linaewen: (Sharpe by wizzicons)
Linaewen ([personal profile] linaewen) wrote2006-03-20 11:30 am

Speaking of books...

... there's a new Sharpe a'coming! Here's a picture of a possible book cover for Sharpe's Fury, due out in October, if we're lucky.



Here's the synopsis of the plot from Amazon.co.uk:

"This is the long-awaited twenty-first novel in the number one bestselling series featuring Richard Sharpe. A welcome return to Richard Sharpe finds him fighting his old enemies, the French, at the extraordinary battle of Barossa in 1811. Sharpe has been sent by Wellington on a mission to Cadiz, now the capital of Spain, to rescue the British ambassador - who happens to be Wellington's brother - from a spot of undiplomatic trouble. The city has been blockaded by the French but is supported by the British from the sea. It contains a rare mix of pro and anti-British Spanish, diplomats, courtiers, adventurers and spies. Sharpe's mission - complicated, undercover and political - turns out to be completely different from the one on which he was sent. It brings him through the besieging enemy army to triumph in the battle of Barossa where the British, deserted by their allies, defeat the overwhelmingly stronger French force."

Here's what Bernard Cornwell has to say about it, in response to a question from a fan at his website:

"I THINK the title will be Sharpe's Fury, but I'm not sure. It ought to be published in October, 2006, in the UK, but that depends on me finishing it, and presently I'm swanning around the Far East instead of working (tut). I probably won't be doing a book tour, because I think I've done too many lately. Yes, we will post a teaser chapter when it's done. Why Barossa? I never had any intention of sending Sharpe there - it wasn't fought in Wellington's campaign area, and Sharpe has no business being there at all - but three years ago we were invited to a wedding at Jerez de la Frontera and I realised to my delight that we weren't so far rom Barossa so that meant I could explore yet another battlefield - and I became so enthusiastic about it after that visit that poor Sharpe was doomed to go there..."

That's going on my wish list, for sure -- whee!

[identity profile] my-cocoon.livejournal.com 2006-03-20 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Story sounds like when Sharpe went to South America to save/find Senor Don Blass.

"The Sharpe'r we get the Sharpe'r we feel."

Looking forward to it, but the US printing will most likely be later or even 07 so we shall have to order via Amazon for Christmas me thinks.

[identity profile] lothithil.livejournal.com 2006-03-20 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Gimme! Gimme-gimme-gimme!

[identity profile] boriel.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
now, i wonder where this book fits in the actual order of books? because if its in the middle somewhere that means i have to put off rereading the books until about august :)

[identity profile] lin4gondor.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
I'm a sucker for any opportunity to do research, so I looked up the Battle of Barossa that supposedly figures in this one, and it took place in March 1811. So that puts it after Sharpe's Escape (1810) and before Sharpe's Battle (May 1811). Guess that makes it about in the middle of the series, as you feared.

That sounds like a good thing to do, though -- reread them all in order again. Let me know when you start, and I'll do the same!

[identity profile] boriel.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
lol i think probably around august 1st. if i only read at night in bed (about 1.5 hr on average i guess) then i can do a book in maybe two weeks maximum? thats 2 books per month, which puts me to .... i just went and looked at my sharpe books, and you lknow what? i dont have escape or battle! thats weird! now i'm all paranoid, did i have them and misplace them? or did i not know about those? oooooh! i have to go to cornwell's site and figure this out lol

[identity profile] lin4gondor.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
Battle is the one you sent me with Cornwell's autograph, I think you said you had replaced it, but maybe you didn't! Escape is newish, I have it in hardcover. Is that one Tom is sending or a different one?

[identity profile] boriel.livejournal.com 2006-03-21 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
ah yes! that would explain why i have two not there... yes, thats the one i sent you and i forgot to replace it cause i've already read it :)

and yes, i think thats the one tom is sending me. so back to my original train of thought lol.

if i read 2 books per month, i should start july. that gives me the new one around november 1st. the only problem with that is holidays are in august for 2 weeks and i'm sure to take books with me :) i either start later, and read a few on holiday, or i start july 1st (canada day) and dont read sharpe on holiday lol