Sharpe's Fortress
Meet Richard Sharpe, a great British hero.
December, 1803 and Richard is now an officer. As Wellesley's army tries to end the Mahratta war, an act of treachery by Sharpe's old enemy, Sergeant Hakeswill puts him in terrible danger. He must regain his confidence and his treasure, the jewels of the Tippoo Sultan which have been stolen from him.
Sharpe's search for the thieves takes him to Gawilghur, a seemingly impregnable fortress. Inside is the renegade William Dodd, confident that no redcoat can reach him. In the horror of Gawilghur's ravine, Sharpe will fight as he has never fought before.
Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell’s name is synonymous with sweeping historical epics, where battles are not just fought on the page, but also fought for the hearts and minds of his readers. With a talent for bringing history’s most dramatic moments to life, Cornwell crafts stories that resonate beyond the battlefield. His books blend grit, passion, and authenticity, drawing readers into vividly imagined worlds where the stakes are as high as human history itself.
Born in London in 1944, Cornwell’s early years were shaped by a love of history and a sense of adventure. After spending time in England and the United States, his diverse experiences ignited his fascination with the past, and he quickly became captivated by the idea of writing historical fiction. With a background that includes working in television, Cornwell honed his skills in storytelling, focusing on pacing, character development, and the art of creating tension. It was this combination of skills that would eventually lead him to pen his iconic Sharpe series—a saga that would not only shape his career but also define a genre.
The Sharpe Series
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.
The Sharpe Series consists of twenty-three primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads — series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
