Praise for the Sharpe Series: “Prepare to have your buckles swashed.
As usual, this is historical fiction on a grand scale, a period-piece thriller that will enrapture fans of the long-running series. Sharpe stays true to his down-and-dirty roots, and Cornwell steps back into Sharpe’s world as though he never left it. A boisterous return of a favorite character.
"Richard Sharpe has the most astounding knack for finding himself where the action is . . . and adding considerably to it."
"Cornwell's cinematically detailed battle pieces [are] literal tours de force."
Excellently entertaining. If you love historical drama, then look no further.”
"Richard Sharpe has the most astounding knack for finding himself where the action is . . . and adding considerably to it."
"Cornwell's cinematically detailed battle pieces [are] literal tours de force."
As usual, this is historical fiction on a grand scale, a period-piece thriller that will enrapture fans of the long-running series. Sharpe stays true to his down-and-dirty roots, and Cornwell steps back into Sharpe’s world as though he never left it. A boisterous return of a favorite character.
If only all history lessons could be as vibrant.
As usual, this is historical fiction on a grand scale, a period-piece thriller that will enrapture fans of the long-running series. Sharpe stays true to his down-and-dirty roots, and Cornwell steps back into Sharpe’s world as though he never left it. A boisterous return of a favorite character.” — Booklist
“This is first-rate historical fiction that any fan of the genre will enjoy.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Last seen in 2007’s Sharpe’s Fury, the indestructible Richard Sharpe has one more battle to fight in bestseller Cornwell’s rousing 24th novel featuring the English rifleman. . . . The action builds to a high-stakes sword fight between Sharpe and a French officer that’s resolved in an unexpected and satisfying way. Series fans will be pleased to see Sharpe retire from the army on a high note.” — Publishers Weekly
Praise for the Sharpe Series: “Prepare to have your buckles swashed.” — People
"Richard Sharpe has the most astounding knack for finding himself where the action is . . . and adding considerably to it." — Wall Street Journal
“Excellently entertaining. If you love historical drama, then look no further.”
— Boston Globe
“If only all history lessons could be as vibrant.” — San Francisco Chronicle
"Cornwell's cinematically detailed battle pieces [are] literal tours de force." — Washington Post
An irresistible combination of rousing military history, penetrating character analysis, and suspenseful martial intrigue . . . stirring British military history at its finest.” — Booklist
“Great fun.” — Kirkus
★ 2021-10-16
Richard Sharpe is fierce and fearless in his 22nd adventure for king and country.
The British have just defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, but a whole lot of blood is yet to be shed. As Lt. Col. Richard Sharpe helps his riflemen bury British dead, he receives orders from the Duke of Wellington to capture a citadel in a French town called Ham ("as in eggs") and release its prisoners, specifically Alan Fox, who trades in artworks and is making a list of stolen paintings. “So I’m to do the impossible,” he remarks, and is told “you have the devil’s own luck” and “you excel at dirty business.” Sharpe is a great series character who doesn’t fit the officer mold. He is the gutter-born bastard son of a prostitute and a random whorehouse customer. He’d been a rank-and-file soldier with deep scars on his back from flogging until the duke noticed his intelligence and bravery and made him an officer. But wouldn’t you know, now under his command is the captain who’d once had him flogged. No hard feelings, though? Think again. Sharpe threatens to flay the skin off the captain’s back if he orders any more floggings of the men. They are to go to Paris so Sharpe can find and kill a group of assassins known as la Fraternité, which either exists or is medieval claptrap. Vicious fights ensue in Parisian tunnels and in the open air. Sharpe’s formidable antagonist is the French Col. Lanier, a killing machine known as le Monstre, whose pleasures are “women, wine, and death to his enemies.” Their forces must meet—Sharpe has a battalion—and so must the two ferocious leaders. For them and their men, “it would be such a stupid time to die. The war was won.” And yet there’s still time for spectacular combat scenes, with swords and volley guns and thumbs in the eyes.
This is first-rate historical fiction that any fan of the genre will enjoy.
