A busy day yesterday. The puppies went to the groomer for the first time this year. They look great. Jo had been working on them over the course of the last six to 8 months, clipping them with scissors in the evening while they lied on the sofa with us. So they weren't too bad when they were delivered to the groomer, just shaggy and scruffy. They definitely feel a lot better today.
I got a couple of new books this week. I'll provide the synopsis for both. I'll also continue with my look at favorite authors.
New Books
1. The Glass-Blowers by Daphne du Maurier (1963).
"'Perhaps we shall not see each other again. I will write to you, though, and tell you, as best I can, the story of your family. A glass-blower, remember, breathes life into a vessel, giving it shape and form and sometimes beauty; but he can with that same breath, shatter and destroy it' Faithful to her word, Sophie Duval reveals to her long-lost nephew the tragic story of a family of master craftsmen in eighteenth-century France. The world of the glass-blowers has its own traditions, it's own language - and its own rules. 'If you marry into glass' Pierre Labbe warns his daughter, 'you will say goodbye to everything familiar, and enter a closed world'. But crashing into this world comes the violence and terror of the French Revolution against which, the family struggles to survive. The Glass Blowers is a remarkable achievement - an imaginative and exciting reworking of du Maurier's own family history."
2. Re-Enter Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer (Fu-Manchu #12). I've enjoyed this series. I think next year I'll make it one of my monthly challenges.
"The 1950s—the era of
the Cold War. The USSR is poised to begin the space race by launching
the Sputnik satellite, Mao Zedong rules Communist China, and the
greatest global fear is of the atomic bomb.
Missing for nearly a
decade, Fu-Manchu re-emerges in an attempt to wrest control of China
from the accursed Communists. Nayland Smith pursues his enemy from
London to Cairo to New York, determined to end his reign of terror. But
there’s something amiss with Smith—something his allies need to uncover
before it’s too late."
My Favorite Authors - Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell is an English author, born in London in 1944. He specializes in historical fiction.He has written books in six different series so far. I became aware of his Sharpe series, mainly set during the Napoleonic wars, when I watched the TV series starring Sean Bean as the anti-hero, Richard Sharpe. He has written 24 books in the series and so far I've read 14. I won't highlight all 14 in this but will look at my reviews of the last six that I've enjoyed to give you a feel for the stories.
1. Sharpe's Gold (#9 / 1981).
"From the back of the book: Richard Sharpe is delighted when, after long months of patrolling duties, he and his regiment are summoned north by Wellington. But his new mission is desperate and dangerous: to go behind enemy lines to recover gold vital to the success of the war. The treasure is in the possession of a powerful guerrilla leader, feared by ally and enemy alike. And he has a particular reason not to co-operate with Sharpe - the man who has stolen his woman." (3 stars)
"I've enjoyed every Sharpe adventure I've read so far. This was one of the more interesting one, Sharpe once again in action in Portugal. The history very interesting, dealing with Wellington's building of a fortress-like wall along the coast to keep the French from Lisbon and also destroying crops, foodstuff, etc on the French side of the wall to starve them into submission. In the midst of this, Sharpe is involved with traitorous Portuguese, saving a lovely English girl and trying to find his way, along with his perpetual companion, faithful Sgt Harper to the wall and his regiment. Excellent stuff.! (4 stars)"
3. Sharpe's Fury (#11 / 2006).
"As always the Sharpe books are an entertaining and exciting adventure series. This is the 11th book in the series and I enjoyed it very much. I like the historical aspects of the story, the British battle at Barraso in 1811 and how Cornwell fits Capt Sharpe and his riflemen into the action. There were excellent supporting characters, including Sir Thomas Graham, who I liked very much. There is always a slight romantic interest but not quite so prevalent in this story. Sharpe has to contend with a plotting, vicious Spanish priest and a French Colonel, Vandal, who doesn't play according to the rules of war. If you like a page turner and well-crafted historical adventure, try the Sharpe books. (4 stars)"
4. Sharpe's Battle (#12 / 1995).
"Sharpe's Battle is the 12th book by Bernard Cornwell featuring British soldier / adventurer Lt Richard Sharpe. As always, this is a book filled with adventure, battles and strife for Sharpe, a soldier who was given a commission by Lord Wellington in the first book as he saved Wellington's life.
Sharpe lead a group of soldiers, not your typical Red coats but Green Jacket skirmishers. This story is set during the Portuguese / Spanish wars as the British and their allies battle the French troops of Napoleon. This story is set in May 1811 and features the battle of Fuentes de Onoro.
In this setting, Sharpe and his men contact a French brigade led by General Loup, the grey wolves, who are terrorizing the countryside, raping and pillaging. Sharpe earns Loup's eternal enmity for executing two of Loup's men who were caught raping a young woman.
That is the basis of this story. Sharpe must redeem himself in Wellington's eyes, avoid a court martial and also help the British fight their battle against invading French soldiers. Action, action, action, well-described, quite bloody, but exciting. Always a page turner. (3.5 stars)"
5. Sharpe's Company (#13 / 1982).
"It's been a couple of years since I last enjoyed following Capt Sharpe's adventures. Sharpe's Company is the 13th story in the life of Richard Sharpe by Bernard Cornwell. As per most of the other books I've enjoyed so far, it is filled with action, intrigue and full-blown battles.
In Sharpe's Company, General Wellington needs to destroy the two major fortresses on the Spanish / Portuguese border, Ciudad Rodrigo and Ciudad Badajoz. He needs this if he is to be able to invade Spain finally and throw out Napoleon's armies. Capt Sharpe still commands his loyal band of Rifles along with capable Sgt Harper. His rank stands in jeopardy as he has failed to procure the rank while back in England.
After helping break the siege at Ciudad Rodrigo, there are many losses in the ranks of the South Essex. This means a new Colonel who brings his own officers and Sharpe now finds himself reverted in rank to Lieutenant and no longer in command of his rifles. To make matters even worth, arch enemy Sgt Hakeswill is back and sowing discord in the regiment as he tries to destroy both Sharpe and Harper. Compounding this, Sharpe's lady, Teresa, is in Ciudad Badajoz and Hakeswill has evil plans on her as well.
These stories take place within Wellington's plan to break through the walls of the fortress at Badajoz and to throw out the French. As always, Cornwell presents these events in great detail and with much intensity and excitement. The last half of the story dealing with the siege and attempts to break in to the fortress are exciting and breath-taking and gruesome. Hold your breath as your in for action - plus. Highly entertaining story from a historical perspective and from a dramatic perspective. What will happen with Sharpe and his men, with the evil Hakeswill and with Sharpe's love, Teresa? You have to read. (3.5 stars)"
6. Sharpe's Sword (#14 / 1983).
"Sharpe's Sword is the 14th book in the Sharpe's adventure / historical series by Bernard Cornwell. This story is set during the period June / July 1812 during Wellington's Salamanca Campaign in Spain. Sharpe is attached to Wellington's spy master Maj Hogan to try and find a master French spy, Colonel Leroux. Leroux is a nasty man and is set on finding El Mirador, one of Hogan's most effective contacts.
Leroux has been captured but disguised himself as another officer and escapes into a French fort near Salamanca, even though having given his parole. He kills Sharpe's company commander and a young lieutenant while making his escape. Sharpe and his men, especially his faithful Sgt Harper, because they can recognize Leroux are assigned the task of finding him when Wellington attacks to take over the three forts held by the French.
There is also a spy within Wellington's camp who warns the French of the attack, with disastrous results. There are many suspects including a Spanish contessa with designs on Sharpe, Lord Spears, one of Hogan's spies who is recovering from an injury and spending much time with the Contessa and Sharpe, and Father Curtis, an Irish priest who seems to show up everywhere.
It all makes for a great action-filled adventure, with battles, intrigue and romance. Sharpe wants Leroux's sword and to capture the French spy. Sharpe's life is threatened many times (it is an adventure, eh? :0)). All in all, one of the better Sharpe adventures, filled with excellent characters and an interesting plot. I do like how Cornwell ties the actual historical events into Sharpe's storyline and highlights the actual history in the afterword. I've enjoyed this series very much and look forward to getting the next book in the series. (3.5 stars)"
So another ten to read. I've still got to find a few. I think this series will be a monthly challenge next year. We'll see. If you want to check out Cornwell's complete catalogue, click on this link.
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