4.5* ( )

En julio de 1809, Richard Sharpe es ascendido a Capitán. Choca con un coronel incompetente y se gana un enemigo peligroso. Mientras Sharpe lidera a sus hombres en la batalla de Talavera, sabe que debe luchar por el honor del regimiento y su futura carrera.

Fairly enjoyable (read spontaneously when an inexplicable interest in the Napoleonic era swept over me). Chapters tend to feel very episodic with most feeling like a self-contained story which made it hard to care about what was next and therefore keep reading, but the last few dealing with the major battle have more momentum and I read 4 of them in a sitting. Never read Cornwell before and I don't know if his habit here of repeated character description is part of his style (I lost count of how many times he used the phrase "the tall rifleman" to describe Sharpe) but it was a bit grating. I also rolled my eyes at one character who existed only to be brutalised in order to give Sharpe motivation but that may have been a sign of the times (1981). Would try more of these but not in a hurry. ( )

1 Roguish Captain Risen from the Ranks
1 Easy-Going Irish Sergeant who Fights as Fearsomely as Cuchulainn
1 Crackshot Poacher
1 Light Company at their Command

Wellington! (Arthur Wellesley Variety)
Talavera
1 Striking Display of Pride and Incompetence
1 Exploding Bridge
3 Lost Colours
1 Near Mutiny
1 Career in Tatters

1 Lovely Lady from Lisbon
1 Frighteningly Appearance-Obsessed Officer
1 Nasty Nephew (Lieutenant)
Revenge

1 Lazy, Incompetent and Fearful Army of Allies
Several Columns of French Infantry
Scattered French Voltigeur Skirmishers (Deadly Variety)
1 Dutch Battalion
1 Napoleonic Eagle ( )

Will Sharpe prevail? Of course he will. Will he get the girl? Of course. Will he lose the girl? Uh huh. Will he get into trouble with British military command? You bet. Will he be in a big battle somewhere near the end of the book? You got it.

So okay, Cornwell writes formulaic books. I still love 'em. Sharpe is great, his adventures are exciting, and you actually learn some history. ( )