"Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon. "
— Bertolt Brecht
Bernard Cornwell | First Editions
1944
Bernard Cornwell, OBE (born 23 February 1944) is an English author of historical novels, and a history of the Waterloo Campaign. He is best known for his novels about the Napoleonic Wars rifleman, Richard Sharpe.
The first 11 books of the Sharpe series (beginning in chronological order with Sharpe's Rifles and ending with Sharpe's Waterloo, published in the US as Waterloo) detail Sharpe's adventures in various Peninsular War campaigns over the course of 6–7 years. Subsequently, Cornwell wrote a prequel quintet – Sharpe's Tiger, Sharpe's Triumph, Sharpe's Fortress, Sharpe's Trafalgar and Sharpe's Prey – depicting Sharpe's adventures under Wellington's command in India, including his hard-won promotion to the officer corps, his return to Britain and his arrival in the 95th Rifles, and a sequel, Sharpe's Devil, set six years after the end of the wars.
See below our stock of Bernard Cornwell First Editions and signed copies.
Results 1 - 12 (of 12)
Gallows Thief.
London: Harper Collins, 2001. SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.[6] 281 [1]. SIGNED by author in black ink to title-page. In publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine. With original pictorial dust-jacket. A fine, as-new copy. More
Gallows Thief.
London: Harper Collins, 2001. [Historical Fiction/Crime novel] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.[vi]; 281; [1], blank. With nineteenth century coloured map of London as endpapers. Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine, illustrated dust-jacket. With signature of the author in black ink to the title-page. Signature obtained... More
Sharpe's Regiment. Richard Sharpe and the Invasion of France - June to November 1813.
London, William Collins, 1986. Historical Fiction. FIRST EDITION, 8vo. Publisher's dark green cloth in striking pictorial dust-jacket. Minor toning to text block, price-clipped, light creasing to crown. A near fine, unread copy. It's 1813, and Sharpe discovers a corrupt political enemy has diverted his recruits to sell them at auction... More
Sharpe's Devil. Richard Sharpe and the Emperor, 1820-21.
London: Harper Collins, 1992. [Historical Fiction]. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.286; [2]. In publisher's cloth with gilt titles to spine, pictorial dust-jacket. Light browning to text block, as expected. Wrapper lightly rubbed to edges. Very good. More
Sharpe's Gold. Richard Sharpe and the Destruction of Almeida, August 1810.
Collins, London 1981. FIRST EDITION, UNCORRECTED BOOK PROOF. Octavo, pp 250. In publisher's original cream card covers, with pictorial illustration printed in black and white to upper. A very good copy which generally shows well; read a few times, spine rolled, last few leaves with a damp mark to lower... More
Sharpe's Honour.
London: Collins, 1985. First Edition. Octavo. Bound in publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine. Pictorial dust-jacket shows broken telescope against a background view of a ruined city, with titles to front cover and spine. Small blue ink ownership date to top right corner of front free endpaper. Light... More
Sharpe's Honour.
London: Collins, 1985. INSCRIBED FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp. 320. Red cloth with gilt titles to spine, in pictorial dustjacket designed by Ian Robertson. Signed by the author to the title page. Inscribed "For Jasper and Shona, who did indeed march from the very first, and gave much comfort thereby, much... More
Sharpe's Honour.
London: Collins, 1985. First Edition. Octavo, pp. 320. Red cloth with gilt titles to spine, in pictorial dust wrapper designed by Ian Robertson, showing a broken telescope and a citadel on an opposing hill; unclipped. Binding shows well, with no signs of bumping or of wear. Internally clean, with nominal... More
Sharpe's Rifles. Richard Sharpe and the French Invasion of Galicia, January 1809.
Collins, London, 1988. Historical Fiction. FIRST EDITION. A near fine copy (slight toning to text block, as usual) in like wrapper. A crisp example, with no inscriptions or price-clipping. Becoming scarce. It's 1809, and Napoleon's army is sweeping across Spain. Lieutenant Richard Sharpe is newly in command of the demoralized... More
Sharpe's Siege.
London, Collins. 1987. ASSOCIATION COPY. Near fine in like wrapper. With superb inscription to endpaper: "For Jasper & Shona, This very bloody book, Bernard Cornwell". Also inscribed to title page: "SHARPE'S SIEGE is for Jasper and Shona- Bernard Cornwell". From the Library of Jasper Partington and Shona Crawford Poole, who... More
Sharpe's Waterloo ORIGINAL TYPESCRIPT.
London: Harper Collins. 1990. ORIGINAL TYPESCRIPT with first edition copy of the published book. All 441 pages of the typescript used for copy-setting the first edition, including the signature of the Editor, Yvonne Holland. Final alterations made to every page in pencil, with some in red ink to prelims. Final... More
Vagabond. The Grail Quest.
London: Harper Collins, 2002. [Historical Fiction]. SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.[xii]; 371; [1], blank. With map, vignette illustrations and pictorial endpapers. Publisher's hardcover in dust-wrapper. Signed by the author to title-page. A fine, unread copy. A young archer sets out to avenge his family's honor on the... More
Results 1 - 12 (of 12)