Sharpe's Trafalgar

Bernard Cornwell

Average Rating 6/10 (1 Review)

It is 1805 and ensign Richard Sharpe is on his way home from India. The voyage should be a period of rest but his ship is riven with treachery and is threatened by a formidable French warship, the Revenant, which is terrorising British shipping in the Indian Ocean.

An old opponent of Sharpe's is aboard his ship, and the voyage is further disturbed by the Lady Grace Hale, apparently as unreachable as she is beautiful. Sharpe also has friends, notably a captain of the Royal Navy who is hunting the Revenant and who rescues Sharpe when all seems lost.

The hunt turns into a stern chase as the French warship races home, carrying a treaty that could ignite India into a new war against the British. When the Revenant encounters the combined French and Spanish fleets of Cadiz it seems that Sharpe's enemies have found safety, even as his enemies on board appear to have him trapped.

Yet over the horizon is another fleet, led by Nelson, and Sharpe's revenge will come in a savage climax when the two armadas meet on a calm October day off Cape Trafalgar.

'Cornwell's narration of this epic sea-battle is quite masterly and supremely well researched'

Observer

Review by Paul (310501) Rating (6/10)

Review by Paul
Rating 6/10
I have read several Sharpe books in the past and have to say that this isn't one of my favourites. The story line starts fairly well with a semi-plausible plot, however after sailing from India the story rapidly loses direction and becomes more like a ships diary than a Sharpe book.

The only redeeming factor is Bernard Cornwell's ability to describe battles, the description of Trafalgar concentrates on the action surrounding Sharpe and not on the whole event but in reality this would be all that anybody aboard would see and so is all the more realistic for it.

Although I can't say it is up to Cornwell's usual standard it is an enjoyable read, if you don't expect too much.
Paul (31st May 2001)