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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"Definitely one of the better Sharpe novels, and they're all pretty good. In this case, Sharpe takes on the French army in Portugal again (and also knocks off a few traitorous Portuguese as the same time), all the while contending with unappreciative or incompetent officers. Mr. Cornwell continues to display his mastery of the military events of the time, and show great respect for period detail. Good fun!"
— Al (4 out of 5 stars)
" Another one of the middle-of-the-pack kind of Sharpe stories. Good writing and story, just not blow-me-away exciting like some of the others. "
— Brandon, 2/18/2014" great author who interweaves history into a story that is easily followed and hard to put down "
— Jason, 2/6/2014" This book was a slow-starter, but once Sharpe is in the thick of things, and in the soup, it turns into one of the more gripping of the stories. I feel like the first half of the book is a three-star effort, but the second half is a five. "
— Jeff, 1/9/2014" Quite early chronologically, but one of the later Sharpe's to be written, this is another very good addition to the series, with Sharpe facing losing his company to a lesser man, hounded by enemies, and for a time, stuck behind the lines. All of Bernard Cornwell's ingerdients are here for an excellent read, lots of fighting, big battles, bad guys, injustice, and of course, a beautiful woman. "
— Rick, 1/8/2014" One of the best Sharpe novels so far (I'm reading them chronologically rather than in the order published), really capturing the spirit of the characters, the landscape, the historical setting, and the battles. "
— Stephen, 1/1/2014" Sharpe has a way of making people want to kill him. Is this a talent or a curse. Lucky for us it doesn't matter because it makes for entertaining stories. "
— Tom, 12/24/2013" I haven't read a Richard Sharpe in awhile. There are so many books it is hard to choose. This one moved right along and really held my interest. He know who and what he is and isn't planning to change. He is a soldier's soldier. "
— Barbara, 12/11/2013" Cannot stop reading this series! "
— Lois, 11/29/2013" I believe this is the 22nd book in a series about this particular officer, which could explain why he is is as flat as a Boys' Own action comic strip character. Nevertheless, and entertaining yarn of battle and escape "
— John, 11/24/2013" One of the new Sharpe's - I quite like them. Cornwall seems to deviate from his old formula a bit. "
— Bill, 11/19/2013" Another of the Sharpe series without a historical epitaph, but still a good book. "
— Scott, 11/8/2013" Sharpe again gets caught behind enemy lines with only a small squad, The Girl and a Silly Officer for company. But of course he gets out of it. Standard. Rated M for violence, occasional coarse language. 3/5 "
— Nathan, 7/30/2013" Typical Sharpe novel. In other words, solid writing, interesting history, action, a little romance and a lot of fun. Not the first book of Sharpe I would read, but well done. "
— Will, 6/16/2013" Bernard Cornwell brings a good story & History together wonderfully. "
— Stacy, 5/27/2013" Sharpe's jealousy of Slingsby, who is favoured by his CO, comes across as slashy. I don't think that's exactly what the author had in mind, somehow! Otherwise, it's a good installment to an well-loved series. "
— Duzzlebrarian, 5/2/2013" Best of the series so far in my opinion. "
— Chris, 4/22/2013" The threads on women falling for soldiers who haven't bathed in months get old, but ignore those and you still have fun tales for airports, elliptical workouts, and evenings when you're too tired for Proust... "
— Jane, 2/3/2013" This one is rather longer than some other entries, which I like. It also has Vicente, one of my favorite non-British characters. Good, bloody fun! "
— Jesse, 1/5/2013" This is my second reading of this story. While I may have overdosed on Sharpe in the past, I find the author's factual renderings incorporating the fictional Sharpe to be very entertaining and I learned something as well. "
— Mike, 1/4/2013" I liked this book in the series better than the last one (Sharpe's Gold). It was an exciting story (as always) and actually there were plenty of "escapes". "
— Bonnie, 7/17/2012" The Richard Sharpe series is a magnificent work of historical fiction. Bernard Cornwell has written an amazing series following Sharpe from a private in India to a Lt. Colonel at Waterloo and then a civilian farmer. "
— Hazel, 5/16/2012" Another disappointment. Though Richard Sharpe shows an uncanny Bond-like ability to get out of any impossible situation Beranard Cornwell needs to find every more ways of putting him into these situations in places that he shouldn't be in. "
— Jim, 2/24/2012" Quite difficult to get into, but an amazing military novel. "
— Gloria, 8/31/2011" Patrick Tull does a good job, specially when concerning to portuguese words. Is the only narrator I've heard, until now, with a good portuguese. "
— Whitelady3, 6/19/2011" I like this book. Another good military adventure for Richard Sharpe. His cleverness and approach to problems in the military is entertaining. "
— Owen, 4/15/2011" Quite difficult to get into, but an amazing military novel. "
— Gloria, 12/28/2010" This book was a slow-starter, but once Sharpe is in the thick of things, and in the soup, it turns into one of the more gripping of the stories. I feel like the first half of the book is a three-star effort, but the second half is a five. "
— Jeff, 10/4/2009" Sharpe's jealousy of Slingsby, who is favoured by his CO, comes across as slashy. I don't <strong>think</strong> that's exactly what the author had in mind, somehow! Otherwise, it's a good installment to an well-loved series. "
— Duzzlebrarian, 8/3/2009" Typical Sharpe novel. In other words, solid writing, interesting history, action, a little romance and a lot of fun. Not the first book of Sharpe I would read, but well done. "
— Will, 1/8/2009" Bernard Cornwell uses his usual blend of wit, excitement and immaculate historical detail to produce a fantastic and entertaining read. <br/> <br/>Anyone who likes well-researched, well-written historical fiction MUST read Cornwell! "
— Rachael, 1/2/2009" I believe this is the 22nd book in a series about this particular officer, which could explain why he is is as flat as a Boys' Own action comic strip character. Nevertheless, and entertaining yarn of battle and escape "
— John, 9/2/2007" Another one of the middle-of-the-pack kind of Sharpe stories. Good writing and story, just not blow-me-away exciting like some of the others. "
— Brandon, 7/26/2007Bernard Cornwell, born in London, worked for the BBC and Thames Television before coming to the United States to write full time. His sweeping historical novels, including the acclaimed Richard Sharpe series and many more, make him a number one bestselling author in the United Kingdom and around the world. He is the author of the acclaimed New York Times bestselling Saxon Tales series, which serves as the basis for the hit television series The Last Kingdom.
Rupert Farley is an actor from the United Kingdom. He has had various roles in movies such as Shakespeare in Love, From Hell, and Mrs. Brown. He is best known for his voice-acting work, which includes TV advertisements and animation.