Sharpe's EagleSharpe's Eagle
Score Classic
What it's about
In July 1809, Captain Richard Sharpe prepares to lead his men against Napoleon's armies at Talavera, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. He earned his rank, unlike the officers around him who bought theirs.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's the novel that launched Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series and its battlefield action.
You'll love it if you liked
Master and Commander
The Pillars of the Earth
All Quiet on the Western FrontGood to know
It's the first book in the Sharpe series and a good place to start.
By the numbers
- Readers81 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller5 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #174 of the 504 fantasy books we rank
- #384 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1196 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic, Moving
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Quick answers
Is Sharpe's Eagle worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,196 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Sharpe's Eagle about?
In July 1809, Captain Richard Sharpe prepares to lead his men against Napoleon's armies at Talavera, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. He earned his rank, unlike the officers around him who bought theirs.
How long does it take to read Sharpe's Eagle?
About 7 hours (289 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Sharpe's Eagle?
If you liked it, try Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett or All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.