Sharpe's Escape (Sharpe, #10)

Title: Sharpe's Escape (Sharpe, #10)

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Published in: 2004

Date read: 12th August 2017

Score: 4/5

Genre: Historical fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Sharpe's Escape" by Bernard Cornwell, published in 2004, is the 18th novel in the Richard Sharpe series but chronologically earlier, slotting in after "Sharpe's Havoc" and before "Sharpe's Eagle." It is set during the brutal retreat to Corunna in late 1808 and early 1809 of the Peninsular War, a period of immense hardship and desperation for the British Army.

The story finds Major Richard Sharpe and his small band of loyal Chosen Men amidst the British forces under Sir John Moore, who are being relentlessly pursued by a much larger French army led by Marshal Soult. The retreat is characterized by freezing weather, dwindling supplies, desertion, and constant skirmishes. Morale is low, and the army is on the verge of collapse.

Adding to Sharpe's woes, he finds himself a pawn in a personal feud between two highly placed British officers: the arrogant and dangerously incompetent General William McKay, and the more capable but equally self-serving Major Dunnett. Sharpe is framed for a crime he didn't commit – the alleged theft of gold, a common theme in Sharpe's adventures – and stripped of his command. He is essentially an outcast, forced to operate independently.

Driven by a need to clear his name and survive the harrowing retreat, Sharpe and his loyal sergeant, Patrick Harper, along with the rest of the Chosen Men, must navigate the chaotic landscape. They are constantly battling not only the pursuing French but also the elements, starvation, and the corruption within their own ranks.

The "escape" of the title refers not just to the army's general retreat, but specifically to Sharpe's personal struggle to escape court-martial, capture, and death. He encounters a French spy and an elderly Spanish noblewoman, Dona Maria, whose family possesses a vital secret related to the war effort, making her a target for both sides. Sharpe finds himself reluctantly entangled in her plight, leading him into even greater danger.

The novel vividly portrays the grim realities of a broken army in retreat: the frozen corpses, the desperate foraging, the constant fear of cavalry attacks, and the breakdown of discipline. Sharpe's leadership, resourcefulness, and brutal pragmatism are put to the ultimate test as he battles against overwhelming odds, both external and internal.

The climax of the novel is the Battle of Corunna, the desperate rear-guard action fought by Moore's exhausted forces to allow the evacuation of the British army by sea. Sharpe plays a crucial, though largely unsung, role in the battle, fighting fiercely to protect the innocent, expose his enemies, and ultimately secure his own fragile escape and reputation amidst the chaos of retreat and battle. "Sharpe's Escape" is a powerful portrayal of military endurance and individual heroism against a backdrop of despair.

Comments:
I read all of the Sharpe books in chronological order, one after the other. When I have looked back, I have not separated them at all unless there is a specific thing to add which will be after saying that I suddenly loved historical fiction and anything that Bernard Cornwell writes.

Books that we've read by Bernard Cornwell (28):
Sharpe's Eagle (Sharpe, #8) (1981), Sharpe's Gold (Sharpe, #9) (1981), Sharpe's Company (Sharpe, #13) (1982), Sharpe's Sword (Sharpe, #14) (1983), Sharpe's Enemy (Sharpe, #15) (1984), Sharpe's Honour (Sharpe, #16) (1985), Sharpe's Regiment (Sharpe, #17) (1986), Redcoat (1987), Sharpe's Siege (Sharpe, #18) (1987), Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe, #6) (1988), Sharpe's Revenge (Sharpe, #19) (1989), Sharpe's Waterloo (Sharpe, #20) (1990), Sharpe's Devil (Sharpe, #22) (1992), Sharpe's Battle (Sharpe, #12) (1995), Sharpe's Tiger (Sharpe, #1) (1997), Sharpe's Triumph (Sharpe, #2) (1998), Sharpe's Fortress (Sharpe, #3) (1999), Sharpe's Prey (Sharpe, #5) (2000), Sharpe's Trafalgar (Sharpe, #4) (2000), Gallows Thief (2001), Heretic (The Grail Quest, #3) (2003), Sharpe's Havoc (Sharpe, #7) (2003), The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1) (2004), Sharpe's Escape (Sharpe, #10) (2004), Sharpe's Fury (Sharpe, #11) (2005), The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories, #2) (2006), Sword Song (The Saxon Stories, #4) (2007), Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3) (2007)