Sharpe's Escape

Name: Sharpe's Escape
Author: Bernard Cornwell

From New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell, the tenth installment in the world-renowned Sharpe series, chronicling the rise of Richard Sharpe, a Private in His Majesty’s Army at the siege of Seringapatam.

Sharpe’s job as Captain of the Light Company is under threat and he has made a new enemy, a Portuguese criminal known as Ferragus. Discarded by his regiment, Sharpe wages a private war against Ferragus – a war fought through the burning, pillaged streets of Coimbra, Portugal’s ancient university city.

Sharpe’s Escape begins on the great, gaunt ridge of Bussaco where a joint British and Portuguese army meets the overwhelming strength of Marshall Massena’s crack troops. It finishes at Torres Vedras where the French hopes of occupying Portugal quickly die.

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Published: 2004

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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.