Sharpe’s Escape: The Bussaco Campaign, 1810

Sharpe’s Escape: The Bussaco Campaign, 1810
Bernard Cornwell

Richard Sharpe, with enemies on every side, survives Marshall Massena’s attack and ends at the lines of Torres Vedras.Sharpe’s job as Captain of the Light Company is under threat and he has made a new enemy, a Portuguese criminal known as Ferragus. Discarded by his regiment, Sharpe wages a private war against Ferragus – a war fought through the burning, pillaged streets of Coimbra, Portugal’s ancient university city.Sharpe’s Escape begins on the great, gaunt ridge of Bussaco where a joint British and Portuguese army meets the overwhelming strength of Marshall Massena’s crack troops. It finishes at Torres Vedras where the French hopes of occupying Portugal quickly die.Soldier, hero, rogue – Sharpe is the man you always want on your side. Born in poverty, he joined the army to escape jail and climbed the ranks by sheer brutal courage. He knows no other family than the regiment of the 95th Rifles whose green jacket he proudly wears.

SHARPE’S

ESCAPE

Richard Sharpe and the

Bussaco Campaign, 1811

BERNARD CORNWELL

Copyright

This novel is a work of fiction. The incidents and some of the characters portrayed in it, while based on real historical events and figures, are the work of the author’s imagination.

Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2004

Copyright © Bernard Cornwell 2004

Map © Ken Lewis

Bernard Cornwell asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Source ISBN: 9780007120147

Ebook Edition © MARCH 2012 ISBN: 9780007338658

Version: 2017-05-06

Sharpe’s Escape is for Cece

‘What makes these books such a successful formula is the blend of action, well-researched historical setting, colourful characterization and a juicy sub-plot’

The Times

Table of Contents

Title Page (#ub4baa382-3640-5e06-a0bc-a47f4e5f1305)

Copyright (#u8b324a6c-47ca-517c-af49-4ebdd821b7d7)

Dedication (#u1f220c24-9ffa-51fa-b2c0-6a8f7faf23c1)

Epigraph (#uce2bb12c-113d-52db-b233-358e43e5bd6e)

Map (#u27f61bef-80d5-5c08-9a65-d89b3e88a8ac)

Part One (#u14b5892b-5bf8-5c72-8c6e-79f88fe8c559)

Chapter One (#ud45dc52c-7b2c-5383-9ec8-2d15a693b31a)

Chapter Two (#u8434ce67-66ec-5839-9f51-03ca1e58c7ef)

Chapter Three (#u9d80f427-6438-5103-a480-33f3f30872a7)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Part Two: Coimbra (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Part Three: The Lines of Torres Vedras (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Historical Note (#litres_trial_promo)

Sharpe’s Story (#litres_trial_promo)