Sharpe's Prey

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Bernard Cornwell

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Pages: 304 (Paperback)

ISBN: 0006513107

Pub: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Pub date: 2002-06-05

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 10806

Editorial Review:

All of the Sharpe novels, not just the new one, Sharpe's Prey, feature genuinely complex plotting in which the reader is kept engaged not just by a central conflict but by a whole host of subplots handled as adeptly as his main narrative. How does Bernard Cornwell maintain such a high standard in his tales of historical derring-do and danger? The genre is a touch overcrowded these days, but Cornwell is unquestionably in the upper echelons, with a consistency that must give most of his rivals pause. It isn't just the formula that makes these books work so well (high-powered, vividly described action, conflicted protagonists risking both their lives and careers, impressive historical detail), it is another factor that has distinguished the author's books since his early work.
The year is 1807; Lieutenant Richard Sharpe is planning to leave the army. Against his better judgment, he is persuaded to accompany the Hon John Lavisser to Copenhagen in what is essentially an act of political skulduggery: they are to deliver a bribe and (hopefully) avert a war. But with the French ensuring that Europe remains at boiling point, Sharpe finds himself protecting his charge against French agents and struggling to ensure that the Danish battle fleet is not used to replace every French ship destroyed at Trafalgar. Sharpe is a character we know well and like, and his customary characteristics (tenacity, bloody-mindedness) are well to the fore here, but, as always, the other characters are equally strikingly drawn: Lavisser is a splendidly complex figure, as are several of Sharpe's nemeses. But it's that wonderfully adroit orchestration of action and plot that keeps the pulse racing, with the bombardment of Copenhagen and the massive bloodshed resulting in a truly impressive set piece:
Sharpe, from his vantage point on the dune, could see the smoke wreathing the wall. The city's copper spires and red roofs showed above the churning cloud. A dozen houses were burning there, fired by the Danish shells that hissed across the canal. Three windmills had their sales tethered against the blustering wind that blew the smoke westwards and fretted the moored fleet to the north of Copenhagen.

--Barry Forshaw

Reader Reviews:

Sharpe goes spying (0/0 people found this helpful)

This is a rather unusual Sharpe-novel (of those I've read at least) in that it does not involve any major battle or campaign with Sharpe in the thick of the action. In `Sharpe's prey' we find him behind enemy lines in Copenhagen in a merciless struggle with French spies, while the city is being besieged by the English to capture the Danish war fleet.

But however unusual the setting, all the familiar characteristics of a good Sharpe-novel are present: an gripping plot, a love-interest, grim opponents, and lots of action. It kept me turning pages as much as any other Sharpe-novel!

Cornwell continues his betrayal (0/3 people found this helpful)

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?

Good enough for existing fans..but won't attract newcomers (12/12 people found this helpful)

I've read all the other Sharpe novels, so it was inevitable that I would get round to this one sooner or later.
If you are a fan, you'll probably read it anyway. If not, I suggest you start elsewhere.
Not that this is badly written, but given its position in the chronology of the character (early but not at the start) and that it is the umpteenth book written by Cornwell about his most famous character (Richard Sharpe) I would be hard pressed to say it offered anything new or insightful about the character or the period.

A bit of background might help those who are interested.
Richard Sharpe is a fictional soldier in the British Army during the Napoleonic period.
The earliest novel (so far) is set in India in the 1799 and the latest is set in South America (mostly) in 1820-21, but the core novels and the earliest written are set in the Peninsular war (Britain & Portugal vs. France in conquered Spain) between 1809 and 1812 leading inevitably to Belgium and the fields at Waterloo.
If you can think of a major (or even minor) British military engagement in that time period, Cornwell has written a Richard Sharpe book about it (except the 'War of 1812' ..but it may yet come if he can get Sharpe there and back before waterloo).

This novel is set pre 1809 in the lovely city of Copenhagen and tells the story of the British attack on the city. The device that gets Sharpe there is a plot to bribe the Prince of Denmark into surrendering his fleet to the Brits to prevent the French from getting their hands on it (as a replacement for the fleet they lost at Trafalgar).
I wasn't aware previously that we had attacked Denmark or that we shelled the population of Copenhagen into surrender...not a particularly nice episode in our distinguished past, but given our record in WW2 it shouldn't have been a surprise, so Cornwell gets an extra point for that.
Otherwise it is rather formulaic and while an entertaining enough read, does nothing to challenge the reader or their preconceptions about the lead character. We know so much about Richard Sharpe from the other novels (joined the army to escape poverty, became a sergeant and was raised from the ranks to become an Officer for saving the {future} Duke of Wellington's life in India) that this is just another slice of boy’s own adventure.

I'd give it three stars, because its only for fans of the series.

Sharpe's prey - one of the best (0/0 people found this helpful)

This Audio book is one of the best in a long line of Bernard Cornwell Audio books. With William Gaminara reading the entire series of unabridged books it maintains a continuety and style that is evident from the first chapter.

The miriad of voices used in the narration of this book make it come alive in a way that the paber version of it never could. all in all this is one of the best Sharpe Books.

If a good read is your prey, then seek out Sharpe's Prey! (2/2 people found this helpful)

Richard Sharpe marches again, somewhat reluctantly, in this episode of the popular series.Bernard Cornwell continues to give us more of the Sharpe we love by going back in time and picking out interesting chapters from his life, times and adventures. In this offering, we find Richard desperate to leave the army he loves because of the difficuly he's dealing with after the death of his love and the frustration he's feeling as an unappreciated quartermaster. He's an officer, but not the kind he yearns to be, so he is seeking a way out. We find a personally ruthless...though justified ( at least in his own eyes )Sharpe who is willing and able to claw, gouge, stab and slash his way out of a bad situation to get to what seems a better one, though as usual, not everyting is as it seems to Richard. This novel is quite flavorful, as Richard travels to Copenhagen and deals with a people, a language and a situation he's unfamiliar with, though his familiarity with swords, guns and danger serves him well while there. I found myself wanting this read to go on longer than it's 261 pages, but also always find the compactness of these books to be refreshing and invigorating. Soldier on Richard Sharpe! I am prey to your adventures and, like your men, will follow you wherever you go!

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