Book info

• Title Sharpe's Fortress
• Author Bernard Cornwell
• Year 1999
• Genre Historical

India, December 1803. The British army are closing in on enemy troops in western India and Ensign Richard Sharpe, freshly promoted yet unsure of his position, finds himself vulnerable: he’s unwelcome among the officers, yet finds hidden enemies within the ranks. With no-one he can trust, Sharpe is in serious danger when an old adversary arrives on his trail – and a terrible act of betrayal draws him into the eye of the storm. All roads lead to Gawilghur, a legendary, impregnable fortress in the sky. In the heart of enemy territory, the British carry out a near-impossible siege. And joining the front line, risking his honour and reputation in a battle that will test him as never before, is Sharpe...

Thoughts

I have mixed feelings about Sharpe so far, I love the characters and particularly the complex Sharpe himself: he wanted to be an officer but hates it, he wants to leave the army but enjoys the structure of it, he wants to trust people, but quite rightly doesn’t! All of that layered on top of a big battle - and that’s the bit I enjoy less, it’s so well researched and described but just not that engaging for me. However, taken as an overall piece, I loved it and will definitely be reading the next in the series.

Rating: 3 / 5