Book Review: Sharpe's Tiger by Bernard Cornwell
It's a slightly different story than usual for this post. This story moves away from my typical sci-fi/fantasy reads and instead heads back into Earth's history and focuses on an unlikely hero called Sharpe. Why did I pick up this book? I have fond memories of the TV series with Sean Bean, and secondly, due to its link to Dan Abnett’s Gaunt’s Ghost series.
Book Details
Title: Sharpe's Tiger (Sharpe #1)
Author: Bernard Cornwell
Publisher: Harper Collins
Type: Paperback
Page Count: 384
Fluff: Richard Sharpe avoids the tyrannical Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill and endeavours to rescue a British officer from under the nose of the Tippoo of Mysore.
But in fleeing Hakeswill, Sharpe enters the exotic and dangerous world of the Tippoo. An adventure that will require all of his wits to stay alive, let alone save the British army from catastrophe.
Soldier, hero, rogue – Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks with sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles, whose green jacket he proudly wears.
Review
This is my first Bernard Cornwell book, and it will not be the last! Richard Sharpe is a downtrodden soldier in the British Army. Growing bored of the constant marching, Sharpe dreams of escaping the army and starting a fresh life elsewhere. Sadly, that isn't going to happen in this book.
Cornwell created a character you can't help but like. He is a classic anti-hero with valid reasoning behind his actions. Sharpe is also willing to do anything to get the job done, even if it means leaving a loved one behind. But no main character can act alone, and lucky for Sharpe, he has some fantastic supporting characters. First is Obadiah Hakeswill, a lowly educated psychopath who will betray everyone to progress in the army and stay alive. Then we have the British Officers who lord it over the common man and seem more of a villain than the actual villains. Finally, we have the Tippoo of Mysore, an utterly ruthless dictator who refuses to stand down in the face of the British Military. He is a fantastic character with some of the best sidekicks in the book. Who wouldn't love men eating Tigers and skull-crushing strong men? Yep, smashing nails completely through a man’s skull is disgusting!!
Overall, it is a fantastic start to the series, and I highly recommend it. I am excited to see how Sharpe travels from India and the Rajah Wars to the end of the Napoleonic wars. So watch this space and make sure you follow my blog to stay up to date with what I am up to.
