Erika (17788 KP) rated Fools and Mortals in Books
Jan 24, 2021
This probably wasn't the best book of his to start with, I didn't read any reviews prior to starting this. Had I, I probably would have opted out.
The novel is centered around Shakespeare's younger brother, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Richard Shakespeare wasn't a really interesting character, and had an insta-love story, in the middle of the mystery of the stolen plays.
Overall, just meh. Maybe I'll attempt to read something else by Cornwell? Maybe not.
Sharpe's Enemy (1994)
Movie
TV movie based on the Bernard Cornwell novel of the same name, in which Sharpe is entrusted with...
David McK (3222 KP) rated The Flame Bearer (the Last Kingdom Series, Book 10) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
The series as a whole has dealt with the forging of what ias now knwon as England, with Alfred (the Great) palying a key role in the earlier novels, and with the later novels dealing with events following his death. Although he is a pagan and Alfred was a Christian, Uhtred has played a key role in many of the events depicted - mostly (as with nearly all of [a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1240500522p2/12542.jpg]'s novels) all based on or around real historical events.
I say mostly, as this is one of the few rare exceptions (being nearly all fiction), with the author himself admitting as much in the Afterword to this particular tale.
Fools and Mortals
Book
A dramatic new departure for international bestselling author Bernard Cornwell, FOOLS AND MORTALS...
Azincourt
Book
Bernard Cornwell, the New York Times bestselling “the reigning king of historical fiction” (USA...
David McK (3222 KP) rated Under Enemy Colours: Charles Hayden Book 1 in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Having said that, I would've replaced O'Brian reference with CS Forester: some of the events contained in the book have more than a passing resemblance to some of those in the Hornblower novels! The Cornwell reference, though, is pretty much spot on: an outsider officer (naval, in this case) who must contend with both his own immediate superiors as well as the enemy ... sound familiar at all?
Still, I'll be keeping an eye out for the sequel!
David McK (3222 KP) rated Outlaw (The Outlaw Chronicles, #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Robin Hood, Robin Hood, and his bunch of blood-thirsty murderous outlaws ..."
Doesn't have quite the same ring, does it?
"Outlaw" is the story of Robin Hood, told from the perspective of Alan Dale. Like Bernard Cornwell's series of books about King Arthur (indeed, my copy of the book even had a "As good as Bernard Cornwell or your money back" sticker on it), Outlaw is a more earthy, more 'real', telling of the famous tale. All the famous characters are here: Robin Hood, Maid Marie-Anne (Marion), Little John, Friar Tuck, Guy of Gisbourne, and (obviously) Alan Dale himself.
Forget the recent BBC adaptation, or even the '91 film starring a not-very-English Kevin Costner; this is more what Robin Hood would have been like (if he ever existed) than the over-romanticised legendary figure.
Worth a read? If you like Cornwell (or Simon Scarrow's) style of historical fiction, then my answer is a definite yes.
Sharpe's Eagle (1993)
Movie
Sharpe is a Captain saddled with the South Essex, a battalion run by incompetents, and filled with...
Sharpe's Command (Sharpe # 14)
Book
SHARPE IS BACK. The brand new novel from Bernard Cornwell in the globally bestselling Sharpe...
David McK (3222 KP) rated Warriors of the Storm in Books
Jan 28, 2019
I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say that we're now (well) past the death of Alfred (the only English monarch to ever be given the epitaph 'the Great'), with Uhtred now in late middle-age (for us), and still eager to reclaim his ownership of Bebbanburg.
The novel, however, concerns itself more with raids made by Ragnall Iverson, with his motives initially unclear: does he come to rape and pillage? To attack Chester? To take control of the Danish kingdom of Northumbria?
Ragnall, however, is related to Uhtred through marriage, so his loyalties remain in doubt to the rulers of the land, with Uhtred eventually disobeying orders and sailing to Ireland (and back), for reasons that become clear in the plot.
Another strong entry in the series; perhaps not the strongest, but still pretty good.