“Sharpe’s Eagle” — book review | |
Today’s review is for “Sharpe’s Eagle” (1981©) written by Bernard Cornwell. This book was the first in the “Sharpe” book series which became (in the 1990’s) the Sharpe television series. I became aware of the character via this TV series while living in Liverpool and was reminded of them when they came up as a suggestion in YouTube. | |
Richard Sharpe is a sergeant in the British army in Spain fighting against Napoleon Bonaparte and his French army. Sharpe saves the life of the commanding general who then gives Sharpe a field promotion to Lieutenant. The series tracks Sharpe’s rise through the officer ranks. This book jumps in with Sharpe as a Captain and then begins dropping bits about how he got that far. | |
The book revolves around two main battles. The first where his regiment loses the “King’s colors” (the British Flag) and Sharpe personally recovers his Regimental colors. The two flags are normally kept fairly close together on a battlefield and if you lose one, you generally lose both. The second battle is to win a Regimental Eagle, which is the French equivalent of the British Regimental colors. The first battle is purely fictional, while the second is dramatized history – so, basically fictionalized history. The battle occurred, the eagle capture did not. | |
So, is the book any good? Entertaining? Interesting? Yes. Yes. And, yes. I can easily see why this book became both a book series and a TV series. Of course, I like historical fiction, military stories (and fiction), and good old action novels (and movies). It is not “very” realistic that Sharpe survives the battles, let alone the book or series, but setting that aside, the book is actually much better at explaining the battles than the TV series. The TV series was significantly scaled back, but it still retained the flavor of the book. For example, in the battle where the flag (King’s color) is lost, the book’s battle is a battalion size engagement. In the TV show, it’s a company fight. | |
One other point. The author (Cornwell) is a serious military historical expert on the Napoléonic period and the book is full of details which high-lights his expertise in period tactics, weapons, social classes, food and geography. | |
Final recommendation: highly recommended!! As I said, I saw some of the various series back in the 1990’s, so I jumped in with the YouTube offering. I then read the book and re-watched this particular episode in the TV series again. The episode was even better after reading the book. I will add there were “somewhat” significant differences in the two versions, but (again), perfectly understandable given the time and space a book gives you and the cost limitations a TV adaptation does not allow. And, yes, I bought a number of books in the series, so you’ll be seeing posts on those as I get through them. | |
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On This Day In: | |
2019 | #45: Who Lost By Three Million Votes |
2018 | Torn Between Two Loves |
A Girl And A Boy | |
2017 | I Think They Are Starting To… |
2016 | Living There |
2015 | Bookin’ West |
Beyond My Reach | |
You Never Call Anymore… | |
2014 | Winning? |
2013 | Still Inventing |
2012 | Motivated |
2011 | Waiting In Line At Starbuck’s |
Posts Tagged ‘Napoléon Bonaparte’
Golden Eagle
Posted in 2020 Book Review, Book Review, History, Reading, Reviews, tagged 2020 Book Review, Bernard Cornwell, French Regimental Eagle, Highly Recommended Book, Historical Military Fiction, King's Colors, Liverpool, Napoléon Bonaparte, Richard Sharpe, Sharpe's Eagle -- book review, YouTube on April 4, 2020| Leave a Comment »
#45 Is The Inverse
Posted in Politics, Quotes, tagged #IncompetentTrump, Ability, Napoléon Bonaparte, Opportunity, Politics, Quotes on November 21, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Ability is of little account without opportunity. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
[And, without a tremendous amount of luck, opportunity is of little account without ability. This is the legacy and tragedy of the #IncompetentTrump Administration. He is not even smart or competent enough to hire the best people and get out of their way. Then, he could have taken all the credit – which he was intent on doing anyway. — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | A Message To The White House Press Corps |
2017 | Eeny Meeny Miny Moe |
Binge, Binge, Binge | |
2016 | Feeling Warm Yet? |
Four Documentaries | |
2015 | Just Like All The Others |
2014 | In My Own Vanity |
2013 | Filled With Words |
2012 | Lectio Auget Existentiae Meae |
2011 | Lied Lately? |
2010 | Born To Work At Faux News |
Lost Again (Uh, Make That Still) | |
Qui Genus Humanum Ingenio Superavit | |
They’re Back… (Part 1) | |
Are You Moving?
Posted in Leadership, Quotes, Reading, tagged Leaders, Napoléon Bonaparte, Quotes, Readers on April 25, 2019| 3 Comments »
Show me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | We Can Only Pray |
2017 | Heavier At That End |
2016 | The Difference Is Craftsmanship |
2015 | However Vast The Darkness |
2014 | The Omnipresent Teacher |
2013 | Don’t Waste |
2012 | Earning Thanks |
2011 | Fuzzy Vision |
2010 | Movies and Book |
As I Recall
Posted in Quotes, tagged Judgment, Memory, Napoléon Bonaparte, Quotes on April 8, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Ordinarily men exercise their memory much more than their judgment. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2018 | Effective Violence And A Government At Risk |
2017 | Playing The Same Music |
2016 | Survival Instinct |
2015 | Tears |
2014 | Bourne Again (4) |
2013 | God’s Protection |
2012 | Happy Easter!! |
Edge, Class, Clash, And Flight | |
The Value Of Bureaucracies | |
2011 | Logic Cuts |
Fear, Racism And Greed
Posted in Politics, Quotes, tagged Fear, Napoléon Bonaparte, Politics, Quotes, Racism, Vices, Virtues on July 2, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Men are more easily governed through their vices than through their virtues. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | We Can Figure This Out |
2016 | Just Enough |
2015 | Bourne Bond |
Springs Eternal | |
2014 | Brains First |
2013 | Not Listening Anymore |
2012 | At Your Marks! |
2011 | We Are Not Alone |
Underlying Rationality | |
2010 | Is the Obama Administration Failing? |
In Other Words… | |
Quite Please! | |
In A Hostage Situation… | |
Are We Done Yet? | |
In Order… | |
Flip-flopping… | |
Proof of Choice… | |
On “Leading” A Democracy To War… | |
Actually, It’s All About Me… | |
Still Going…
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Courage, Napoléon Bonaparte, Persistence, Philosophy, Strength on January 12, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2017 | Great Risk |
2016 | Robbery |
2015 | Humanity Plus |
2014 | Dinner For Two? |
2013 | Exercise For Those Over 50 |
2012 | Tearful Joy!! |
Except When He’s Left | |
Proof Sits In The Oval Office
Posted in Politics, Quotes, tagged #DumbDonald, Napoléon Bonaparte, Politics, Quotes, Stupidity on September 29, 2017| Leave a Comment »
In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2016 | Tragic Determinism |
2015 | Maybe It Should Be Clearer |
2014 | Make It Your Strength |
2013 | Four Score |
2012 | The Ruler |
2011 | Forever |
2010 | Just Cuz |
How Do You Mend A Broken Heart? | |
It’s Alive!! (3rd Pair Shoe Review) | |
The Soul Of Victory
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Napoléon Bonaparte, Philosophy, Quotes on August 2, 2017| Leave a Comment »
It’s the unconquerable soul of man, and not the nature of the weapon he uses, that ensures victory. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2016 | Getting Furrowed? |
2015 | Pretty Good So Far |
2014 | Still Learning? |
There Ain’t No Thing Like Me, ‘Cept Me! | |
2013 | Little Lives |
2012 | Evolution |
2011 | Excellence At Performance = 10,000 Hours |
2009 | A Brief Poem… |
Crater Lake Trip with James | |
Towards No Regret
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Education, Ignorance, Napoléon Bonaparte, Philosophy, Quotes on November 20, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | 109 And Beyond |
2014 | Are You Waiting? |
2013 | Traditional Human Sacrifice |
2012 | A Division Of Men |
2011 | Miles, Legends and Superwoman |
Got Tragedy? | |
2010 | My Company For A Prince!! |
On The Shoulders Of Titans | |
Two Weeks To Go…
Posted in Politics, Quotes, tagged Napoléon Bonaparte, On Undecideds, On Voting, Politics, Quotes on October 25, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
[Are there really still ANY undecideds left? — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Remembering |
2014 | The Creeping Death Of Civilization |
Orange October (X) – A Blue Morning Turns Into An Orange Evening | |
2013 | License Problem |
2012 | Giants Win Game 2 Of The 2012 World Series 2 To 0!!! |
Adage, n. | |
Questions Women Should Ask Before Voting… | |
2011 | What Are You Looking At? |
All About Control
Posted in Leadership, Politics, Quotes, tagged Leadership, Napoléon Bonaparte, On Chaos, On Conflict, On Control, Politics, Quotes on May 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2015 | Liberty Is Extravagant |
2014 | Always Remember To Reach |
Have You Registered To Vote Yet? | |
2013 | Ripples From The Water’s Edge |
Because I Was Alone | |
2012 | POI vs Reality |
Dear And Sacred | |
2011 | Chilled Again |
Reverberating Silence
Posted in Leadership, Quotes, tagged Leadership, Napoléon Bonaparte, Quotes, Silence, World Suffering on December 11, 2015| Leave a Comment »
The world suffers a lot. Not because the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2014 | Wrong Again? |
2013 | Improper Faith |
2012 | One More Rung |
2011 | Sunday Morning Earlies (Hugging trees and smiling…) |
Hurry | |
Updates On Life | |
2010 | It’s Gettin’ Deep In Here |
Wanna Trade?
Posted in Quotes, tagged Napoléon Bonaparte, On Success, Quotes on November 1, 2015| 2 Comments »
The reason most people fail instead of succeed is they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2014 | Brothers And Friends |
2013 | So Suddenly |
2012 | At The Center |
2011 | Live Long And Thinner |
Got Health? | |
2010 | SF Giants – 2010 World Series Champions!!! |
52 – 54 – 56 – 58 | |
2009 | Diet Update |
Pictures from Chicago Trip… | |
For Awhile Anyway
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Faith, Napoléon Bonaparte, On Religion, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Religion In Politics on October 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet. Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
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On This Day In: | |
2014 | By Contrast |
2013 | A Very Long Time… |
2012 | Raise And Support |
2011 | Naturally |
2010 | A Quick Sunday Morning Read |
Giants Win Game 4 In Shutout 4 to 0!!! | |
Princess
Posted in Faith Family and Friends, Humor, Leadership, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Daughters, Family, Happy Birthday Rebecca, Humor, Leadership, Mark Twain, Muhammad Ali, Napoléon Bonaparte, Philosophy, Quotes on September 23, 2015| Leave a Comment »
Hi Princess, | |
Here’s three quotes for you: | |
I have been complimented many times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they have not said enough. | |
– Mark Twain | |
From a speech given on 23 September 1907 | |
[A good day! — KMAB] | |
Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent. | |
― Napoléon Bonaparte | |
[Be heard! — KMAB] | |
Live everyday as if it were your last because someday you’re going to be right. | |
― Muhammad Ali | |
[Make every day count… — KMAB] | |
Happy Birthday! | |
We love you always, | |
Mum and Dad | |
XXX |
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On This Day In: | |
2014 | Optional |
2013 | Happy Birthday, Rebecca |
2012 | Be Not Old |
2012 National League Western Division Champions!!! | |
2011 | What Kind Of Work Do You Do? |
2010 | Another Loser… And Come November |