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David McK (3814 KP) rated Sharpe's Waterloo in Books

Jul 5, 2026 - 4:04 PM  
Sharpe's Waterloo
Sharpe's Waterloo
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A novel that's not so much about the fictional Richard Sharpe, than it is about the hostorical Battle of Waterloo. Along with Austerlitz, this is, of course, probably the most famous battle of the Napoleonic wars, where Sir Arthur Wellesley (the future Duke of Wellington) Allied Anglo-Dutch army defeated the might of France and brought to an end those wars which had raged for years and years!

It's no surprise, therefore, that Cornwell has perhaps his most famous protaganist caught up in the events leading up to the battle, and then in the thick of the battle itself!
1 like
  
His Majesty's Dragon
His Majesty's Dragon
Naomi Novik | 2006 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
8.8 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
Characters (1 more)
Worldbuilding
Such an amazing story. It is hard not to fall in love with Termeraire and Lawrence.

Having his world pulled out from under him, Lawrence goes from being a captain of the British Navy to becoming a captain in the Serial Corps. Where he has to unlearn somethings and play catch-up with others in attempt to rejoin the Napoleonic Wars.

I highly recommend this book for fantasy lovers and alt history fans and more
  
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David McK (3814 KP) rated Sharpe's Waterloo (1997) in Movies

Jan 8, 2023 (Updated Jan 8, 2023)  
Sharpe's Waterloo (1997)
Sharpe's Waterloo (1997)
1997 |
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The final part in the original run of TV movies based on the Bernard Cornwell books of the same name (although there was another such book to go at the time - 'Sharpe's Devil'), in which the now-retired Sharpe - alongside Harper, Hagman and Harris - find themselves partaking in the final decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars: that of Waterloo.

As befits such an epic battle, this is an epic retelling of the events of the same (although, as always, liberties are taken and the lack of budget sometimes shows!)
  
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David McK (3814 KP) rated Sharpe's Rifles in TV

Jul 11, 2021  
Sharpe's Rifles
Sharpe's Rifles
1993 | Action
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Sean Bean as Sharpe (0 more)
Lack of Budget sometimes shows (0 more)
The first of the Sharpe adaptations from the early-to mid '90s, based on what was then the earlies set novel in Bernard Cornwell's long-running series set during the Napoleonic Wars.

I say what-was-then, because - since the culmination of the various TV movies, and even right up to date (the most recent to be released in a few months time, in late 2021), Cornwell has released plenty more such novels, quite a few of which are set even before the start of the Napoleonic Wars, never mind those set 'in-between' the core set of novels; said set of which provided the basis for the TV adaptations.

And that is what these are: an adaptation, rather than a straight re-telling. Sharpe, for instance, is supposed to be a dark haired Londoner rather than fair-haired Cockney (although Sean Bean's portrayal would win over Cornwell, who would later 'retrofit' his character to be closer to Sean Bean). That is probably for the better: literature and film, after all, are two distinct mediums: what works in one may not work in another.

To this day, though, I would still love to see a proper big-screen adaptation, with the budget to match, of one of these stories ...
  
Sharpe's Tiger (Sharpe, #1)
Sharpe's Tiger (Sharpe, #1)
Bernard Cornwell | 2003 | Fiction & Poetry
7
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Chronologically the first Sharpe book (or, at least, it is at the moment!), this was publishes as the 16th novel in the series, after the success of the 1990 Sean Bean starring TV series, which followed the original, Napoleonic-set, stories.

As such, this is actually set prior to the Napoleonic Wars, with Sharpe - as the novel starts - a young private in the regiments of Arthur Wellesley's battalion of the 33rd regiment of foot, who are on campaign in India against the Tippoo Sultan of Mysore.

For plot reasons, Sharpe - in the company of William Lawford (who was a character mentioned in the 'original series' as having taught Sharpe how to read, thus making the jump to Sergeant easier) - have to go undercover in Seringapatam, just as that city is about to be besieged by the Allied forces.

It helps that, by doing so - or so Sharpe thinks - he'll be able to escape from the tyrannical Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill: one of those creations that you just love to hate!