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Sharpe #10
Sharpe's Escape
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.
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.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
716 people are currently reading
2689 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Cornwell
537 books19.3k followersCornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother, who was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his birth mother's maiden name, Cornwell.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.
He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.
As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.
Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.
Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.
After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.
A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.
In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.
Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
March 30, 2023
Falling in love and falling into death in the midst of the long years of Europe’s Napoleonic Wars. Solid writing that fills the imagination. I liked Sharpe’s French lady lover best.
Not sure why he never had a Russian lover. I would have created one to turn the heads of armies. (A Portuguese one too. He did have a Spanish warrior lady lover.) I don’t believe there is a Sharpe story about Borodino either, the enormous battle on the outskirts of Moscow in 1812, but I would have created that story as well ⚔️
Not sure why he never had a Russian lover. I would have created one to turn the heads of armies. (A Portuguese one too. He did have a Spanish warrior lady lover.) I don’t believe there is a Sharpe story about Borodino either, the enormous battle on the outskirts of Moscow in 1812, but I would have created that story as well ⚔️
May 31, 2013
Keeping track of the various Sharpe books is not an easy task, as they tend to be repetitive in plot structure, usually having super-soldier Richard Sharpe caught up in a silent conflict with an officer on his own side and in an open conflict with a bully among the civilians. More often than not, there's also a damsell in distress that is about to be ravished by the bully and that will fall in love instead with the darkly handsome Sharpe.
It's easier to remember Sharpe's Escape by focusing instead on the actual military campaigns described here, done with the usual Cornwell professionalism and overt admiration for the exploits of the redcoats in general, and for general Wellington in particular. The battle of Bussaco is part of the 1810 campaign when the British and their Portuguese allies tried to stop the army of Marechal Massena from marching on Lisbon. After a brief introductory episode establishing Sharpe's adversary for this installment and a subplot of destroying all food reserves in the countryside before the French advance, the Bussaco battle starts in earnest with clear exposition of the terrain, the troops, the weaponry and the tactics deployed by both sides. It reads at tmies like one of those Discovery Channels episodes about WWII or Vietnam, the result of really good research. Despite a strong bias against the 'Crapauds' and an attempt at whitewashing a grave mistake of Wellington who let his strong defensive position be sidelined in a flanking maneuver, the action scenes are some of the best I have read so far in the series.
After Bussaco, the novel concentrates on the secondary plot about food and the personal duel between Sharpe and the bully, as they both get caught behind enemy lines in Coimbra, a beautiful university town about to be pillaged by the dastardly French. After a spirited chase across the countryside, the novel closes with a bonus battle (more like a skirmish, but really well developed), this time in front of the fortified defensive positions cutting off access to Lisbon.
Character development is less impressive, mostly due to the non-chronological way the novels were written, with the author starting off late in the timeline and then going back and filling in the gaps in Sharpe's biography. The result has the advantage of making it possible to read any story as a stand-alone, but is often repetitive when it comes to re-establishing the hero's personality. My principal grumble is with the adversaries and the love interests, who are usually clones of previous characters with only the names and hair colour changed. To be fair, in this episode there is an interesting personal touch, delving on the continued insecurity Sharpe feels towards career officers who can buy their comission and who stick together for one another like members of an exclusive club, a club from which Sharpe feels excluded by his lack of money, education and family connections.
Bottom line : better than the previous two books, and a must for fans of the series.
July 9, 2021
This is an other great book in the Sharp ceries. This takes place in Portugal in a battle betwene England and France. There is also a quite interesting murder plot against our hero Richard Sharp.
October 2, 2018
#10 in the Sharpe series.
Sharpe’s Escape concerns the battle for Bussaco in Portugal during the Peninsular Wars in 1810.
Bernard Cornwell never fails to entertain. This is yet another engrossing history lesson.
Captain Richard Sharpe along with his brother in arms, Sgt Patrick Hogan are, once again, on the trail of some scurrilous villains. This time the villains are two Portuguese brothers, one an officer in the Portuguese Army and the other a black hearted monster who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Their main crime is selling food to the French. But Sharpe has other problems. A pompous, privileged fellow office and bother in law to Lt Col Lawson, Sharpe’s commanding officer, is after Sharpe’s position. Sharpe will need all of his experience and guile to, a, stop the brothers and, b, prove he is the better man to be in charge of the light infantry.
As always, Bernard Cornwell, masterly construction of the actual battle is to feel like you are right there in the thick of things. I can’t think of anybody who does it better.
The British Empire owes a great deal to Richard Sharpe because without him the French would have been victorious. 😋
Highly recommended for lover of ripping yarns.
Sharpe’s Escape concerns the battle for Bussaco in Portugal during the Peninsular Wars in 1810.
Bernard Cornwell never fails to entertain. This is yet another engrossing history lesson.
Captain Richard Sharpe along with his brother in arms, Sgt Patrick Hogan are, once again, on the trail of some scurrilous villains. This time the villains are two Portuguese brothers, one an officer in the Portuguese Army and the other a black hearted monster who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Their main crime is selling food to the French. But Sharpe has other problems. A pompous, privileged fellow office and bother in law to Lt Col Lawson, Sharpe’s commanding officer, is after Sharpe’s position. Sharpe will need all of his experience and guile to, a, stop the brothers and, b, prove he is the better man to be in charge of the light infantry.
As always, Bernard Cornwell, masterly construction of the actual battle is to feel like you are right there in the thick of things. I can’t think of anybody who does it better.
The British Empire owes a great deal to Richard Sharpe because without him the French would have been victorious. 😋
Highly recommended for lover of ripping yarns.
October 13, 2025
Read this book in 2005, and my very first book that started my collection, and this tale is the 10th volume of this amazing "Richard Sharpe" series.
This tale is set in the summer of the year AD 1810 during the Peninsular War.
At first, the now Captain Sharpe and his company of redcoats and riflemen will meet and defeat the French on the ridge of Bussaco, but despite this victory the French are still heading towards Lisbon, and the British have to retreat.
Having made enemies of the Portuguese, Sharpe and Sergeant Harper during the retreat are lured into a trap in Coimbra designed to kill, only to be rescued by an Englishwoman.
Enable to join the British forces at the Lines of Torres Vedras, Sharpe, his company and the rest of the army will do anything to stop this French assault and finally drive them back in a climactic battle.
Highly recommended, for this is another superb addition to this magnificent series, and that's why I want to call this episode: "A Marvellous Sharpe Escape"!
This tale is set in the summer of the year AD 1810 during the Peninsular War.
At first, the now Captain Sharpe and his company of redcoats and riflemen will meet and defeat the French on the ridge of Bussaco, but despite this victory the French are still heading towards Lisbon, and the British have to retreat.
Having made enemies of the Portuguese, Sharpe and Sergeant Harper during the retreat are lured into a trap in Coimbra designed to kill, only to be rescued by an Englishwoman.
Enable to join the British forces at the Lines of Torres Vedras, Sharpe, his company and the rest of the army will do anything to stop this French assault and finally drive them back in a climactic battle.
Highly recommended, for this is another superb addition to this magnificent series, and that's why I want to call this episode: "A Marvellous Sharpe Escape"!
October 29, 2024
Review on English, followed by the Bulgarian one. Ревюто на английски е първо, следва това на български.
Sharpe is in trouble again.
In addition to embroiling in enmity with the huge and ruthless Portuguese bandit Ferragus, he also has problems in his regiment.
His captaincy has not yet been officially confirmed and thing mess up even more when Colonel Lawford had appointed as second in command a tedious relative also with temporary promotion and ready to shine on the battlefield at all costs.
The Bussaco campaign, which marks the beginning of the end of Napoleon's recent attempt to control Portugal and push the English from continental Europe, has also been described. But Wellington, now became British peer, has outlined an excellent plan to prevent foll of the small Iberic country.
I keep walking in Sharpe's boots, this series is great!
———————————————————————————————
Шарп отново има неприятности.
Освен, че се забърква във вражда с огромния и безмилостен португалски бандит Ферагюс, той има и проблеми в полка си.
Капитанският му чин все още не е потвърден официално и нещата се усложняват допълнително, когато подполковник Лоуфърд назначава свой досаден роднина за втори офицер в неговата рота стрелци - и той е с непотвърден капитански ранг и затова желае да блесне на бойното поле на всяка цена.
Описана е и битката при Бусако, която слага началото на края на поредния опит на Наполеон да овладее Португалия и да изтласка англичаните от континентална Европа. Но Уелингтън, вече пер на Великобритания е начертал отличен план, с който да не допусне това да се случи.
Продължавам да крача в ботушите на Шарп, серията е чудесна!
Sharpe is in trouble again.
In addition to embroiling in enmity with the huge and ruthless Portuguese bandit Ferragus, he also has problems in his regiment.
His captaincy has not yet been officially confirmed and thing mess up even more when Colonel Lawford had appointed as second in command a tedious relative also with temporary promotion and ready to shine on the battlefield at all costs.
The Bussaco campaign, which marks the beginning of the end of Napoleon's recent attempt to control Portugal and push the English from continental Europe, has also been described. But Wellington, now became British peer, has outlined an excellent plan to prevent foll of the small Iberic country.
I keep walking in Sharpe's boots, this series is great!
———————————————————————————————
Шарп отново има неприятности.
Освен, че се забърква във вражда с огромния и безмилостен португалски бандит Ферагюс, той има и проблеми в полка си.
Капитанският му чин все още не е потвърден официално и нещата се усложняват допълнително, когато подполковник Лоуфърд назначава свой досаден роднина за втори офицер в неговата рота стрелци - и той е с непотвърден капитански ранг и затова желае да блесне на бойното поле на всяка цена.
Описана е и битката при Бусако, която слага началото на края на поредния опит на Наполеон да овладее Португалия и да изтласка англичаните от континентална Европа. Но Уелингтън, вече пер на Великобритания е начертал отличен план, с който да не допусне това да се случи.
Продължавам да крача в ботушите на Шарп, серията е чудесна!
July 9, 2015
It's still 1810 and we're still in Iberia slugging it out with the French in the Peninsular War. This is probably the fourth or fifth Sharpe book in the aforementioned setting and while things are wearing a bit thin, this was still fun. Honestly, the worst thing I'm ever gonna probably say about a Sharpe book was that "it was fun." Okay, I just looked at the rest of the settings of the rest of the series and there's like fucking eight more Peninsular stories...so I should probably resign myself to hanging around in Spain with this series for the time being. It's a good setting, don't get me wrong! Poor Spain has been totally destabilized and turned into a semi-wasteland fought over by the French, British, Portuguese and partisans of all shapes and sizes, plus there's a huge battle every six months or so. It's good, hearty stuff and true literary risks and surprises are like the Spanish Inquisition in this series in that no one expects them (and unlike the Spanish Inquisition in that they never actually show up.)
The plot of this one is pretty watery...as usual we have a pretty decent villain in the physically-imposing psycho Ferragus. Ferragus digs brutally beating dudes to death with his fists and then stuffing them in his basement with an order to his cronies to "slit their bellies and give the rats something to work on." Early in the book Sharpe predictably pisses him off and they spend the rest of the book embroiled in a feud from which one will not emerge. There's also the fucking mystifyingly bullheaded inclusion of a piss-poor love story, too. I just don't fucking get it. Why does the man have to include fifty to sixty pages of Sharpe falling in "love" with some faceless, wispy love interest? The fucking second she appeared I probably let out an audible sound of disgust. Fucking bring back Theresa already. Truly an awesome woman and the kind this series should include.
So what does this book actually have going for it? I had to bitch a little first, but it does have good stuff. It's just that the good stuff has little to do with the book and story proper. It's really the historical events and setting that are the interesting thing here. If you're not into military stuff you will absolutely not give a shit but fellow military history nerds will agree that there's two really interesting things portrayed in the book: the Battle of Bussaco and the Lines of Torres Vedras. Bussaco is given about a hundred pages in this novel in a true grand Cornwellian fashion. The action is bloody and sustained and contains a hilariously villainous deed by Sharpe. The Lines of Torres Vedras were basically two giant lines of forts that stretched for thirty or forty miles and completely cut southern Portugal and specifically Lisbon off from the rest of the peninsula. This massive work was even done in secrecy by Wellesley--IIRC the British government had no idea it was going on.
If you're super into reading the whole Sharpe series (as I am) then you're gonna have to deal with this one but casual Sharpe fans can and probably will forget that this entry even exists. I don't think I'd suggest it as a starting point in any context. Despite the shortcomings, Sharpe fans will still probably enjoy this one and it has a lot of awesomely detailed historical content--not just the aforementioned stuff but also the usual details of everyday life with the British Army, equipment, formations, uniforms, etc. There's even a small vignette of the famous Marshal Masséna that gives you a little bit of information on one of Napoleon's most famous generals. It's really a mixed bag, but the contents within are never very potent.
P.S. I forgot to mention how long this fucker was. Almost 500 pages! Totally fucking unnecessary. A Sharpe book should never, ever be half as long as War and Peace.
The plot of this one is pretty watery...as usual we have a pretty decent villain in the physically-imposing psycho Ferragus. Ferragus digs brutally beating dudes to death with his fists and then stuffing them in his basement with an order to his cronies to "slit their bellies and give the rats something to work on." Early in the book Sharpe predictably pisses him off and they spend the rest of the book embroiled in a feud from which one will not emerge. There's also the fucking mystifyingly bullheaded inclusion of a piss-poor love story, too. I just don't fucking get it. Why does the man have to include fifty to sixty pages of Sharpe falling in "love" with some faceless, wispy love interest? The fucking second she appeared I probably let out an audible sound of disgust. Fucking bring back Theresa already. Truly an awesome woman and the kind this series should include.
So what does this book actually have going for it? I had to bitch a little first, but it does have good stuff. It's just that the good stuff has little to do with the book and story proper. It's really the historical events and setting that are the interesting thing here. If you're not into military stuff you will absolutely not give a shit but fellow military history nerds will agree that there's two really interesting things portrayed in the book: the Battle of Bussaco and the Lines of Torres Vedras. Bussaco is given about a hundred pages in this novel in a true grand Cornwellian fashion. The action is bloody and sustained and contains a hilariously villainous deed by Sharpe. The Lines of Torres Vedras were basically two giant lines of forts that stretched for thirty or forty miles and completely cut southern Portugal and specifically Lisbon off from the rest of the peninsula. This massive work was even done in secrecy by Wellesley--IIRC the British government had no idea it was going on.
If you're super into reading the whole Sharpe series (as I am) then you're gonna have to deal with this one but casual Sharpe fans can and probably will forget that this entry even exists. I don't think I'd suggest it as a starting point in any context. Despite the shortcomings, Sharpe fans will still probably enjoy this one and it has a lot of awesomely detailed historical content--not just the aforementioned stuff but also the usual details of everyday life with the British Army, equipment, formations, uniforms, etc. There's even a small vignette of the famous Marshal Masséna that gives you a little bit of information on one of Napoleon's most famous generals. It's really a mixed bag, but the contents within are never very potent.
P.S. I forgot to mention how long this fucker was. Almost 500 pages! Totally fucking unnecessary. A Sharpe book should never, ever be half as long as War and Peace.
November 5, 2019
ten books chronologically in and I have found my new favorite Sharpe book. Bernard Cornwell has evolved/developed into the best author of the action historical Fiction genre in my opinion, I will say it, one of the best of his generation! definitely one of the most successful financially and popularly if nothing else. he hasn't really change his style since Rifles which was a banger of a fun ride, but has added elements like shifting perspectives to elevate Sharpe's story!
Escape is long for a Sharpe tale and only includes one major battle in the middle stopping right before the major conflict of the lines of Terras Vedras. but the formula is the same Sharpe has to prove himself to his commanding officers and defeat a personal enemy as well as the French. with help from some familiar friends. and picks up a woman or two on the way. I found the villains the Ferreira brother very believable. especially Ferragus the consummate bully who pushed around everyone ally or foe, neighbor and brother equally. but he met his match in Sharpe. and in the peculiar style of such men neither could rest until the other was defeated or dead. Vincente is back from Sharpe's Havoc after marring Kate and as a captain of Portuguese rifles modeled himself after Sharpe. that made me smile profusely. the love interest Sarah really develops as a character. her character arch was a point of emphasis to Cromwell and that was nice to see after some female characters in the series came off flat. Captain Slingsby the effigy of English privilege that we have come accustomed to Sharpe being pitted against became a almost sympathetic figure. this really left a impression on me and shows Cornwell developing skills. Sharpe almost came off as his personal villain. I maybe reading to much into that but the thought struck me as profound. if this was a book about Slingsby how would Sharpe come off. he also kind of saved Sharpe in the final fight against Ferragus, (well more like helped a little). one minor complaint I did not like col. William Lawford role in the story. he was a favorite of mine in the Indian trilogy and for him to embodied the selfish abusive power role held by the likes Captain Morris (Sharpe's Triumph) and Col. Simmerson (Sharpe's eagle) in other book did not feel right. I know that's a fanboy take and it worked well in this novel, but still how I felt. Sharpe's Escape in context of the series is a masterwork!
Escape is long for a Sharpe tale and only includes one major battle in the middle stopping right before the major conflict of the lines of Terras Vedras. but the formula is the same Sharpe has to prove himself to his commanding officers and defeat a personal enemy as well as the French. with help from some familiar friends. and picks up a woman or two on the way. I found the villains the Ferreira brother very believable. especially Ferragus the consummate bully who pushed around everyone ally or foe, neighbor and brother equally. but he met his match in Sharpe. and in the peculiar style of such men neither could rest until the other was defeated or dead. Vincente is back from Sharpe's Havoc after marring Kate and as a captain of Portuguese rifles modeled himself after Sharpe. that made me smile profusely. the love interest Sarah really develops as a character. her character arch was a point of emphasis to Cromwell and that was nice to see after some female characters in the series came off flat. Captain Slingsby the effigy of English privilege that we have come accustomed to Sharpe being pitted against became a almost sympathetic figure. this really left a impression on me and shows Cornwell developing skills. Sharpe almost came off as his personal villain. I maybe reading to much into that but the thought struck me as profound. if this was a book about Slingsby how would Sharpe come off. he also kind of saved Sharpe in the final fight against Ferragus, (well more like helped a little). one minor complaint I did not like col. William Lawford role in the story. he was a favorite of mine in the Indian trilogy and for him to embodied the selfish abusive power role held by the likes Captain Morris (Sharpe's Triumph) and Col. Simmerson (Sharpe's eagle) in other book did not feel right. I know that's a fanboy take and it worked well in this novel, but still how I felt. Sharpe's Escape in context of the series is a masterwork!
December 22, 2023
I’m not going to lie, I enjoyed reading the bad guy beat up Sharpe in the beginning of the book. Sharpe is always winning fights (he’s kind of a gary stu) so him losing is such a breath of fresh air. It’s why I love Harper so much. First book we met him in and he had Sharpe struggling.
Still, this was your typical Sharpe book. War on foreign land check, incompetent officers check, villains to defeat check, damsel in distress check, epic battle at the end check. It’s starting to feel formulaic. I’m chasing the high Sharpe’s Rifles gave me and nothing so far is yet to get there.
ALSO! When are we changing settings?! We were in India for the first four, at sea for the fifth but since book six we’ve been in the Iberian Peninsula and we’ll still be there in the next book?! Bring the colonizers to Africa!
I still utterly despise the romance in this series.
Still, this was your typical Sharpe book. War on foreign land check, incompetent officers check, villains to defeat check, damsel in distress check, epic battle at the end check. It’s starting to feel formulaic. I’m chasing the high Sharpe’s Rifles gave me and nothing so far is yet to get there.
ALSO! When are we changing settings?! We were in India for the first four, at sea for the fifth but since book six we’ve been in the Iberian Peninsula and we’ll still be there in the next book?! Bring the colonizers to Africa!
I still utterly despise the romance in this series.
November 1, 2022
This is a classic solid Sharpe book that's just an almost perfect distillation of the essence of the series.
Big set piece battle? check
Loathsome evil villain who's in Sharpe's way? check
Incompetent British officer causing Sharpe headaches? check
A damsel in distress? check
Returning friends/allies? check
Boldness and cleverness in battle to get out of sticky situations? check
The book breezes by and is substantial evidence of Cornwell's improvement as an author, since it was published 24 years after the previous book chronologically and his first ever in Sharpe's Gold, which was easily the worst in the series so far and worse than this one in every which way. This was the second-to-last book Cornwell wrote in the mid 2000s before taking a 15-year break for the Last Kingdom books, and he was on an incredible roll with Sharpe -- these are just delectable fast paced military/adventure books that ooze personality. I'm just hoping that when I go back in time for more of his 1980s ones that they don't have as big a drop in quality as the first two.
Kudos to Rupert Farley, whose narration makes every second with the series an absolute joy.
Big set piece battle? check
Loathsome evil villain who's in Sharpe's way? check
Incompetent British officer causing Sharpe headaches? check
A damsel in distress? check
Returning friends/allies? check
Boldness and cleverness in battle to get out of sticky situations? check
The book breezes by and is substantial evidence of Cornwell's improvement as an author, since it was published 24 years after the previous book chronologically and his first ever in Sharpe's Gold, which was easily the worst in the series so far and worse than this one in every which way. This was the second-to-last book Cornwell wrote in the mid 2000s before taking a 15-year break for the Last Kingdom books, and he was on an incredible roll with Sharpe -- these are just delectable fast paced military/adventure books that ooze personality. I'm just hoping that when I go back in time for more of his 1980s ones that they don't have as big a drop in quality as the first two.
Kudos to Rupert Farley, whose narration makes every second with the series an absolute joy.
August 10, 2020
A decent addition to the Sharpe series. Colorful villains, decent supporting characters and good action. Where it doesn't quite come up to scratch compared with better Sharpes is that you don't feel the significance of the historical battles as you do in many of the other books. Also, these battles are all packed into the first half of Escape. The technique works best when Cornwell inserts them into his plot so that they play a bigger part of his usual satisfactory finishes. Still, this is a fine read that any Sharpe fan should enjoy.
February 26, 2017
In questo libro di Sharpe direi che la parte storica è riuscita meglio che non quella di fiction.
La parte storica è sempre accurata e oltremodo affascinante.
Finalmente vediamo in azione la formidabile linea difensiva\trappola ideata da Wellington e costruita grazie ai soldi recuperati da Sharpe a spese del gruppo partigiano che se ne voleva appropriare.
Una linea di fortini che va da costa a costa, con il terreno rimodellato per ostacolare e ostruire l'avanzamento nemico, supportato inoltre da fiumi ingrossati in questo periodo dell'anno.
Col nemico che arriva numeroso e affamato, dato che a quanto pare gli inglesi anticiparono di un bel po' i russi nell'indietreggiare lasciando solo terreno privo di provviste agli inseguitori... ma questa non fu una battaglia decisiva quanto lo fu invece la campagna di russia, e alla storia è passato il Generale Inverno. Non lo sapevo.
Sharpe invece continua a fare il suo: si inimica ufficiali britannici, salva e seduce belle donne, scova traditori, salva la baracca.
Sharpe e Harper ormai sono amiconi, ben lontani da quel primo scontro durante la rovinosa ritirata che li staccò dal resto della compagnia... e ritorna in scena Jorge Valente, l'ufficiale portoghese che aveva incontrato Sharpe agli inizi della campagna.
Però ci sono alcuni problemi.
Capisco che Lawford deve rispettare le promesse fatte alla dispotica moglie, ma ormai dovrebbe avere una buona amicizia con Sharpe. Fa strano che si comporti così, è un po' al limite per il personaggio.
Poi Slingsby. E' un raccomandato, d'accordo. Ma tutti gli ufficiali all'epoca lo erano, al punto che viene da stupirsi che l'esercito funzionasse. Forse funzionava per il semplice motivo che ovunque era la stessa cosa, quindi giocavano ad armi pari. Sharpe era l'eccezione, Slingsby la regola.
Ma la maggior parte degli ufficiali raccomandati magari erano arroganti e presuntuosi, odiosi anche, ma da qui ad arrivare alle vette di inutilità e incapacità di questo ubriaco ce ne vuole. Capisco che servisse un modo per liberarsene, ma questo è giocare sporco.
E poi il titolo e la sinossi.
La trappola da cui scappare dura poco e compare tipo a metà libro. Se avessero dedicato il libro invece allo scontro con i portoghesi traditori sarebbe stata una scelta più fortunata.
Non sono certo scritti male questi libri, ma le trame spesso (sopratutto nei libri più recenti) sono un po' deboli. Ammetto di continuare a leggere la serie solamente per l'aspetto storico.
La parte storica è sempre accurata e oltremodo affascinante.
Finalmente vediamo in azione la formidabile linea difensiva\trappola ideata da Wellington e costruita grazie ai soldi recuperati da Sharpe a spese del gruppo partigiano che se ne voleva appropriare.
Una linea di fortini che va da costa a costa, con il terreno rimodellato per ostacolare e ostruire l'avanzamento nemico, supportato inoltre da fiumi ingrossati in questo periodo dell'anno.
Col nemico che arriva numeroso e affamato, dato che a quanto pare gli inglesi anticiparono di un bel po' i russi nell'indietreggiare lasciando solo terreno privo di provviste agli inseguitori... ma questa non fu una battaglia decisiva quanto lo fu invece la campagna di russia, e alla storia è passato il Generale Inverno. Non lo sapevo.
Sharpe invece continua a fare il suo: si inimica ufficiali britannici, salva e seduce belle donne, scova traditori, salva la baracca.
Sharpe e Harper ormai sono amiconi, ben lontani da quel primo scontro durante la rovinosa ritirata che li staccò dal resto della compagnia... e ritorna in scena Jorge Valente, l'ufficiale portoghese che aveva incontrato Sharpe agli inizi della campagna.
Però ci sono alcuni problemi.
Capisco che Lawford deve rispettare le promesse fatte alla dispotica moglie, ma ormai dovrebbe avere una buona amicizia con Sharpe. Fa strano che si comporti così, è un po' al limite per il personaggio.
Poi Slingsby. E' un raccomandato, d'accordo. Ma tutti gli ufficiali all'epoca lo erano, al punto che viene da stupirsi che l'esercito funzionasse. Forse funzionava per il semplice motivo che ovunque era la stessa cosa, quindi giocavano ad armi pari. Sharpe era l'eccezione, Slingsby la regola.
Ma la maggior parte degli ufficiali raccomandati magari erano arroganti e presuntuosi, odiosi anche, ma da qui ad arrivare alle vette di inutilità e incapacità di questo ubriaco ce ne vuole. Capisco che servisse un modo per liberarsene, ma questo è giocare sporco.
E poi il titolo e la sinossi.
La trappola da cui scappare dura poco e compare tipo a metà libro. Se avessero dedicato il libro invece allo scontro con i portoghesi traditori sarebbe stata una scelta più fortunata.
Non sono certo scritti male questi libri, ma le trame spesso (sopratutto nei libri più recenti) sono un po' deboli. Ammetto di continuare a leggere la serie solamente per l'aspetto storico.
September 13, 2025
I really enjoyed coming back too Sharpe actually, but these are weird books to judge because while well written they do work to an obvious formula which Im sure many Sharpe fans will agree is true. It had been a while since Id been back to this series and it was comforting to come back too.
August 23, 2022
Sharpe #10, and another re-read.
Like the previous book, this one takes place in 1810. Still in Portugal, but this time the story centers around the Bussaco Campaign.
Wellesley's manmade Lines of Torres Vedras are prominently featured, and what an innovation for the times they were! They kind of make me think of Hadrian's Wall, except the Lines were deadlier for attacking forces. I spent a ridiculous amount of time researching these on the internet. The Lines extended from the East to the West of Portugal, from the Tagus River to the Atlantic Ocean. What really boggles my mind is that although they were constructed over the course of 10-11 months, and thousands of laborers were utilized, it remained a secret not only from the French but from the governments of England and Portugal as well. The French were completely unaware despite reports from traitors and spies, too. Additionally, the English directed all of the Portuguese people south of the Lines in more or less a mass exodus. (Tens of thousands of these poor people did not survive the journey.) The British soldiers then systematically destroyed all sources of food north of the Lines. How on earth this remained a secret to France's invading army I'll never know.
In the midst of all of these events, one of the best sections of the book has nothing, (at least directly), related to the war. Captain Sharpe, Sergeant Harper, Captain Vicente and the governess Sarah Fry find themselves in quite a predicament together. That whole scene kept giving me a serious case of the giggles! They are in significant danger, but the way Cornwell wrote it is really comical.
Excellent book!
Like the previous book, this one takes place in 1810. Still in Portugal, but this time the story centers around the Bussaco Campaign.
Wellesley's manmade Lines of Torres Vedras are prominently featured, and what an innovation for the times they were! They kind of make me think of Hadrian's Wall, except the Lines were deadlier for attacking forces. I spent a ridiculous amount of time researching these on the internet. The Lines extended from the East to the West of Portugal, from the Tagus River to the Atlantic Ocean. What really boggles my mind is that although they were constructed over the course of 10-11 months, and thousands of laborers were utilized, it remained a secret not only from the French but from the governments of England and Portugal as well. The French were completely unaware despite reports from traitors and spies, too. Additionally, the English directed all of the Portuguese people south of the Lines in more or less a mass exodus. (Tens of thousands of these poor people did not survive the journey.) The British soldiers then systematically destroyed all sources of food north of the Lines. How on earth this remained a secret to France's invading army I'll never know.
In the midst of all of these events, one of the best sections of the book has nothing, (at least directly), related to the war. Captain Sharpe, Sergeant Harper, Captain Vicente and the governess Sarah Fry find themselves in quite a predicament together. That whole scene kept giving me a serious case of the giggles! They are in significant danger, but the way Cornwell wrote it is really comical.
Excellent book!
August 15, 2017
Another ripping yarn where our hero, Sharpe, has to rise above the prejudice around him, put down a nasty villain, out-smart the French and win the attractive young lady as usual. What makes the series just a little bit better than just being formulaic is the historical setting - this time the battle of Bussaco (where the French really were brave and stupid, and defeated), the looting of Coimbra and the impasse at the Lines of Torres Verdes.
The good writing also helps.
I read Sharpe to be entertained, sometimes amused and always informed, and Cornwell never lets me down.
The good writing also helps.
I read Sharpe to be entertained, sometimes amused and always informed, and Cornwell never lets me down.
November 26, 2022
Set in 1810 during the Portugal Peninsular War, the book continues the ongoing campaign between the British, their Portuguese allies and the French enemy.
Richard Sharpe and the dutiful Pat Harper rebel ways leave them discarded by his regiment. He wages a war against a private Portuguese enemy. One fought through the burning, pillaged streets of Coimbra.
Forced to retreat across treacherous terrain, the British army prepare vast defences at the Lines of Torres Vedras. Their greatest secret and their ultimate hope of stopping the French reaching Lisbon. And risking everything to rejoin his regiment and lead the army into battle once more, is Sharpe. . .
If you're familiar with a Sharpe novel, this doesn't deviate from the blueprint. A well described Battle of Bussaco, a female love-interest, and an evil villain - it's all in here. It can also be read as a standalone but I'm following the series in chronological order. A worthy and worthwhile addition to the Sharpe series.
Richard Sharpe and the dutiful Pat Harper rebel ways leave them discarded by his regiment. He wages a war against a private Portuguese enemy. One fought through the burning, pillaged streets of Coimbra.
Forced to retreat across treacherous terrain, the British army prepare vast defences at the Lines of Torres Vedras. Their greatest secret and their ultimate hope of stopping the French reaching Lisbon. And risking everything to rejoin his regiment and lead the army into battle once more, is Sharpe. . .
If you're familiar with a Sharpe novel, this doesn't deviate from the blueprint. A well described Battle of Bussaco, a female love-interest, and an evil villain - it's all in here. It can also be read as a standalone but I'm following the series in chronological order. A worthy and worthwhile addition to the Sharpe series.
October 16, 2011
Bernard Cornwell is still my favourite writer as far as fighting is concerned - I believe him to be the only one who has made me want to read long fights and battles. That said, and being this the second Sharpe book I've read... Sharpe seemed to be the only competent fighter, while the rest ranged from slightly to completely incompetents. Allowance on the incompetence range is made to Harper and Wellington (although this one is obvioulsy untouchable due to hierarchy and Sharpe's personal respect). Also, all the officials who do not interact directly with Sharpe and who agree with him.
Bernard Cornwell é o meu autor favorito no que diz respeito a lutas - acho que é o único que me faz querer ler situações longas de batalhas ou lutas. Dito isto, e sendo este o segundo livro da série Sharpe que leio, parece-me que Sharpe é o único soldado/oficial/homem competente. Todos os outros parecem raiar desde o ligeiramente a extremamente incompetente. Excepção feita para Harper e Wellington (embora este último seja obviamente intocável graças à hierarquia a ao respeito pessoal de Sharpe por ele). Juntam-se a esta lista todos aqueles oficiais que concordam mas, de outro modo, não interagem directamente com Sharpe.
Bernard Cornwell é o meu autor favorito no que diz respeito a lutas - acho que é o único que me faz querer ler situações longas de batalhas ou lutas. Dito isto, e sendo este o segundo livro da série Sharpe que leio, parece-me que Sharpe é o único soldado/oficial/homem competente. Todos os outros parecem raiar desde o ligeiramente a extremamente incompetente. Excepção feita para Harper e Wellington (embora este último seja obviamente intocável graças à hierarquia a ao respeito pessoal de Sharpe por ele). Juntam-se a esta lista todos aqueles oficiais que concordam mas, de outro modo, não interagem directamente com Sharpe.
March 16, 2012
In Portugal in 1810, Sharpe is cut off from his South Essex regiment (which is, naturally, to be given to a higher class commander, who is, naturally, the colonel’s brother in law, not very good at battle and also a drunkard) and finds himself with Sergeant Harper and Vincente, an old Portuguese ally, behind French lines. They pursue a Portuguese major (who is, naturally, a traitor and has colluded with the French, and has a brother who is cruel to women, particularly one pretty woman who, naturally, falls for Sharpe) all the way back to the famed defensive works that Wellington has built at Torres Vedras.
Sure, it’s pretty much the same formula as the last installment Sharpe’s Gold (inept rival, traitorous ally), but all these books are cut from the same basic cloth anyway. I don’t read Cornwell for character development, innovation, or vicissitudes in plot. He delivers drama, sufficient historical realism, and the kinds of villains the readers love to hate: they may as well wear black cloaks and twirl handlebar mustaches for all the depth they have. It’s a diverting page-turner, and scenes like the escape from a cellar into sewers, or the climactic battle at the farmhouse, keep me reading.
Sure, it’s pretty much the same formula as the last installment Sharpe’s Gold (inept rival, traitorous ally), but all these books are cut from the same basic cloth anyway. I don’t read Cornwell for character development, innovation, or vicissitudes in plot. He delivers drama, sufficient historical realism, and the kinds of villains the readers love to hate: they may as well wear black cloaks and twirl handlebar mustaches for all the depth they have. It’s a diverting page-turner, and scenes like the escape from a cellar into sewers, or the climactic battle at the farmhouse, keep me reading.
September 1, 2013
I've enjoyed every Sharpe adventure I've read so far. This was one of the more interesting one, Sharpe once again in action in Portugal. The history very interesting, dealing with Wellington's building of a fortress-like wall along the coast to keep the French from Lisbon and also destroying crops, foodstuff, etc on the French side of the wall to starve them into submission. In the midst of this, Sharpe is involved with traitorous Portuguese, saving a lovely English girl and trying to find his way, along with his perpetual companion, faithful Sgt Harper to the wall and his regiment. Excellent stuff.!
January 29, 2013
Another entertaining historical tale. Started a bit slowly with Sharpe being stuck with the Regiment but luckily circumstances intervene and Sharpe gets to go off on his own, with just a bit of help, and do what he does best. Listened to the audio version read by the always impeccable Patrick Tull.
February 26, 2018
Another great book in the Sharpe series, Sharpe's Escape is probably one of the best written so far. That being said, all of the Sharpe books are a joy for readability, great writing, incredibly fast moving plots, all set in meticulously researched historical situations. Highly recommended, but for character development best to start with book #1 and read in chronological order.
April 27, 2012
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...
July 14, 2017
"Did he seriously just do that?" It is a rare thing for a book to bring forth such side splitting laughter from me. As this question rang through my mind, laughter could not help bursting forth as I read the lines depicting our hero, Richard Sharpe, and this book's love interest having their first romantic encounter. You could not have possibly contrived a more unlikely place for it to have happened. Trust me, though, I am laughing at the author, not with him. It could not have happened in a less likely setting.
I have seen the typical Sharpe formula so many times that these books hold more intrigue for me to see how he will put the pieces together than straight enjoyment of the plot. The Sharpe series follows the military career of Lord Arthur Wellesly from his early days in India all the way through his defeat of Napolean through the eyes of one Richard Sharpe, currently a Captain of the South Essex Regiment's skirmishers.
With the exception of the last book (Sharpe's Gold) and his novellas each one weaves the story around one of the battles of that time. With regard to the historical events themselves Cornwell is unmatched. Where the fictional plot is concerned... yawn. You will have a villainous big bad, a love interest, and some military beadledom. Sharpe will be stymied by but eventually overcome the bureaucracy as he leads his troops, have a dramatic one to one encounter with the bad guy, and win the girl.
Honestly, that last paragraph could be my review of every single one of these books. They are a fun, easy read, but only if you keep your expectations low... very low.
I have seen the typical Sharpe formula so many times that these books hold more intrigue for me to see how he will put the pieces together than straight enjoyment of the plot. The Sharpe series follows the military career of Lord Arthur Wellesly from his early days in India all the way through his defeat of Napolean through the eyes of one Richard Sharpe, currently a Captain of the South Essex Regiment's skirmishers.
With the exception of the last book (Sharpe's Gold) and his novellas each one weaves the story around one of the battles of that time. With regard to the historical events themselves Cornwell is unmatched. Where the fictional plot is concerned... yawn. You will have a villainous big bad, a love interest, and some military beadledom. Sharpe will be stymied by but eventually overcome the bureaucracy as he leads his troops, have a dramatic one to one encounter with the bad guy, and win the girl.
Honestly, that last paragraph could be my review of every single one of these books. They are a fun, easy read, but only if you keep your expectations low... very low.
May 7, 2023
Having grown up in the era of the machine gun, the Uzi, the Tech 9, the AK 47 and so many other high-speed weapons, I was surprised that when I first read Sharpe' Sword--my first Sharpe adventure--how exciting Bernard Cornwell had made the rank and file battles of the Napoleonic Wars across Europe.
Sharpe's Escape is no different. This one focuses on the Portuguese campaign. It is was exciting as it is heartbreaking. While Napoleon may have been the aggressor, Wellington's response in Portugal harmed the innocents as much as Napoleon did. Wellington adopted a scorched earth policy, doing his best to not leave anything behind that would allow the French troops to survive. Destroyed fields, food stuffs burned or thrown in the river to prevent the French from benefitting.
Our hero, Richard Sharpe, is currently dealing with incompetence above him and traitors around him. Cornwell keeps the action moving and interesting, while at the same time giving vivid historical detail. I finally understand why marching in file was so important for the armies in those days.
Sharpe's Escape is full of adventure and well-drawn characters.
Sharpe's Escape is no different. This one focuses on the Portuguese campaign. It is was exciting as it is heartbreaking. While Napoleon may have been the aggressor, Wellington's response in Portugal harmed the innocents as much as Napoleon did. Wellington adopted a scorched earth policy, doing his best to not leave anything behind that would allow the French troops to survive. Destroyed fields, food stuffs burned or thrown in the river to prevent the French from benefitting.
Our hero, Richard Sharpe, is currently dealing with incompetence above him and traitors around him. Cornwell keeps the action moving and interesting, while at the same time giving vivid historical detail. I finally understand why marching in file was so important for the armies in those days.
Sharpe's Escape is full of adventure and well-drawn characters.
January 26, 2022
I don't think Sharpe as a character could have ever been called 'perfect' but I've always found him reasonable. This novel was different because we see a different and more unreasonable side of him due to the fervent dislike of a colleague and I found this quite fascinating. Sharpe's Escape is another cookie-cutter episode of the series but with plenty of brotherhood and action you'd expect. There's a bad guy, a girl and a war- oh and the army is unfair again. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this thoroughly.
September 23, 2018
When you have reached book 10 in Sharpe's series, the only major change you expect is wheter the book is from the early Sharpe 80s or late Sharpe's 2000s, since they tend to be written slightly more differently and since early Sharpe didn't know what he did in later books, they have some inconsistencies. But this again is one late Sharpe. So if you like the formula meet enemy - meet girl - get girl - kill enemy - win the day -- Then you pretty much like this one as well.
October 24, 2024
Sharpe's Escape takes place in Portugal and covers the British fight with the French in the Peninsular War. Sharpe is sent off on his own mission and get trapped behind enemy lines. But wait - not only does he have to deal with the French, but he also has a beef with a couple of Portuguese businessmen who are taking advantage of people during the chaos of war.
Most of the book feels very much like a repeat of the previous 9 books. Sharpe gets in a pinch, Sharpe meets a woman, Sharpe is the most clever and upstanding guy in the world and succeeds in the end. I felt that Sharpe's Escape contained less historical backdrop than the other Cornwell books, and the focus was much more on the drama between Sharpe and these Portuguese baddies than the war itself.
I'd file this one away in the "mildly enjoyable mindless war drama" category. It'll hit for the right kind of person.
Most of the book feels very much like a repeat of the previous 9 books. Sharpe gets in a pinch, Sharpe meets a woman, Sharpe is the most clever and upstanding guy in the world and succeeds in the end. I felt that Sharpe's Escape contained less historical backdrop than the other Cornwell books, and the focus was much more on the drama between Sharpe and these Portuguese baddies than the war itself.
I'd file this one away in the "mildly enjoyable mindless war drama" category. It'll hit for the right kind of person.
February 1, 2019
Bernard Cornwell is no Patrick O'Brian, let along Dorothy Dunnett. However, he has created an engaging character in Richard Sharpe, who you don't mind following through almost the entire Napoleonic Wars.
December 4, 2017
Typical Sharpe adventure. Very enjoyable.
March 7, 2022
Another solid entry in the Sharpe series. These books are formulaic for the most part, but I still enjoy them every time.
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