Product Description: Sharpe's Story is Bernard Cornwell's own account of the Sharpe series; how it began and how it has evolved over nearly thirty years.
shape's story. an interesting insight into how the series was created. would have made a nice article in a literary mag... not a book.
then to now It's the story of how Sharpe came to be. It also shows how even the author came to see Sharpe and Sean Bean became one and the same. It was a quick enjoyable read.
Actually it is the Appendix which merits the five stars!... "Cakes and Ale" I bought it as I have done with all Bernard Cornwell related to Sharpe material. The fact it is a skinny book (like Sharpe's Skirmish and Sharpe's X'mas), and what is in it (meaning the History of Sharpe books and TV series... was already very well known to me) wouldn't come as a surprise did not stopped me, because there is always something knew to learn. So, in a way I was not disappointed at all, I did not knew some funny anecdotes, and other not so funny related to the books and the TV series. That alone was worth the price (ouch... happy it goes for charity though) of the little book. What is really worth your time is the tale of the "peculiar" Bernard Wiggins infancy... as a piece of information it is truly revealing and in a way explains why Richard Sharpe has so much anger inside... I do not blame it a bit... I can't stand zealots or proselytists myself. I read it on one sitting... and I have to confess I skipped the extracts of the books (I already knew them ... not by heart... but nearly), I do not agree about the TV series... even if Sean Bean is well casted... I love much more the books!... insufficient "numbers" of "extras" were a big disappointment when I bought the VHS tapes (in their time)... and I have not bothered to buy them in DVD... What I did not knew, and had escaped me when reading the ACW novels is that Patrick Lassan... IS... OF COURSE!!!... Sharpe's son!!!... one probably focus too much on the narrative and do not relate one series to the others!... IT WAS A GOAL BERNARD CORNWELL MADE! (and the ball passed between my legs!!!). I just hope Patrick Lassan is (why not) the protagonist of a future novel set in the Crimea and he rides in the Chasseurs d'Afrique to the rescue of the remains of the light brigade... (THAT NOVEL WOULD BE A MUST READ MR. CORNWELL!!!). Well, stopping my wishful thinking... if you buy this book you will learn why "Sweet William" was so named... and after whom... and a lot of juicy anecdotes akin. IT IS ABOUT TIME HE DELIVERS ANOTHER ONE!... after all he always says: Sharpe and Harper will march again... (and hopefully US with them...)
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Should be a free one page promotion rather than a book. This book started as a free promotion. What is useful could be summarized on the front and back of a single page.
Sharpe's Story A good summary of the background of Sharpe. The autobio of Cornwell was interesting, but had no relationship to the main theme - looked like padding.
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