Sharpe's Tiger

Name: Sharpe's Tiger
Author: Bernard Cornwell

The prequel to the series, describing Sharpe, s experiences in India. Sharpe’s Tiger describes the adventures of the raw young private soldier Richard Sharpe in India, before the Peninsular War.

Sharpe and the rest of his battalion, along with the rising star of the general staff Arthur Wellesley, are about to embark upon the siege of Seringapatam, island citadel of the Tippoo of Mysore. The British must remove this potentate from his tiger throne, but he has gone to extraordinary lengths to defend his city from attack. And always he is surrounded by tigers, both living and ornamental... any prisoner of the Tippoo can expect a savage end.

When a senior British officer is captured by the Tippoo's forces Sharpe is offered a chance to attempt a rescue, a chance he snatched in order to escape from the tyrannical Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill. But in fleeing Hakeswill he enters the confusing, exotic and dangerous world of the Tippoo and Sharpe will need all his wits just to stay alive, let alone save the British army from catastrophe.

With the same meticulous research and attention to detail that distinguishes the rest of the bestselling series of Sharpe novels, Bernard Cornwell has recreated the I 799 campaign against Seringapatam which made the British masters of southern India, a campaign that pitted brutalized soldiers against an ancient and splendid civilization. Set against a background of dazzling wealth, ruinous poverty, gorgeous palaces, sudden cruelty and pitiless battles, Sharpe’s Tiger is his greatest adventure yet.

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Published: 1997

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The Sharpe Series

The series

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In the heart-pounding world of The Sharpe Series, Bernard Cornwell takes readers to the brutal, blood-soaked battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars, where the stakes are life and death, and honor is forged in the fire of war. At the center of it all is Richard Sharpe, a complex and rugged hero who rises from humble beginnings to become one of the British Army's fiercest soldiers. With each book, Sharpe’s journey is not only one of military conquest but of personal transformation, loyalty, and survival in an unforgiving world.

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The series is a deep dive into the realities of war, its toll on soldiers and civilians alike, and the blurred lines between heroism and brutality. Cornwell’s meticulous research and masterful storytelling create a vivid tapestry of 19th-century Europe—its muddy battlefields, tense political landscapes, and the men and women who lived and died by the sword. Sharpe’s courage, wit, and ruthlessness make him a fascinating character, but it’s his unwavering sense of justice and his ability to survive against all odds that truly captivate readers.

Through Sharpe’s eyes, we experience both the horrors and the adrenaline of war. But The Sharpe Series is more than just a chronicle of battles—it's about the bonds formed in the heat of conflict, the price of ambition, and the heavy cost of war on the human soul. As Sharpe faces impossible odds, personal vendettas, and complex alliances, the series examines themes of loyalty, betrayal, and honor with a level of intensity that keeps readers eagerly turning pages.

What makes the series truly stand out is Cornwell’s ability to blend action with emotion. Whether it’s a brutal skirmish in Spain or the intimate, heart-wrenching moments between Sharpe and his comrades, the series never loses its human element. It's a saga of grit and perseverance, where victory is often hard-won, and survival is uncertain.

With its unflinching portrayal of war and its unforgettable protagonist, The Sharpe Series is a timeless tale of courage, loyalty, and the price of honor. It’s a journey through history’s most tumultuous era, where every victory feels earned, and every loss is deeply felt. For fans of historical fiction, military epics, and character-driven stories, this series is a pulse-pounding ride you won’t want to miss.