- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; New edition edition (1 Nov 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0002259303
- ISBN-13: 978-0002259309
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 578,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
‘Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph
'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail
'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer
‘The best battle scenes of any writer I’ve ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.’ George R.R. Martin
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.Review
'Sharpe and his creator are national treasures.' Sunday Telegraph 'Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation.' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched.' Observer 'The best battle scenes of any writer I've ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive.' George R.R. Martin
--This text refers to an alternate
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First Sentence
Richard Sharpe wanted to be a good officer. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Richard Sharpe wanted to be a good officer. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With any Sharpe novel you know you are going to get a fast-paced, well told story and plenty of action. This is no exception. Here our hero must battle the prejudices of his own comrades as he rises to the rank of Ensign as well as the forces of Gawilghur lead by old enemy William Dodd and arch nemesis Obadiah Hakeswill, Sharpe's nemesis from the first two books. The early chapters, describing Sharpe's exposure of his Captain's corruption and subsequent kidnap are lively and interesting. Once again, as punishment for his honesty, Sharpe finds he must fight a couple of enormous local thugs known as Jettis and once again he eventually prevails. It as at this point where the novel begins to struggle a bit. It is difficult to see why Cornwell could not at least invent some other evil for Sharpe to overcome. The Jetti fight is almost identical to that in Sharpe's Tiger. Following the fight Sharpe basically seems to do what he wants, wandering from regiment to regiment at will and pretty much making his own orders. Of course we allow Cornwell a good bit of licence with Sharpe in the name of good story-telling but this really does stretch credulity a little too far. The Siege itself is well told and Sharpe conducts himself with his usual daring aplomb but again there are some things which are difficult to accept. It is never fully explained for example, why after taking the outer Fort, the British cannot simply wait and starve their opponents instead of ploughing recklessly forward on the same afternoon. This is not to say that in reality there was not a very pressing reason, it is just that is not explained here. Instead the capture of the fort feels a little too inevitable. Throughout the early chapters we are endlessly reminded of the impregnability of the `Fortress in the Sky' and yet ultimately it does not seem that tricky to capture it. Maybe these criticisms are a little harsh but Cornwell has set himself high standards and the first two `Indian prequels' were first class. It just feels that Cornwell was a little lazy with this one. Perhaps just a bit too keen to finish Sharpe's Indian adventures and ship him off to Trafalgar.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Cornwell has written another excellent Richard Sharpe novel.
For me, the most gripping part of this (and others in the series) is the realistic account of the battles and the effects on the soldiers. Being in the British Army at the beginning of the 19th century must have been hell.
Against the backdrop of blood and guts, the author has woven a good story with considered charaterisation. Recommeded.
Since this novel ends at the battle of Gawilghur (1803), and Sharpe's Rifles commences in 1809, I wonder how many more novels Sharpe can feature in.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Sharpe's Fortress is the best of the Cornwell's novels chronicling our hero's adventures in India, but it still lacks the character development of the books set in the Peninsula campaign. Hakeswill never appeared to be much of a threat and was unecessary as a foil for Sharpe since Dodd, a much more interesting foe, was present. The idea that the fortress actually existed and was attacked by Scottish and Sepoy troops makes the novel all the more fascinating and exciting. All in all, a fun and quick read and a welcome addition to the series.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Have to love the Sharp-books
The Sharp-books are some of the best books I have ever read. And I am just sorry that I can't forget them all and start all over again.
Published 4 months ago by Lars Rasmussen
Sharpie
Very good story, interesting and also humbly states later that it was all the Scots and Indians that did the business, there were no English companies there. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Denniss
Sharpe's Fortress
I am unable to give a review on this at present as the book has not been read, but based upon other books of Sharpe, and the auther Bernard Cornwell, it will be goo.
Published 8 months ago by AE Wheeler
Enjoyable but repetition does not make perfect.
Having read the two previous novels in Cornwell's "India trilogy" I was keen to read the finale instalment. Read more
Published 9 months ago by TheReader
Shape's Fortress
Enjoyable. I have come into possession of the whole Sharpe series except for this book, and went through in chronological order of the stories,rather than of the writing. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Dom
Speedy
Product in very good condition, delivery was a little slow, but as it is Christmas, I will let it go.
Published 17 months ago by Keven
Sharpe,s Fortress
Yet another excellent offering,from Bernard Cornwell,s Sharpe series.
Here we see Sharpe as the put upon Quartermaster,Fighting and winning the battles (As usual}and yet again... Read more
Here we see Sharpe as the put upon Quartermaster,Fighting and winning the battles (As usual}and yet again... Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2010 by Mr. Sl Allen
Sharpe's Fortress
Thoroughly enjoyed the India series (trilogy) - a page turner from the beginning. For anyone who has seen the TV series of Sharpe, you will not be disappointed; reading the books... Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2009 by Linda E. Stephens
An infantry counterpart to Hornblower
Being a great fan of Horatio Hornblower (books and films alike), I was immediately fascinated by his infantry counterpart and decided to follow this new career more closely when I... Read more
Published on 18 July 2009 by Christine
An Officer's Life Has Its Drawbacks for Richard Sharpe
Sharpe's Fortress is the third of the stories about Richard Sharpe in India. If you haven't read Sharpe's Tiger and Sharpe's Triumph, I strongly urge you to read those books before... Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2008 by Donald Mitchell
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