Sharpe's Siege

Book XVIII of the Sharpe Series

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Sharpe's mission had seemed simple: capture a small unguarded French coastal fort, cripple Napoleon's supply lines, and retreat across the sea. But behind the lines, Sharpe's old enemy, Pierre Ducos, awaits Sharpe's arrival with a battalion of French soldiers and a vicious commanding general who keeps the scalps of his dead enemies as trophies.

Outmaneuvered by Ducos' treachery and abandoned by his own navy, Sharpe has only two choices: to escape with the aid of the charming, unscrupulous American mercenary, Cornelius Killick, or die.

Don't forget to check out the rest of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series.

©1987 Rifleman Productions (P)1995 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"With a plot up to its neck in blood and guts, this is adventure naked and unashamed." (Mail on Sunday)

Sharpe in between a rock and a hard place

Okay Sharpe is sent off on a ruse to take a French coastal fort, cause a little trouble in land and help the locals rebel against Napoleon. He isn't having any of it but orders are orders. When it comes to the crunch though, he is up the creek with out a paddle. The British Navy deserts him except for a few good marines, the French try to crush him, Major Dueco has him in his clasps and Sharpe's new wife has a cold. Lucky for him he has made a new friend. A US Privateer. What is the poor boy to do. Listen and you will not be disappointed.

Sharpe on the defensive

As usual, Cornwell's writing and Davidson's narration go great together. Can't believe that I'm nearly twenty books into this series, yet I still haven't gotten tired of listening to Sharpe's exploits.

Sharpe's Defense

Where does Sharpe's Siege rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed it like the others and they just keep getting better

What did you like best about this story?

The end where almost everything came together

Have you listened to any of Frederick Davidson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Mr Davidson is a true master and I enjoy all of his readings

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Sharpe on the Defense

Any additional comments?

Ok I am coming to the end of the series can't Mr Cornwell write more I love these

Sharpe is incredible again

never fails ... great battle scenes, total attention to historical detail. another Cornwell masterpiece. can't wait to listen to another one.

SHARPE'S STELLAR SEQUEL

One of the best Richard Sharpe books if not the best, ever written. Damn good book.

Another superb plot -

Read by the BEST READER EVER. And don’t miss Frederick Davidson’s reading PG Wodehouse. The Blandings series and Jeeves series. Hours and hours and hours of delightful joy. Can’t listen without laughing out loud by Davidson’s voices. I wish more Sharpe books available on Audible. Some Missing ones are on YouTube.

One of my favorites

Narrator was awesome. I love Richard's angst and superstitions prior to battle. I recommend this to any historical fiction fan.

Phenomenal Historical Psudo-fiction

Bernard Cornwell’s writing is genius. His relating of grim battles in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries is absolutely captivating. It is not just a statistical rehearsal of numbers wounded and dead. It is an in-your-face re-creation of the battle as though we were the ones, rifle or saber in hand, fighting not only for a cause but for our lives. I come away from those fight scenes almost sweating from the fear and action. Enlivening Cornwell’s words is the job of Frederick Davidson. Davidson translates the book into a script in which he plays the roles of each character and the narrator. When the action is frenetic, so is Davidson His pacing, intonation and breathing are so vivid I am more entangled in the action than I would be in a film version.
I strongly believe books can draw you personally into a story, engaging your imagination to immerse you in the book’s world. That concept is invigorated by the addition of a reader such as Davidson.
Sharpe’s Siege has our hero capturing and then defending a fort in France, against his better judgement. He is hamstrung by a traitor and a scurrilous

What else can Sharpe throw at you?

He is resourceful and resilient and honorable too. This was a blast of a story. Thank you Mr Cornwell!

Sharpe’s saga continues

Another great listen. As always one thrill and intrigue after another as Sharpe meets up with an unlikely ally.