“Sharpe’s Escape” by Bernard Cornwell couples quite nicely all the elements of daring and adventure this reader has come to expect from Mr. Cornwell’s novels. All the Sharpe regulars -like Harper, Sharpe and the prerequisite lady in distress- are back with an old friend and a new vicious enemy. Naturally the action is replete and with such intricate and descriptive language as to make one feel they were actually at Bussaco hearing the Baker rifle fire and the French cries of “Vive l’Emperor.” I’ve become so enamored with Mr. Cornwell’s Sharpe novels that I savor them like a fine wine and take the time to appreciate each nuance and turn-of-phrase. Fans of Sharpe, enjoy. ( )

No. 10 in the Richard Sharpe series.

It’s still 1810, and the British Army and Captain Richard Sharpe are still in Portugal. Bought by Sharpe’s stolen gold, Wellington has had built enormous defences known as the Torres Vedras just north of Lisbon, constructed with Sharpe’s stolen gold. Wellington has ordered the Portuguese countryside stripped of all food, hoping in that manner to force the French to retreat out of starvation, since Napoleon’s army existed by living off the land. As yet, the French do not have any idea of these new defences.

But in any country, under any conditions, there are always those who put profit ahead of patriotism. Two such are the Ferreira brothers. One is a major in the Portuguese Army, playing both side, the English and the French. But, convinced that the French army is unstoppable, he throws in with them in order to safeguard his family fortune through war profiteering—making money by selling hoarded, contraband food while his countrymen starve. The other, nicknamed Ferragus, is a thug, a criminal for whom this is simply another way to earn even more money than he already has through other criminal activities.

Sharpe runs into the brothers while on patrol as the allied army retreats down the country, headed for Lisbon. He and Ferragus strike up an instantaneous hatred, but for the present, Ferragus has to back down as Sharpe orders a supply of contraband food belonging to the brothers to be destroyed. But unknown to the British or Portuguese authorities, the brothers have hidden a huge amount of stores—food, forage, military supplies—in Ferragus’ warehouse in Coimbra, a town that is best known for its ancient university, one of the oldest in Europe. Sharpe is destined for a confrontation in Coimbra, a dramatic escape from the town—only to wind up at the Battle of Bussaco just north of the town.

Standard Cornwell and Sharpe, with the usual climax of the story being a graphically-described bloody battle between the English and Portuguese on one side, and the French on the other. This has all the elements that a fan of the series is used to seeing—excitement, well-researched history, and excellent writing.

Highly recommended. ( )

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