre Ducos, seizes a chance to destroy the alliance and take personal revenge on Sharpe. And when the lovely spy, La Marquesa, takes a hand in the game, Sharpe finds himself caught in a web of deadly intrigue and becomes a fugitive, hunted by enemy and ally alike...
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
412 people are currently reading
2566 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Cornwell
536 books19.1k followersCornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother, who was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his birth mother's maiden name, Cornwell.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
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November 2, 2025
Read as 3.5 STARS!
This eventful historical adventure is now the 17th volume, was the 16th before Sharpe's Command, of the "Richard Sharpe" series.
At the front of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of the Battle of Vitoria, which was fought on June 21st 1813, and a quote taken from "The Grenadier's March, while at the end you'll notice a well documented Historical Note.
Storytelling is very likeable, all characters, whether real historical and fictional, come vividly to life in this tale about treachery and honour, although the story is around 10% about the Battle of Vitoria itself and the other 90% is about a French lady spy whore in distress.
The story takes place between February and June 1813, and it will tell the exploits of Major Richard Sharpe, who first will become a victim of a secret plot, and after some mysterious magic he'll will resurface until the final victorious Battle against the French and saving La Marquesa's life and fortune.
But before Major Sharpe will be able to save La Marquesa in an act of a Knight in Shining Armour, and so protecting his honour, he will need to endure various opponents and stage his own death to complete his disguise, to be able to go on the hunt and produce that secret plot and his restoration as Major.
What is to follow is an engaging historical adventure, with a lot of hunting and killing to do, all for a Lady spy whore in distress and try to save her, but with a small amount of the Battle of Vitoria itself.
Recommended to all diehard Sharpe fans, but for me this was not the author's very best effort, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Enjoyable Case Of Honour"!
This eventful historical adventure is now the 17th volume, was the 16th before Sharpe's Command, of the "Richard Sharpe" series.
At the front of the book you'll find a well-drawn map of the Battle of Vitoria, which was fought on June 21st 1813, and a quote taken from "The Grenadier's March, while at the end you'll notice a well documented Historical Note.
Storytelling is very likeable, all characters, whether real historical and fictional, come vividly to life in this tale about treachery and honour, although the story is around 10% about the Battle of Vitoria itself and the other 90% is about a French lady spy whore in distress.
The story takes place between February and June 1813, and it will tell the exploits of Major Richard Sharpe, who first will become a victim of a secret plot, and after some mysterious magic he'll will resurface until the final victorious Battle against the French and saving La Marquesa's life and fortune.
But before Major Sharpe will be able to save La Marquesa in an act of a Knight in Shining Armour, and so protecting his honour, he will need to endure various opponents and stage his own death to complete his disguise, to be able to go on the hunt and produce that secret plot and his restoration as Major.
What is to follow is an engaging historical adventure, with a lot of hunting and killing to do, all for a Lady spy whore in distress and try to save her, but with a small amount of the Battle of Vitoria itself.
Recommended to all diehard Sharpe fans, but for me this was not the author's very best effort, and that's why I like to call this episode: "An Enjoyable Case Of Honour"!
May 17, 2021
He was bored. Instead of fighting he was worrying about money and having to organize a church parade.
Not for long! Richard Sharpe will have enough excitement in this episode to last him the rest of the Napoleonic Wars. With a little help from devious adversaries in the guise of a French colonel of intelligence, an ambitious Spanish Inquisitor and the requisite femme fatale, Richard Sharpe is back in the saddle, narrowly escaping gruesome death or spectacular explosions, single-handedly assaulting a fortified monastery, improvising weaponry in the manner of MacGyver, with enough time left over to head over to the main army of Lord Wellington and win a major battle or two in the campaign to drive the French armies out of Spain.
“Sharpe’s Honour” is one of the best (read entertaining) episodes in the long running war epic, and can be read as a stand-alone adventure by readers who want to get a feel for the series. The author himself didn’t write these books in chronological order, but Honor is one of the core original stories and better plotted than later instalments that tried to cash in on the success of the first books.
As a very short re-introduction to the main hero, Richard Sharpe is in the author’s vision a ‘soldier’s soldier’ , a professional killing machine that has risen from the ranks of common enlisted men to a commanding officer position through courage, bravery and tactical vision. Saving the life of his commanding officer in the Indian campaign also helped his career outlook.
After numerous adventures, we arrive to the year 1813. Napoleon is returning defeated from the Russian frozen steppe, while in Spain the allied armies led by Wellington are gearing up to push the French armies out of Spain. Sharpe is now a Major in an infantry regiment, although he remains loyal to his former colleagues in the Rifles skirmisher company.
His adversaries hatch a plot to provoke Sharpe to an illegal duel with a Spanish noble over the virtue of that man’s wife, one of Sharpe’s old flames and a French spy. . Disgraced, our hero sets out alone to hunt for partisans and for information that could be crucial to the success of the military campaign.
Real events from the historical year 1813 are cleverly included in the plot, in particular the destruction of Burgos castle and the battle of Vitoria, that arguably changed the fortunes of war in the Spanish campaign.
Sharpe himself can be annoying with his ability to get out of really scary tight spots, but the author clearly likes him, even as he inflicts a lot of damage on his favourite soldier. Sharpe also has a knack for getting the hot female lead into bed, but that’s not the core message of the story.
That would be that a good soldier needs something else beside a talent for armed combat.
Honour was conscience
Not for long! Richard Sharpe will have enough excitement in this episode to last him the rest of the Napoleonic Wars. With a little help from devious adversaries in the guise of a French colonel of intelligence, an ambitious Spanish Inquisitor and the requisite femme fatale, Richard Sharpe is back in the saddle, narrowly escaping gruesome death or spectacular explosions, single-handedly assaulting a fortified monastery, improvising weaponry in the manner of MacGyver, with enough time left over to head over to the main army of Lord Wellington and win a major battle or two in the campaign to drive the French armies out of Spain.
“Sharpe’s Honour” is one of the best (read entertaining) episodes in the long running war epic, and can be read as a stand-alone adventure by readers who want to get a feel for the series. The author himself didn’t write these books in chronological order, but Honor is one of the core original stories and better plotted than later instalments that tried to cash in on the success of the first books.
As a very short re-introduction to the main hero, Richard Sharpe is in the author’s vision a ‘soldier’s soldier’ , a professional killing machine that has risen from the ranks of common enlisted men to a commanding officer position through courage, bravery and tactical vision. Saving the life of his commanding officer in the Indian campaign also helped his career outlook.
After numerous adventures, we arrive to the year 1813. Napoleon is returning defeated from the Russian frozen steppe, while in Spain the allied armies led by Wellington are gearing up to push the French armies out of Spain. Sharpe is now a Major in an infantry regiment, although he remains loyal to his former colleagues in the Rifles skirmisher company.
His adversaries hatch a plot to provoke Sharpe to an illegal duel with a Spanish noble over the virtue of that man’s wife, one of Sharpe’s old flames and a French spy. . Disgraced, our hero sets out alone to hunt for partisans and for information that could be crucial to the success of the military campaign.
Real events from the historical year 1813 are cleverly included in the plot, in particular the destruction of Burgos castle and the battle of Vitoria, that arguably changed the fortunes of war in the Spanish campaign.
Sharpe himself can be annoying with his ability to get out of really scary tight spots, but the author clearly likes him, even as he inflicts a lot of damage on his favourite soldier. Sharpe also has a knack for getting the hot female lead into bed, but that’s not the core message of the story.
That would be that a good soldier needs something else beside a talent for armed combat.
Honour was conscience
May 27, 2019
Number 16 in the Shapre series.
Concerning the pivotal Vitoria Campaign where the French were evicted from Spain.
A lot of fiction and some historical facts.
Sharpe finds himself on the pointy end of both the allied forces and the enemy forces. Accused of a murder that he didn’t commit Sharpe is condemned to be hanged. How he escapes is a bit ridiculous but escape he does. Sharpe is now on the trail of the people who set him up for the murder. But there is more at stake than just Sharpe’s honour. The intelligence arm of Wellington’s army has reliable information that there is a plan being proposed by the French to bring the Spanish over to their side and then together they will finish off the British army once and for all.
Sharpe’s task is to get evidence of this plan and to clear his name of this murder and restore his honour.
Along the way there are enough thrills and spills to keep you turning pages.
There is enough fiction to keep the narrative exciting and enough facts to keep it fascinating.
An entertaining read, if at time a bit far fetched.
Recommended 4 star read.
Concerning the pivotal Vitoria Campaign where the French were evicted from Spain.
A lot of fiction and some historical facts.
Sharpe finds himself on the pointy end of both the allied forces and the enemy forces. Accused of a murder that he didn’t commit Sharpe is condemned to be hanged. How he escapes is a bit ridiculous but escape he does. Sharpe is now on the trail of the people who set him up for the murder. But there is more at stake than just Sharpe’s honour. The intelligence arm of Wellington’s army has reliable information that there is a plan being proposed by the French to bring the Spanish over to their side and then together they will finish off the British army once and for all.
Sharpe’s task is to get evidence of this plan and to clear his name of this murder and restore his honour.
Along the way there are enough thrills and spills to keep you turning pages.
There is enough fiction to keep the narrative exciting and enough facts to keep it fascinating.
An entertaining read, if at time a bit far fetched.
Recommended 4 star read.
February 22, 2023
Поради част от събитията случили се в предишната книга от серията, майор Шарп е изпаднал в дълбока депресия.
И когато е предизвикан на дуел от испански генерал, той приема и по този начин застрашава сериозно кариерата и живота си.
Принуден е от обстоятелствата да се бори и за честта си, единственото нещо което му е останало и което никога не е било за продан.
Идва и решаващата битка от Войната на полуострова, тази при Витория-Гастейс. Генерал Уелингтън показва на целия свят, че знае и да атакува!
И когато е предизвикан на дуел от испански генерал, той приема и по този начин застрашава сериозно кариерата и живота си.
Принуден е от обстоятелствата да се бори и за честта си, единственото нещо което му е останало и което никога не е било за продан.
Идва и решаващата битка от Войната на полуострова, тази при Витория-Гастейс. Генерал Уелингтън показва на целия свят, че знае и да атакува!
September 20, 2018
Another enjoyable entry in the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell. Like all of the Sharpe books, Sharpe's Honor takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. They follow the exploits of soldier Richard Sharpe, whose unlikely rise up from private into the officer ranks only occurred due to him saving the life of Arthur Wellesley, aka Lord Wellington.
Usually Sharpe is fighting the French, but there's a twist in this one that embroils friend, foe and ally all together at any given moment. It shakes up the series nicely and Cornwell's description of battle and his excellent attention to period details make Sharpe's Honor a winner!
Usually Sharpe is fighting the French, but there's a twist in this one that embroils friend, foe and ally all together at any given moment. It shakes up the series nicely and Cornwell's description of battle and his excellent attention to period details make Sharpe's Honor a winner!
June 26, 2020
I have to stop grading these on a curve because the action scenes are so good. To that goal this gets the lowest rating I have yet given to a Sharpe book albeit Sharpe's Honour is not the worst in the series. I dub this Sharpe's rebound after following the best installment IMO Sharpe's Enemy in the series. Sharpe's Honour falls short of it's predecessor by a considerable measure.
February 6, 2022
This is yet an other great book in this ceries.
January 4, 2019
Ah, Sharpe! Forget Wellington; Sharpe was the indispensable man in the Peninsular War.
Even for Sharpe where a rather large suspension of disbelief is necessary, this book was preposterous. It lost me for good when the second ringer was hanged, but that wasn't the end of it. Overall, there was a lot of drinking, rutting and looting and not much of anything else until the battle at the end, and Sharpe's ruminations about love and honor became embarrassing. I thought the last book chronologically was one of the better ones; this was one of the worse ones, but so it goes. It makes me glad to say adiós to Spain along with Sharpe and Wellington as the war moves elsewhere.
Even for Sharpe where a rather large suspension of disbelief is necessary, this book was preposterous. It lost me for good when the second ringer was hanged, but that wasn't the end of it. Overall, there was a lot of drinking, rutting and looting and not much of anything else until the battle at the end, and Sharpe's ruminations about love and honor became embarrassing. I thought the last book chronologically was one of the better ones; this was one of the worse ones, but so it goes. It makes me glad to say adiós to Spain along with Sharpe and Wellington as the war moves elsewhere.
October 14, 2022
Sharpe #16. Another re-read. The Battle of Vitoria takes place mid-1813.
The villainous Pierre Ducos, Napoleon's spymaster, is up to his usual tricks. He schemes like nobody's business. His ultimate goal is to sow dissension between the allied Spanish/Portuguese/British forces which could only be in France's favor. Since Major Sharpe earned First Place on Ducos' fecal roster, he's one of the targets of an elaborate plot.
All of the plot elements come to a head in the Spanish town of Vitoria where an epic battle is fought. Up until now the British & Allies have been successful in whooping the butts of Napoleon's forces, and the French have been steadily retreating back to France. Along with themselves, the French are taking all of their accumulated and stolen wealth. (They'd been plundering Spain during the invasion.) Some of these acquisitions were from the Spanish Royal Palace.
This one had a great cast of characters but then his books usually do! We had the cold calculating Ducos, the repulsive murderous Spanish Partisan brothers, the obnoxious loosy-goosy frenemy, the likeable French general, the American loyalist Lt. Col. Leroy, Maj. Hogan and many more. And then there's Sharpe. I love Sharpe. He may be astoundingly idiotic when it comes to women (!!!) but he's a terrific, complex character.
The villainous Pierre Ducos, Napoleon's spymaster, is up to his usual tricks. He schemes like nobody's business. His ultimate goal is to sow dissension between the allied Spanish/Portuguese/British forces which could only be in France's favor. Since Major Sharpe earned First Place on Ducos' fecal roster, he's one of the targets of an elaborate plot.
All of the plot elements come to a head in the Spanish town of Vitoria where an epic battle is fought. Up until now the British & Allies have been successful in whooping the butts of Napoleon's forces, and the French have been steadily retreating back to France. Along with themselves, the French are taking all of their accumulated and stolen wealth. (They'd been plundering Spain during the invasion.) Some of these acquisitions were from the Spanish Royal Palace.
This one had a great cast of characters but then his books usually do! We had the cold calculating Ducos, the repulsive murderous Spanish Partisan brothers, the obnoxious loosy-goosy frenemy, the likeable French general, the American loyalist Lt. Col. Leroy, Maj. Hogan and many more. And then there's Sharpe. I love Sharpe. He may be astoundingly idiotic when it comes to women (!!!) but he's a terrific, complex character.
September 14, 2012
Sixteenth in the Richard Sharpe historical military fiction series revolving around Major Richard Sharpe and the Peninsular War against Napoleon.
My Take
It starts brutally, slips into cleverness, and then wallows in the greed of a priest with dreams of becoming a cardinal. Being a priest is no guarantee of being a Christian as Hacha proves.
The story starts with a battle and ends with another. One in which the men can become rich beyond their wildest dreams while other men's dreams are destroyed. One in which Richard proves again that he's a fool for a woman. In between is invasion, escape, fighting, trickery, and too many prison cells.
I do love Cornwell's characters. Richard certainly has a sliding scale of honor, but it's there where and when it counts. I do enjoy the respect with which Richard is held by [almost] everyone from generals on down to privates. I also enjoy how uncomfortable it makes him! I don't think Richard will ever be able to understand the esteem his fellow soldiers have for him. Sure, Cornwell has taken liberties with his characters and the battles, but he has preserved the feel for the time period and being on a battlefield. I sure can empathize with the cold, hard ground at night and the way Cornwell describes the cold, the heat, and the dust makes me grateful for today's conveniences!
It's the most comfortable way I can imagine for experiencing battle and laying siege. It's terrifying enough just reading Cornwell's words and makes me very grateful to soldiers everywhere.
The Story
The story begins with our introduction to El Matarife, priming us for the terror of the knife fight at the end of a chain and continues with the very worried Trumper-Jones wondering if Sharpe really means to surrender.
It's the Treaty of Valençay, named for the chateau where the Spanish king is held prisoner. A clever move to force the British out of Spain. One of Ducos' plans and he's working a series of scams one of which is the destruction of Major Sharpe with La Puta Dorada's help.
Forcing Sharpe into a corner where he must defend his honor or lose it.
The Characters
Major Richard Sharpe commands a half-battalion of the South Essex Light Company and is viewed by other men as "a soldier's soldier, a man whose approval was eagerly sought by other men, whose name was used as a touchstone of professional competence". Even by the French! Teresa has been dead for a few months now and his daughter, Antonia, is growing up motherless with her aunt and uncle. Although, he has given all his money to her.
His men include Sergeant Patrick Harper, a huge Irishman from Donegal and still living in sin with Isabella (see Sharpe's Company); Captain Peter d'Alembord, an accomplished duellist; Sergeant Huckfield; Captain William Frederickson, a.k.a., Sweet William, is half-German, half-English, a fearsome soldier with an eye for beauty, and has the charge of Sharpe's few Riflemen; Collip is the quartermaster who really needs to think before he leaps; Paddock is Sharpe's Battalion clerk; Regimental Sergeant Major MacLaird; and, Lieutenant Harry Price is still alive. Lieutenant-Colonel Leroy has been promoted and is now in command of the South Essex. Major Joseph Forrest has been sent to Lisbon to help organize stores.
Major Michael Hogan is Sharpe's friend and the general's chief of intelligence. The Marquess of Wellington, Grandee of Spain, Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain and Duque da Victoria in Portugal is in command of all the armies. Between them, they rescue Sharpe and send him into danger to prove his innocence. Major Vaughn is the prosecutor in his trial with General Sir Edward Pakenham presiding. Angel is Hogan's spy and he's lending him to Sharpe for this mission. Poor Lieutenant Michael Trumper-Jones...he gets introduced to a Sharpe he had never expected would surrender!
Helene Leroux, a.k.a., La Puta Dorada, is the Marquesa de Casares el Grande y Melida Sadaba and a spy for Napoleon (see Sharpe's Sword). Luis, the Marqués, is a Grandee of Spain, its new hero, a general, and Helene's husband newly returned from Brazil, and currently at Wellington's side. And easily led by the Church. Major Miguel Mendora is the marqués' errand boy delivering the challenge. Ferdinand VII is the imprisoned Spanish king whom Napoleon will return to Spain. On certain conditions. General Raoul Verigny is her current protector, persuaded to help Helene escape Spain with a fortune now that Spain knows her for what she is. Major Montbrun is a French officer and wants to make a deal with Sharpe that will benefit his master, King Joseph of Spain. Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan is in command of the French army at Burgos.
Major Pierre Ducos is Napoleon's primary intelligence officer. Egotistical and confident in his immense superiority. Only Napoleon has his respect; all others are well beneath his regard or consideration. And he loathes Sharpe with a passion.
El Matarife , a.k.a., The Slaughterman, a.k.a., Juan Hacha, is Father Hacha's brother and a partisan leader. He's not averse to enriching himself at the expense of his country or countrymen. Pedro Pelera is another partisan, but not a friend of El Matarife. Father Tomas Hacha is an Inquisitor for the Catholic Church in Spain, but more interested in his rise to power and restoring his family's fortunes.
The Cover
The cover is one of the charcoal sketches with Sharpe rising up from the bottom and visible from the shoulders on up. He's holding his sword straight up at the level of his chin.
The title truly is about Sharpe's Honor and the lengths he will go to retain it.
My Take
It starts brutally, slips into cleverness, and then wallows in the greed of a priest with dreams of becoming a cardinal. Being a priest is no guarantee of being a Christian as Hacha proves.
The story starts with a battle and ends with another. One in which the men can become rich beyond their wildest dreams while other men's dreams are destroyed. One in which Richard proves again that he's a fool for a woman. In between is invasion, escape, fighting, trickery, and too many prison cells.
I do love Cornwell's characters. Richard certainly has a sliding scale of honor, but it's there where and when it counts. I do enjoy the respect with which Richard is held by [almost] everyone from generals on down to privates. I also enjoy how uncomfortable it makes him! I don't think Richard will ever be able to understand the esteem his fellow soldiers have for him. Sure, Cornwell has taken liberties with his characters and the battles, but he has preserved the feel for the time period and being on a battlefield. I sure can empathize with the cold, hard ground at night and the way Cornwell describes the cold, the heat, and the dust makes me grateful for today's conveniences!
It's the most comfortable way I can imagine for experiencing battle and laying siege. It's terrifying enough just reading Cornwell's words and makes me very grateful to soldiers everywhere.
The Story
The story begins with our introduction to El Matarife, priming us for the terror of the knife fight at the end of a chain and continues with the very worried Trumper-Jones wondering if Sharpe really means to surrender.
It's the Treaty of Valençay, named for the chateau where the Spanish king is held prisoner. A clever move to force the British out of Spain. One of Ducos' plans and he's working a series of scams one of which is the destruction of Major Sharpe with La Puta Dorada's help.
Forcing Sharpe into a corner where he must defend his honor or lose it.
The Characters
Major Richard Sharpe commands a half-battalion of the South Essex Light Company and is viewed by other men as "a soldier's soldier, a man whose approval was eagerly sought by other men, whose name was used as a touchstone of professional competence". Even by the French! Teresa has been dead for a few months now and his daughter, Antonia, is growing up motherless with her aunt and uncle. Although, he has given all his money to her.
His men include Sergeant Patrick Harper, a huge Irishman from Donegal and still living in sin with Isabella (see Sharpe's Company); Captain Peter d'Alembord, an accomplished duellist; Sergeant Huckfield; Captain William Frederickson, a.k.a., Sweet William, is half-German, half-English, a fearsome soldier with an eye for beauty, and has the charge of Sharpe's few Riflemen; Collip is the quartermaster who really needs to think before he leaps; Paddock is Sharpe's Battalion clerk; Regimental Sergeant Major MacLaird; and, Lieutenant Harry Price is still alive. Lieutenant-Colonel Leroy has been promoted and is now in command of the South Essex. Major Joseph Forrest has been sent to Lisbon to help organize stores.
Major Michael Hogan is Sharpe's friend and the general's chief of intelligence. The Marquess of Wellington, Grandee of Spain, Duque de Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain and Duque da Victoria in Portugal is in command of all the armies. Between them, they rescue Sharpe and send him into danger to prove his innocence. Major Vaughn is the prosecutor in his trial with General Sir Edward Pakenham presiding. Angel is Hogan's spy and he's lending him to Sharpe for this mission. Poor Lieutenant Michael Trumper-Jones...he gets introduced to a Sharpe he had never expected would surrender!
Helene Leroux, a.k.a., La Puta Dorada, is the Marquesa de Casares el Grande y Melida Sadaba and a spy for Napoleon (see Sharpe's Sword). Luis, the Marqués, is a Grandee of Spain, its new hero, a general, and Helene's husband newly returned from Brazil, and currently at Wellington's side. And easily led by the Church. Major Miguel Mendora is the marqués' errand boy delivering the challenge. Ferdinand VII is the imprisoned Spanish king whom Napoleon will return to Spain. On certain conditions. General Raoul Verigny is her current protector, persuaded to help Helene escape Spain with a fortune now that Spain knows her for what she is. Major Montbrun is a French officer and wants to make a deal with Sharpe that will benefit his master, King Joseph of Spain. Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan is in command of the French army at Burgos.
Major Pierre Ducos is Napoleon's primary intelligence officer. Egotistical and confident in his immense superiority. Only Napoleon has his respect; all others are well beneath his regard or consideration. And he loathes Sharpe with a passion.
El Matarife , a.k.a., The Slaughterman, a.k.a., Juan Hacha, is Father Hacha's brother and a partisan leader. He's not averse to enriching himself at the expense of his country or countrymen. Pedro Pelera is another partisan, but not a friend of El Matarife. Father Tomas Hacha is an Inquisitor for the Catholic Church in Spain, but more interested in his rise to power and restoring his family's fortunes.
The Cover
The cover is one of the charcoal sketches with Sharpe rising up from the bottom and visible from the shoulders on up. He's holding his sword straight up at the level of his chin.
The title truly is about Sharpe's Honor and the lengths he will go to retain it.
August 23, 2016
I am a fan of the Sharpe series, but this one seemed a bit forced to me. Even given Richard Sharpe's knack for being at the wrong place at the wrong time, the sequence of events that lead to his multiple apparent deaths are a bit far-fetched.
I also do not recall Cornwell using so many point of view shifts within single scenes. He does it about as well as can be done, but it is still somewhat distracting.
All that said, this is still a fun, quick read, with an extra helping of action. During the battle scenes you will hear the roll of the drums and smell and taste the gun smoke in the air, and if you are reading a Sharpe novel, that's probably what you're after!
I also do not recall Cornwell using so many point of view shifts within single scenes. He does it about as well as can be done, but it is still somewhat distracting.
All that said, this is still a fun, quick read, with an extra helping of action. During the battle scenes you will hear the roll of the drums and smell and taste the gun smoke in the air, and if you are reading a Sharpe novel, that's probably what you're after!
November 4, 2011
Not much to add to what I have already written about Sharpe-series. It's like pop corn - once you start, you can't stop, but it will never really fill your belly. But as long as you take those books for what they are - a guilty pleasure and a quick, fun read - a book about Richard Sharpe is always an enjoyable experience.
January 23, 2023
This is just a classic Sharpe novel, with an engaging fictional plot for Sharpe and a dramatic set piece battle that was important for the war. There was a fun bait and switch plot element toward the beginning, a detour into a nunnery which was terribly amusing, and some typical Sharpe elements like a damsel in distress, a loathsome Spanish brawler, and a scheming French spymaster -- all leading to a surprisingly emotional and gripping climactic sequence. Rupert Farley continues to be one of the most lively and engaging audiobook narrators in existence, and I either listened or read immersively, since I would never want to miss out on a single sentence delivered by Farley!
This series just keeps on rolling, and I'm a bit sad I'm headed toward the home stretch with only a few more books 'til Waterloo (but even then there's 3 more after that and more on the way to continue the fun).
This series just keeps on rolling, and I'm a bit sad I'm headed toward the home stretch with only a few more books 'til Waterloo (but even then there's 3 more after that and more on the way to continue the fun).
April 1, 2023
3.5 stars. Another great adventure. The first and last third were brilliant lots of twists and bloody action. The middle third dragged it down a little as the plot became a little silly and convoluted and a few supporting characters were missing. Felt like it was trying to recreate the type of story in Sword without quite pulling it off as well.
The battle of Vitoria did not disappoint though and Cornwell’s descriptions of warfare in general remains unrivalled.
The battle of Vitoria did not disappoint though and Cornwell’s descriptions of warfare in general remains unrivalled.
February 28, 2021
This is a terrific adventure novel. It features a dashing hero, a cinematic villain, a beautiful and treacherous love interest, and all the action one could want in a male power fantasy.
Major Richard Sharpe, an officer in Wellington's army fighting the French across Spain, faces torturers, inquisitors, schemers, and even members of his own army. He cuts through swaths of his enemies, earns the love of his soldiers, charms every woman he meets, and generally kicks ass for roughly ten hours of listening.
If you enjoy big, silly adventure novels rooted in strong historical research, you're sure to enjoy the Sharpe series in general and this volume in particular. I loved it.
Major Richard Sharpe, an officer in Wellington's army fighting the French across Spain, faces torturers, inquisitors, schemers, and even members of his own army. He cuts through swaths of his enemies, earns the love of his soldiers, charms every woman he meets, and generally kicks ass for roughly ten hours of listening.
If you enjoy big, silly adventure novels rooted in strong historical research, you're sure to enjoy the Sharpe series in general and this volume in particular. I loved it.
March 13, 2015
The battle of Vitoria, which takes place at the climax of Sharpe's Honour not only continues author Bernard Cornwell's tradition of writing excellent epic battles but actually raises the bar. That aside, this is an unusual entry in the series in that Major Richard Sharpe, now the South Essex's second in command, spends almost the entire book away from his Regiment, and some of it - due to a handy plot contrivance - dead.
This is all the result, naturally, of a conspiracy to undermine the British war effort in the Peninsular and return, by means of a secret treaty, Spain to a state of neutrality. The plot unites the scheming French spymaster Major Pierre Ducos (Sharpe's Enemy) with the beautiful French spy, Spanish aristocrat, and ex-lover of Richard Sharpe, Hélène Leroux (Sharpe's Sword), as well as a villainous inquisitor (I didn't expect to see the Spanish inquisition feature in this series, but it's historically accurate) and a ruthless guerilla leader in a scheme which sees the hero tried and convicted of the murder of a Spanish general.
A man alone, without rank and without even the faithful sergeant Harper to help him, Sharpe has to prove his innocence, rescue a beautiful woman, and defeat his enemy all while on the run from foe and ally before being reunited with his battalion for the finale battle. While the book suffered for the absence of familiar characters and day to day soldiering, it made up for it with a closer examination of Richard Sharpe's desperate, self-destructive, and ruthless personality than we've seen before. What does harm the book is the wrapup. Sharpe's eventual return to the fold is all too neat, especially given the political and legal implications of both his death and his resurrection. Perhap the ramifications will be explored in further chapters of this series, but it seems unlikely.
This is all the result, naturally, of a conspiracy to undermine the British war effort in the Peninsular and return, by means of a secret treaty, Spain to a state of neutrality. The plot unites the scheming French spymaster Major Pierre Ducos (Sharpe's Enemy) with the beautiful French spy, Spanish aristocrat, and ex-lover of Richard Sharpe, Hélène Leroux (Sharpe's Sword), as well as a villainous inquisitor (I didn't expect to see the Spanish inquisition feature in this series, but it's historically accurate) and a ruthless guerilla leader in a scheme which sees the hero tried and convicted of the murder of a Spanish general.
A man alone, without rank and without even the faithful sergeant Harper to help him, Sharpe has to prove his innocence, rescue a beautiful woman, and defeat his enemy all while on the run from foe and ally before being reunited with his battalion for the finale battle. While the book suffered for the absence of familiar characters and day to day soldiering, it made up for it with a closer examination of Richard Sharpe's desperate, self-destructive, and ruthless personality than we've seen before. What does harm the book is the wrapup. Sharpe's eventual return to the fold is all too neat, especially given the political and legal implications of both his death and his resurrection. Perhap the ramifications will be explored in further chapters of this series, but it seems unlikely.
December 6, 2021
Mehhh. (Which I believe I said about the previous book in the series too). This is probably my least favourite of the lot so far. Just never seemed to go anywhere and the characters and their developments were all over the place.
Its biggest flaw was the fact that it tried to centre around a relationship which had absolutely no chemistry. Mainly because Bernard Cornwell cannot write women in this series at all. La Marquesa might as well have been a cardboard cut-out in some scenes. She was a prize to be won, nothing else, and didn't seem to experience any kind of believable human emotion. Although in other scenes, where she had a sliver of a personality, it was *so* different to in Sharpe's Sword? It just felt, again, like Bernard Cornwell spent so much time *telling* us they had chemistry, trying to convince us they did, and it was like...nah, can't see it.
On top of that, Sharpe was just so dull in this one. He spent most of the book moping around, traipsing after La Marquesa (notice how very very little she actually gets her real name said), and acting like an idiot. He, again, felt like a different character in this one. As well as that, poor Teresa is just forgotten entirely, despite, y'know, being killed by Sharpe's greatest enemy at the end of the previous book. Having *so* many women for Sharpe to be involved with just cheapens every one and makes every relationship so stale and unbelievable.
In a book where Sharpe has been made to fake his death, break into a convent, fight against vicious Partisans, experience the battle of Vitoria, you'd think it'd be a bit more interesting. But the whole thing just felt so cold and plain. Ducos gave a bit of spark to it. Other than that, idk, I just could not get into it.
Its biggest flaw was the fact that it tried to centre around a relationship which had absolutely no chemistry. Mainly because Bernard Cornwell cannot write women in this series at all. La Marquesa might as well have been a cardboard cut-out in some scenes. She was a prize to be won, nothing else, and didn't seem to experience any kind of believable human emotion. Although in other scenes, where she had a sliver of a personality, it was *so* different to in Sharpe's Sword? It just felt, again, like Bernard Cornwell spent so much time *telling* us they had chemistry, trying to convince us they did, and it was like...nah, can't see it.
On top of that, Sharpe was just so dull in this one. He spent most of the book moping around, traipsing after La Marquesa (notice how very very little she actually gets her real name said), and acting like an idiot. He, again, felt like a different character in this one. As well as that, poor Teresa is just forgotten entirely, despite, y'know, being killed by Sharpe's greatest enemy at the end of the previous book. Having *so* many women for Sharpe to be involved with just cheapens every one and makes every relationship so stale and unbelievable.
In a book where Sharpe has been made to fake his death, break into a convent, fight against vicious Partisans, experience the battle of Vitoria, you'd think it'd be a bit more interesting. But the whole thing just felt so cold and plain. Ducos gave a bit of spark to it. Other than that, idk, I just could not get into it.
December 8, 2021
No 16 in the series covers the Battle of Vitoria 1813. Sharpe fights a duel which gets stopped cos it is against the rules. That night his opponent is murdered and of course Sharpe is blamed, court martialled and apparently hung. He is sent on a secret mission where there is a femme fatale, the devious French intelligence officer Ducos (someone has to replace Hakeswill), an also devious and greedy Spanish Inquistador and his brother who's nickname is the Slaughterman. Told not to be captured Sharpe is captured, tortured and survives a massive explosion which destroys the fort he is imprisoned in.
Another battle, another win for the Brits and Sharpe lives to fight another day. Plenty of action in this one.
Another battle, another win for the Brits and Sharpe lives to fight another day. Plenty of action in this one.
September 20, 2022
This is a lower-tier Sharpe (since it is among such stiff competition), although it has some excellent highlights. The looting of the legendary French baggage train in the aftermath of Vitoria features some of the most evocative description and language I've seen Bernard employ.
The narrative of the battle itself falls into that increasingly indistinguishable collective of familiar phrasing and turns that I fear is from reading this many Sharpe's novels.
The characters are splendid, although some of the plot points feel contrived. Another solid romp with our favorite Rifleman.
The narrative of the battle itself falls into that increasingly indistinguishable collective of familiar phrasing and turns that I fear is from reading this many Sharpe's novels.
The characters are splendid, although some of the plot points feel contrived. Another solid romp with our favorite Rifleman.
December 23, 2020
Not, by far, my favorite, but there were moments that made it fun.
In one scene, Sharpe attacks a nunnery. It switches POV to Wellington saying Sharpe better not be attacking a nunnery. Then it switches back to Sharpe attacking a nunnery. 🤣🤣🤣
It also makes an Over the Hills and Far Away joke.
But, the best part was Harper knowing Sharpe wasn't dead.
Oh, and the looting and destruction of priceless art and antiques made me so sad.
So, not the best, but worth reading.
In one scene, Sharpe attacks a nunnery. It switches POV to Wellington saying Sharpe better not be attacking a nunnery. Then it switches back to Sharpe attacking a nunnery. 🤣🤣🤣
It also makes an Over the Hills and Far Away joke.
But, the best part was Harper knowing Sharpe wasn't dead.
Oh, and the looting and destruction of priceless art and antiques made me so sad.
So, not the best, but worth reading.
January 18, 2022
Maintains the high standard of the series with a slice of political intrigue that put me in the mind of Dumas' Musketeers.
April 15, 2023
Audiobook !το τέταρτο φέτος! αγαπημένη ιστορική σειρά
March 16, 2025
Cornwell's writing improved significantly from the previous books in the series.
July 29, 2017
Coming off my favorite installment to date in the excellent Sharpe’s Enemy, any book that followed was bound to feel like a let down. That was certainly the case with Sharpe’s Honor, the sixteenth chronological book in the Richard Sharpe series, but overall this was still a book I enjoyed. I think the worst aspects of this book came from a new theory I have that Bernard Cornwell comes up with clever words to attach to Sharpe’s name for book titles, and then writes the book trying to shoehorn as many allusions to that word as possible throughout the book.
Taking place in the closing months of the Spanish conflict between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars, Major Richard Sharpe is the target of a plot by the French intelligence officer Pierre Ducos. The Whore of Gold, Richard’s object of lust from prior books, Helene is the mechanism for the plot who sets everything in motion by sending a letter to her husband accusing Sharpe of making a drunken attempt at raping her. Helene’s husband then challenges Richard Sharpe’s, ahem, honor by challenging Sharpe to a duel. When Helene’s husband ends up dying, Sharpe ends up exiled on a secret mission that involves deadly Spanish partisans, breaking into a nunnery, prison escapes and wagons full of riches beyond imagination.
With any book series that are this lengthy, I appreciate when there is a deviation from one book to another that is memorable or changes the series. While Sharpe’s Honor lacks the major character deaths or military promotions of other books, it does affect the overall series in three manners. **Slight Spoilers Follow** First, Patrick Harper ends up married and has a baby on the way. Unlike Sharpe’s earlier marriage, it seems at least possible that these characters will travel with the army beyond this book. Second, Sharpe loses his longest tenured possession, one that connects him to the most powerful man in his world, but gets it replaced with something much more extravagant. **End of Spoilers** Finally and most importantly, this book ends the Spanish conflict and it looks like French soil is on the horizon. The Sharpe books thus far have spent extensive time in India, before hopping around to places like Denmark and Portugal, but it feels like we’ve been in Spain the longest and the change of scenery should help add some excitement in the next chapter.
The best scene in this book is probably Sharpe’s excursion into a Spanish nunnery. While the prison scene featured some of the most violent and destructive descriptions to be found in a Sharpe book, the mysterious solution provided for Sharpe felt far too convenient in the timing of and execution of it all to really register as believable. The nunnery relied instead on a quick decision by Sharpe to shift the blame away from himself that was both very funny and very clever. Since Sharpe is basically a superhero at this point, anything that shifts the story away from him outfighting his opponent stands out by comparison.
Besides the less than thrilling prison escape (which again, was preceded by an amazingly brutal action sequence), this book also loses some points by relying on three villains that all pale when compared to either of the two villains from the previous book. Pierre Ducos seems to be Sharpe’s long term villain at this point, which is unfortunate as the best Sharpe villains have been those that try to best him at his own game on the battlefield. Ducos is closer to Father Hacha (the Inquisitor) and El Matarife (the sadist Spanish partisan), the villains that Sharpe must overcome in this book, as all three have no real loyalty or qualms about killing innocents to stop Sharpe. While I’m still loving this series, and even enjoyed Sharpe’s Honor, I’ve got it ranked as the 9th best in the first 17, which puts it in the bottom half in terms of quality.
Taking place in the closing months of the Spanish conflict between Britain and France during the Napoleonic Wars, Major Richard Sharpe is the target of a plot by the French intelligence officer Pierre Ducos. The Whore of Gold, Richard’s object of lust from prior books, Helene is the mechanism for the plot who sets everything in motion by sending a letter to her husband accusing Sharpe of making a drunken attempt at raping her. Helene’s husband then challenges Richard Sharpe’s, ahem, honor by challenging Sharpe to a duel. When Helene’s husband ends up dying, Sharpe ends up exiled on a secret mission that involves deadly Spanish partisans, breaking into a nunnery, prison escapes and wagons full of riches beyond imagination.
With any book series that are this lengthy, I appreciate when there is a deviation from one book to another that is memorable or changes the series. While Sharpe’s Honor lacks the major character deaths or military promotions of other books, it does affect the overall series in three manners. **Slight Spoilers Follow** First, Patrick Harper ends up married and has a baby on the way. Unlike Sharpe’s earlier marriage, it seems at least possible that these characters will travel with the army beyond this book. Second, Sharpe loses his longest tenured possession, one that connects him to the most powerful man in his world, but gets it replaced with something much more extravagant. **End of Spoilers** Finally and most importantly, this book ends the Spanish conflict and it looks like French soil is on the horizon. The Sharpe books thus far have spent extensive time in India, before hopping around to places like Denmark and Portugal, but it feels like we’ve been in Spain the longest and the change of scenery should help add some excitement in the next chapter.
The best scene in this book is probably Sharpe’s excursion into a Spanish nunnery. While the prison scene featured some of the most violent and destructive descriptions to be found in a Sharpe book, the mysterious solution provided for Sharpe felt far too convenient in the timing of and execution of it all to really register as believable. The nunnery relied instead on a quick decision by Sharpe to shift the blame away from himself that was both very funny and very clever. Since Sharpe is basically a superhero at this point, anything that shifts the story away from him outfighting his opponent stands out by comparison.
Besides the less than thrilling prison escape (which again, was preceded by an amazingly brutal action sequence), this book also loses some points by relying on three villains that all pale when compared to either of the two villains from the previous book. Pierre Ducos seems to be Sharpe’s long term villain at this point, which is unfortunate as the best Sharpe villains have been those that try to best him at his own game on the battlefield. Ducos is closer to Father Hacha (the Inquisitor) and El Matarife (the sadist Spanish partisan), the villains that Sharpe must overcome in this book, as all three have no real loyalty or qualms about killing innocents to stop Sharpe. While I’m still loving this series, and even enjoyed Sharpe’s Honor, I’ve got it ranked as the 9th best in the first 17, which puts it in the bottom half in terms of quality.
October 3, 2025
Sensational. Sharpe is at his best when he's battling a memorable foe, and aside from Obadiah Hakeswill (who, Cornwell unfortunately killed off in the last installment of the series, Sharpe's Enemy) , the French spy Pierre Ducos is about the best adversary the rifleman could have. In Sharpe's Honour, Ducos is at the centre of a plot to push the British army out of France before said army can dispatch the French from Spain.
Picking up soon after events in 'Sharpe's Enemy', a brooding, unhappy, frustrated Sharpe finds himself in all sorts of trouble and must get out of it before the Battle of Vitoria. Classic Sharpe!
Picking up soon after events in 'Sharpe's Enemy', a brooding, unhappy, frustrated Sharpe finds himself in all sorts of trouble and must get out of it before the Battle of Vitoria. Classic Sharpe!
January 17, 2020
Sharpe is my go-to when I want a light, entertaining read. I know they're a bit formulaic and cliche-ridden (the baddies are real baddies with almost comic-book villain names and Sharpe is a superman) but there's a lot of good writing in there, lots of drama and an amazing amount of history. I would love to give a brief synopsis but I hate spoilers and there's a bit of unexpected drama not that far in that would ruin the book for you if you ever chose to read it (there, I've already started to spoil it!). The battle of Vitoria and subsequent chaotic looting is worthy of an Oscar-winning scene in a film!
July 19, 2011
A fun installment in an entertaining fictional historical series. On the one hand, Cornwell, over time, has permitted his characters to become so much larger than life, so vivid, so robust, so cunning, that they feel like parading caricatures. Conversely, Cornwell understands what his readers enjoy, and he dishes it out in large ladles. It's always fascinating to see which characters (and, here, objects) Cornwell jettisons with the swipe of a pen, and which he retains for further use. This won't be the last Sharpe book I read....
August 1, 2018
One of the weaker installments of the series. It meanders around, the concluding showdown is ho-hum, and there's a distinct shortage of Harper.
April 10, 2023
Sharpe's Honour is the sixteenth historical novel in the Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell, first published in 1985. In the Vitoria Campaign of the Peninsula War in 1813, Sharpe is framed for murder. He must find a way to clear his name to preserve the fragile alliance between Britain and Spain during the Napoleonic Wars.
The novel opens with Sharpe and his men of the 95th Rifles fighting in the Battle of Vitoria. After the battle, a Spanish woman approaches Sharpe named La Marquesa. She tells him that her husband has been murdered and that she believes Sharpe is the killer. Sharpe denies the accusation, but he is arrested and put on trial.
At his trial, Sharpe is found guilty and sentenced to death. However, he is rescued from the gallows by his friend, Sergeant Harper. Sharpe then goes on the run, determined to clear his name, and find out who really killed La Marquesa's husband.
Sharpe's investigation leads him to a French spy named Major Pierre Ducos. Ducos is planning to broker a peace between France and Spain. He has promised to restore King Ferdinand VII to the Spanish throne in exchange for Spain signing a peace treaty and breaking their alliance with Britain.
Sharpe knows that if Ducos's plan succeeds, it will mean the end of the Peninsula War. He must stop Ducos at all costs. Sharpe tracks Ducos to a convent, where he is holding La Marquesa captive. Sharpe rescues La Marquesa and then confronts Ducos.
Ducos is killed in a fight with Sharpe, and his plan to broker a peace between France and Spain is foiled. Sharpe is cleared of all charges and is reinstated in the British army. He returns to the front lines, where he continues to fight against the French.
Sharpe's Honour is a fast-paced and exciting novel that is full of action, adventure, and intrigue. Cornwell does an excellent job of bringing the Napoleonic Wars to life. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is full of twists and turns. Sharpe's Honour is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and adventure novels.
Here are some of the things I liked about the book:
The characters are well-developed and believable. Sharpe is a complex and interesting character, and I found myself rooting for him throughout the novel.
The plot is fast-paced and exciting. There is never a dull moment in Sharpe's Honour.
The historical detail is excellent. Cornwell does an excellent job of bringing the Napoleonic Wars to life.
Overall, I enjoyed Sharpe's Honour. It is a well-written and exciting novel that I would recommend to fans of historical fiction and adventure novels.
The novel opens with Sharpe and his men of the 95th Rifles fighting in the Battle of Vitoria. After the battle, a Spanish woman approaches Sharpe named La Marquesa. She tells him that her husband has been murdered and that she believes Sharpe is the killer. Sharpe denies the accusation, but he is arrested and put on trial.
At his trial, Sharpe is found guilty and sentenced to death. However, he is rescued from the gallows by his friend, Sergeant Harper. Sharpe then goes on the run, determined to clear his name, and find out who really killed La Marquesa's husband.
Sharpe's investigation leads him to a French spy named Major Pierre Ducos. Ducos is planning to broker a peace between France and Spain. He has promised to restore King Ferdinand VII to the Spanish throne in exchange for Spain signing a peace treaty and breaking their alliance with Britain.
Sharpe knows that if Ducos's plan succeeds, it will mean the end of the Peninsula War. He must stop Ducos at all costs. Sharpe tracks Ducos to a convent, where he is holding La Marquesa captive. Sharpe rescues La Marquesa and then confronts Ducos.
Ducos is killed in a fight with Sharpe, and his plan to broker a peace between France and Spain is foiled. Sharpe is cleared of all charges and is reinstated in the British army. He returns to the front lines, where he continues to fight against the French.
Sharpe's Honour is a fast-paced and exciting novel that is full of action, adventure, and intrigue. Cornwell does an excellent job of bringing the Napoleonic Wars to life. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is full of twists and turns. Sharpe's Honour is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and adventure novels.
Here are some of the things I liked about the book:
The characters are well-developed and believable. Sharpe is a complex and interesting character, and I found myself rooting for him throughout the novel.
The plot is fast-paced and exciting. There is never a dull moment in Sharpe's Honour.
The historical detail is excellent. Cornwell does an excellent job of bringing the Napoleonic Wars to life.
Overall, I enjoyed Sharpe's Honour. It is a well-written and exciting novel that I would recommend to fans of historical fiction and adventure novels.
February 11, 2022
I definitely feel that Cornwell's writing has gotten better along the series. What I like about his writing is that they're easy to read and follow, the battle scenes are very well done, he does a great job of bringing together history and fiction and the character vignettes. I've gotten to really like Sharpe and how real he has become.
What I don't like are the elements of conflict in each book, especially the returning antagonists which is such a repetitive plot device. And the romantic interlude. Really, I'm not here to read Jane Austen or whoever the romance writers are, I don't care about it. In fact, I feel that Cornwell had to kill off his wife just so Sharpe can go philandering again.
Spoilers ahead, summary:
The background of this book is the battle of Vitoria. But the book starts off with Major Ducos (returning antagonist) trying to get rid of Sharpe and turning Spain against Britain. So he gets La Marquesa (romantic interest) to write a fake letter accusing him of indecent liberties. This leads to her husband dueling Sharpe, which ends inconclusively. Ducos instead murders him and frames Sharpe. Wellington fakes his hanging and Hogan (head of intelligence) sends Sharpe to find La Marquesa so she can explain the plot against him.
Sharpe rescues her from the convent where she has been hidden. Meanwhile escaping a Spanish priest and his partisan brother who are trying to get rid of the British so Spain can become glorious again. This comes to a head at the battle of Vitoria where the bad guys are killed or escape.
Overall, a great book except for what I said above, because those elements of conflict are repetitive and limits the plot to the same cycles of defeat and victory out of defeat. But in the last few books, Cornwell has even added recipes, comedy and historical issues and controversies of the British army at the time.
What I don't like are the elements of conflict in each book, especially the returning antagonists which is such a repetitive plot device. And the romantic interlude. Really, I'm not here to read Jane Austen or whoever the romance writers are, I don't care about it. In fact, I feel that Cornwell had to kill off his wife just so Sharpe can go philandering again.
Spoilers ahead, summary:
The background of this book is the battle of Vitoria. But the book starts off with Major Ducos (returning antagonist) trying to get rid of Sharpe and turning Spain against Britain. So he gets La Marquesa (romantic interest) to write a fake letter accusing him of indecent liberties. This leads to her husband dueling Sharpe, which ends inconclusively. Ducos instead murders him and frames Sharpe. Wellington fakes his hanging and Hogan (head of intelligence) sends Sharpe to find La Marquesa so she can explain the plot against him.
Sharpe rescues her from the convent where she has been hidden. Meanwhile escaping a Spanish priest and his partisan brother who are trying to get rid of the British so Spain can become glorious again. This comes to a head at the battle of Vitoria where the bad guys are killed or escape.
Overall, a great book except for what I said above, because those elements of conflict are repetitive and limits the plot to the same cycles of defeat and victory out of defeat. But in the last few books, Cornwell has even added recipes, comedy and historical issues and controversies of the British army at the time.
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