Free Downloads Sharpe's Christmas: Two Short Stories (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series)
'Sharpe's Christmas' contains two short stories. In the title story Richard Sharpe, commanding the Prince of Wales's Own Volunteers, finds himself in a high, hard place with an enemy brigade on one side and a desperate force of Frenchmen fleeing their defeat in Spain on the other. The second story, 'Sharpe's Ransom', is set in France, after the wars, when old enemies take Sharpe's woman and child hostage.
Paperback: 104 pages
Publisher: Sharpe Appreciation Society; First Edition edition (September 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0972222014
ISBN-13: 978-0972222013
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.3 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #32,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #3 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Short Stories & Anthologies > Short Stories #27 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Action & Adventure > Short Stories #233 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Historical > Military
After reading the whole Sharpe series twice I decided to go ahead and purchase this book. At first I didn;t know what to expect, I figured it would be over just as quick as it started. This is the case, 60 pages takes maybe an hour to read. But the story, like always, grabs you from the start and keeps you reading.These books are pretty much for Sharpe fans only, little about Sharpe is given away through these books. It is just a quick Sharpe adventure. I particulary liked Ransom.These two stories are a must for any Sharpe fan out there.5 Stars.
Unlike other publishers, this one numbers white pages, the copyright page, etc. There are 87 pages of actual text. Like Sharpe's Skirmish, this volume contains stories that were rewritten and republished as a fundraising effort. The price is somewhat high, but consider it a contribution to a worthwhile cause. They were originally published as Christmas stories in the "Daily Mail." The stories are very good, the first taking place on Christmas 1813 on the border between France and Spain. The second takes place in Normandy on a Christmas Eve following Waterloo.While the first story deals with military action against the French, and Sharp meets an old acquaintance from India, the second deals with the conditions in France following the war, when unemployed soldiers became marauders. Sharp deals with an old enemy that he previously allowed to live, and finally settles in, at least for a time, on a farm in Normandy.In a way, the second story deals with the question of disbanding armies after a war that lasted over 20 years. What do men do when they no longer have military employment?
i'm like an addict for cornwell's sharpe series. like 'sharpe's skirmish' before it, this is previously released material now presented in book form. here we get two (very) short stories, both taking place at christmas. in the first ('sharpe's christmas'), major sharpe is given the task of blocking the retreat of a french garrison, as another french brigade approaches from the rear. blood and mayhem ensue, but so does some rare french/english amity.the second story, 'sharpe's ransom', takes place shortly after waterloo and sharpe has retired on half-pay to the french farmlands of normandy with lucille. some french hussars take lucille and their boy, patrick, hostage. how sharpe rescues them and at the same time wins over the reticent village fills the rest of the story.once again, reading these stories was like visiting with an old friend. there's nothing really new here, but it warms the heart.
This book actually contains two short stories by the creator of Richard Sharp, Bernard Cornwell. These stories were originally published for the Christmas edition of an English newpaper but have been rewritten due to a "number of words" restriction in the original publication.The two stories, "Sharpe's Christmas and Sharpe's Ransom" are written with the usual Sharpe's appeal and both relate in some round about way to the Christmas Spirit present even in tough guy Richard Sharpe. Both stories were extremely likeable and after reading all the Sharpe novels these were a pleasant addition to the saga. Anyone who is a fan of the series will like these two tales. The only drawback is that they could have been novelettes instead of short stories.Len BrandenburgCincinnati, OH
To begin, this is definately for Sharpe fans only. But, for those, it is a must have. I gave it three out of five stars, but have done so conditionally.Sharpe's Christmas consists of two short stories originally published in the Daily Mail. The first story, Sharpe's Christmas, I could only give two stars. It is Sharpe warmed over.The second story, Sharpe's Ransom, is well worth the price of admission. I would give it four maybe even five stars. Having read all the books, I found it is much more enjoyable visiting with the retired major on the farm than following him back to Spain.P.S. - let's see Sean Bean in Sharpe's Devil
Two short stories written for a newspaper, The Daily Mail, at Christmas time. The first story takes place in December 1813. Britain has defeated the French in Spain and wants to prevent them from retreating back into France to rejoin Napoleon's army. Richard Sharpe and 422 rifles are assigned the unenviable task of defending a tight pass through the hills at a small village called Irati, made up of mostly shepherds. The retreating French, over 1,000 strong, are led by Colonel Jean Gudin, a man with whom Sharpe actually fought with in India, and came to deeply respect. Gudin is despised and opposed by his own Colonel Caillou, who believes Gudin to be a soft-hearted coward for refusing to leave women and children behind in their retreat.The 2nd story takes place in December 1815, after the war, when Sharpe is now living with the French widow Lucille Lassan on her farm in Normandy. While out hunting foxes, Sharpe notices 6 men approaching his farmhouse. By the time he returns, they have taken his wife and son hostage. They are former French soldiers who know about Sharpe having stolen back Napoleon's gold after it had been first taken by the ruthless French spy Major Pierre Ducos. Sharpe doesn't tell them he didn't keep the gold, but leads them to believe he still has it so he can find a way to overpower them and save his wife and son. In doing so, he enlists the help of the town who has been spiteful and rejecting of an ex-English soldier living among them. Both short stories are vintage Bernard Cornwell, one of the finest writers of today. His plots are intelligent and engaging, his heroes are likeable and inspiring, his villains are despicable, his stories are unpredictable and creative, and his endings are always satisfying.
Sharpe's Christmas: Two Short Stories (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series) Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever / El mejor libro de palabras de Richard Scarry (Richard Scarry's Best Books Ever) (English, Multilingual and Spanish Edition) Christmas Dreams: The Christmas Wreath/Evergreen/Searching for the Star/Christmas Baby (Inspirational Christmas Romance Collection) Christmas Duets for Two Flutes: 21 Traditional Christmas Carols arranged for two equal flutes of intermediate standard Christmas Duets for Two Descant Recorders: 21 Traditional Christmas Carols arranged for two equal descant recorders Skyscrapers and High Rises (Frameworks (Sharpe Focus)) Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day? (Richard Scarry's Busy World) Richard Scarry's Boats (Richard Scarry's Busy World) Richard Scarry's Planes (Richard Scarry's Busy World) Hellraisers: The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O'Toole, and Oliver Reed Italian Short Stories for Beginners, Volume 2 [Italian Edition]: 8 More Unconventional Short Stories to Grow Your Vocabulary and Learn Italian the Fun Way! Italian Short Stories for Beginners: 8 Unconventional Short Stories to Grow Your Vocabulary and Learn Italian the Fun Way! Spanish: Short Stories for Beginners: 9 Captivating Short Stories to Learn Spanish & Expand Your Vocabulary While Having Fun French Short Stories for Beginners: 9 Captivating Short Stories to Learn French and Expand Your Vocabulary While Having Fun Spanish Short Stories for Beginners, Volume 2: 8 More Unconventional Short Stories to Grow Your Vocabulary and Learn Spanish the Fun Way! Spanish Short Stories for Beginners: 8 Unconventional Short Stories to Grow Your Vocabulary and Learn Spanish the Fun Way! The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: Volume I (Short Stories (Simon & Schuster Audio)) Books for Kids: Chompy the Shark (Bedtime Stories For Kids Ages 4-8): Short Stories for Kids, Kids Books, Bedtime Stories For Kids, Children Books, Early ... (Fun Time Series for Early Readers Book 2) The Collected Short Stories of Louis L'Amour (Unabridged Selections from The Frontier Stories, Volume Two) Books For Kids: The Misadventures of Mischievous Missy (KIDS ADVENTURE BOOKS #9) (Kids Books, Children Books, Kids Stories, Kids Adventure, Kids Fantasy, Mystery, Series Books Kids Ages 4-6 6-8 9-12)
