I'm a new Richard Sharpe fan and I just finished Sharpe's Tiger. Any book fans here who can recommend me the "essential" Sharpe books? I've seen the chronological timeline but I'm a poor college student who has had poor luck finding the subsequent ones so I'm probably going to order them online and read the ones I skipped in after I read the ones I buy. I'm planning on reading Sharpe's Triumph next. Any suggestions would be awesome! :)
Well I read the books in chronological order, so I've read them all except for "Sharpe's Fury" (by the time it came out I didn't bother).
Chronological order makes most sense imo. You've already started doing that with "Sharpe's Tiger". So move on to "Battle", then "Fortress", then "Trafalgar", etc. That's what I did at least.
If you want key books, or just the best these are my recommendations:
Sharpe's Rifles-Sharpe and Harper meet, a bit of intrigue, fighting against odds
Sharpe's Eagle-introduction of Sir Henry Simmerson, great battle scenes
Sharpe's Company-two words: Obadiah Hakeswill
Sharpe's Enemy-Hakeswill returns
Sharpe's Honour-Ducos' intrigues and Battle of Vitoria
Sharpe's Regiment-Simmerson is back, Sharpe in England
Sharpe's Sword-intrigue, Harper's devotion
Sharpe's Revenge-showdown between Sharpe and Ducos
Sharpe's Waterloo-Sharpe in the middle of the famous battle.
The others have much to recommend, with Sharpe's Devil reuniting Sharpe and Harper after the war.