Sharpe's Honour

Here Cornwell departs from his usual plot of “Sharpe encounters a problem and solves by going into battle” and makes the story less straight forward.
This is a twofold benefit: Sharpe’s own story becomes more interested, unexpected and allows some significant insights into his thoughts on one hand, and allows some fascinating action to take place in Sharpe’s absence.

16th in the Richard Sharpe series.

Sharpe’s Honor does not depend so much on battle scenes (although there is one) for its excitement as it does on the ability of Sharpe to get himself involved in impossible, self-destructive situations thanks to his low flash-point temper and his never-failing lust for women. This time, he fights a duel (strictly against Wellington’s general orders), is accused of, tried for, and hanged for the murder of a Spanish grandee he did not commit, thanks to the enmity of his archenemy, the perfidious Major Duclos of French Intelligence.

Sharpe being Sharpe, he manages to outlive the noose with a little help from his friends. But his honor has been impugned and just as bad, after his conviction, he has been show more stripped of his precious commission. To regain both, he must play a game for which he is temperamentally unsuited—that of spy. In doing so, he matches wits with Duclos; their encounter in the castle of Burgosis one of the highlights of the book.

Naturally a beautiful woman is involved, and naturally Sharpe will be present at one of Wellington’s most notable victories, the Battle of Vitoria, where he crushed an entire French army (with Sharpe’s help at the crucial moment, of course).

Not quite as engaging as some of his earlier (chronologically) books, this still is an excellent read and moves Sharpe forward on his way to Waterloo. Cornwell’s Historical Note is as usual outstanding. Highly recommended. show less

Best story for a long time...nice to see a story away from the battlefield most of the time. A bit predictable at times and I find it amazing how Sharpe is rejuvenated so quickly from horrendous injury, ready to fight again :0 but that is Sharpe...gotta like him.

This one seems a little over the top to me. Vittoria is mostly off-stage, and maybe it's my fault but there's no great surprises in this book. Entertaining but not urgent.

Framed for murder Sharpe has to go on his own to discover the truth. Bit over the top.

One of the better Sharpe tales in which he must track down a renegade mercenary and a French spy who has defamed him - all while presumed to be dead.

Another really good Sharpe adventure set in Spain. Complete with Sharpe being accused . Honour is at stake...