Sharpe's Havoc

Name: Sharpe's Havoc
Author: Bernard Cornwell

The new Richard Sharpe adventure

It is the spring of 1809 and a small British army is stranded when the French invade northern Portugal. Sharpe is cut off and tries to fight his way back to the British lines but instead is led into treacherous danger.

When the future Duke of Wellington arrives to take command, he immediately mounts his own counter-attack. Sharpe becomes he hunter instead of the hunted. Amidst the wreckage of a defeated army, in the storm lashed hills of he Portuguese frontier, Sharpe takes a terrible revenge.

Sharpe's Havoc is a classic Sharpe story, with Richard Sharpe in fighting form in the company of Sergeant Patrick Harper, Captain Hogan and Sharpe's beloved Greenjackets.

"Sharpe's Havoc is the best Sharpe novel for a long time and may even be the best of all" - Evening Standard

Amazon: View on Amazon

Published: 2003

Where to find this book

Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK Amazon Europe Kindle Audible

External links open a book search at the selected retailer. Availability may vary.

The Sharpe Series

The series

Full series details →

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.

Read full series description

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.