Sharpe's Battle

Holding the Lines at Fuentes de Onoro

Sharpe’s Battle thrusts Captain Richard Sharpe and the valiant Riflemen into the blistering summer of 1811, as Wellington’s Anglo-Portuguese army braces against Napoleon’s forces at the strategic town of Fuentes de Oñoro. Amidst the sun-baked hills and dusty roads, Sharpe discovers that the enemy he faces is not only the disciplined French columns but also treachery within allied ranks. When whispers of a traitor plotting to hand the town over to Marshal Masséna’s troops reach his ears, Sharpe must race against time to uncover the conspiracy before his comrades are slaughtered in their own outworks.

Alliances and Betrayals in the Portuguese Sun

As the enemy artillery pounds the battered walls of Almeida and the French cavalry sweeps through olive groves, Sharpe forges uneasy alliances with Portuguese militia and local guerrillas. Yet every act of solidarity is shadowed by suspicion: British officers jockey for promotion, while a mysterious Dragoon officer seems to guide the French to every weak point in the defenses. In a series of midnight skirmishes and desperate sorties, Sharpe’s leadership is tested by the fragility of trust in wartime and the blood price of victory.

Sharpened Steel and Unbreakable Resolve

In the book’s thunderous climax, Sharpe confronts the mastermind behind the betrayal in a ruined chapel on the battlefield’s edge. With musket balls whizzing and bayonets clashing in the fading light, he fights not only for his own life but for the honor of the King’s army. Through sheer grit and tactical brilliance, Sharpe turns the tide—proving that courage and cunning can prevail against overwhelming odds, even when the very bonds of loyalty threaten to fracture.

. Bernard Cornwell is a bestselling historical novelist renowned for his richly detailed battle scenes, unforgettable characters, and vivid portrayals of the Napoleonic Wars. His Sharpe series has captivated readers for decades with its blend of action, intrigue, and heart.