title: Sharpe's Battle: Richard Sharpe & the Battle of Fuentes De Onoro, May 1811 (Richard Sharpe's Adventure Series #12)
author:  Bernard Cornwell 
description: From a previous book in Cornwell's acclaimed Sharpe series, Sharpe's Devil, we know that Richard Sharpe, up-from-the-ranks captain in the Duke of Wellington's army, lived at least until 1821. So this tale, which finds the English soldier pitted against the vicious General Guy Loup in 1811, during the Napoleonic Wars, lacks some suspense. Still, there's the tantalizing question of how Sharpe gets out of some very dangerous scrapes, both on and off the battlefield. Once again, the captain faces lethal enemies (Loup; a French spymaster), dangerous "allies" (an arrogant Spanish general; a nasty Irish peer) and tricky political situations (opposition among the Allies-Britain, Ireland, Portugal-to making Wellington supreme Allied leader). Some loyal friends show up as well, notably Sergeant Patrick Harper, with his seven-shot gun, giant frame and even larger spirit. In this 13th volume in the series, Cornwell's superb storytelling and skill at historical re-creation are in top form as he masterfully presents the carnage, clamor, stink and "sublime joy" of battle. <br />Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  [ALSO BY BERNARD CORNWELL](lastkingdomthe_con01.html#acp1)
  
  
    
    
  
  
  The Sharpe Novels (in chronological order)
  
  
    
    
  
  
  SHARPE’S TIGER[*](footnote1.html#fn_01)
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Seringapatam, 1799
  
  
  SHARPE’S TRIUMPH[*](footnote2.html#fn_02)
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the Battle of Assaye, September 1803
  
  
  SHARPE’S FORTRESS[*](footnote3.html#fn_03)
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Gawilghur, December 1803
  
  
  SHARPE’S TRAFALGAR[*](footnote4.html#fn_04)
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805
  
  
  SHARPE’S PREY[*](footnote5.html#fn_05)
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the Expedition to Copenhagen, 1807
  
  
  SHARPE’S RIFLES
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the French Invasion of Galicia, January 1809
  
  
  SHARPE’S HAVOC[*](footnote6.html#fn_06)
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the Campaign in Northern Portugal, Spring 1809
  
  
  SHARPE’S EAGLE
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the Talavera Campaign, July 1809
  
  
  SHARPE’S GOLD
  
  
  Richard Sharpe and the Destruction of Almeida, August 1810
  
  
  SHARPE’S ESCAPE[*](footnote