Sharpe's Fortress: The Siege of Gawilghur, December 1803

Sharpe, Book 3

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Rupert Farley

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 . . .

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©1999 Bernard Cornwell (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishing Limited

Sharpe leads capture of fortress

This is the third of the India prequels to the Sharpe series and it is classic Richard Sharpe. Recently given a battlefield promotion to Ensign, Sharpe finds himself rejected by the officers of his assigned battalion. He ends up being assigned to assisting the supply officer who turns out to be crooked. In addition, his old nemesis Obadiah Hakeswell also serves under the supply officer. Sharpe uncovers the stolen supplies and ends up making enemies. He manages to extricate himself from that situation alive, and then joins in the fight for Gawilghur. Sharpe discovers a back way in to the fort and leads a ragtag force in and ends up being key to the victory. This is classic Sharpe. The plot moves at a brisk pace, there is a lot of fighting, and plenty of revenge. What I didn’t like about this particular audiobook version was that it omits the historical note that Cornwell always includes at the end of his books.

Great characters and plot line

If you have not yet gotten into Richard Sharpe well you are in for a treat

iron clad fortress

excellent narration of fact based historical fiction.
the storyline is great and the narrator is awesome and will try other sharpe books

Love it

This was the best Sharpe story yet in my opinion. I really am enjoying the series notwithstanding that I am not a Great War buff nor have any special interest in that time period in India. The story is great and the historical references have made me curious and interested in the time and setting. Can't wait to start the next one.

Great way to wrap up India!

Another solid chapter in Richard Sharpe's life. Great seeing how he adjusts to being an Ensign.

Anti gun, but still love Cornwell

Don't understand how I can love this author so much because his books are so violent. Perhaps that violence is in all of us, but just under the surface, hidden away, but by God I love Bernard Cornwell. I love everything he has ever written and am on my second and third listens and/ or reads of each book. His heroes are real heroes. His historical research is marvelous, and he is a wonderful writer. I have learned so much about guns, long bows, artillery and long boats. For the lover of historical fiction, it doesn't get much better than this.