Sharpe's Enemy

Book XV of the Sharpe Series

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A band of renegades led by Sharpe's vicious mortal enemy, Obadiah Hakeswill, holds a group of British and French women hostage in a strategic mountain pass. On the other side of the pass, Napoleon's Grande Armie seeks to smash through and crash the British army in Portugal. Outnumbered and attacked from two sides, Sharpe must hold his ground or die in the attempt.

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

©1984 Rifleman Productions (P)1995 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Frederick Davidson performs superbly. The hardness and hauteur of his syllable - precise delivery render well the rigid hierarchies and varied personalities of military life. For fans of the series, Davidson's readings may be definitive." (AudioFile Magazine)

All around terrific

Wonderful story [but make sure you read this series in order] with lots of good characters, action and plot. The reader [F. Davidson] is perfect for the story and takes the listener along with him. Definitely worth it.

For fans, 2and most important book.

I see this book as the emotional climax to the Sharpe series, with Waterloo being the climax of the Napoleonic campaigns.
If one is only going to read one sharpe novel, any of them will be great. I believe I have read them all, some, as this, many times. Yet, for fans of Sharpe and Harper this should be the next to the last to be read with Waterloo in conclusion.
It maters because a mans relationship to his wife is more important than he knows until she dies. When I first read this my wife was alive. Now that a Hegswil, cancer, has taken my wife, I find Sharpe's actions and responses comforting and instructive.
Even if one cares not a wit about emotional connections, this book offers a manly balance to something one is likely to care about someday.

Battle for Portugal

This is book 15 in the Richard Sharpe series. Frederick Davidson does a superb job narrating the story. In this book Cornwell applied a bit more fiction to events than in the other books in the series. The overall battles between Wellesley and Napoleon's army are true but the battle in this story is fiction as was the rescue of the hostages. The band of deserters made up of all the armies in the area was true. Cornwell is the master of battle scene and keeps you on the edge of your seat listening to the book. Great story.

Four battles in one great story

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

Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series is simply the best historical action fiction you will find. Sharpe is a British soldier fighting with the Duke of Wellngton's army in Spain against the French. As with all the other books in this series, the story is fast paced, engaging, and a true page turner. Cornwell does his homework, and his books are factually sound and his plots very exciting. If you love action adventure stories, you will love this book, as well as all of the other books in this series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sharpe, he is a great combination of James Bond, Dirty Harry, and Rambo.

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

Mr. Davidson's performance is superb. You feel like you are sitting in a British pub and listening to a former British soldier who was an eye witness to the action being described.

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

"Before there was Rambo, there was Sharpe"

Any additional comments?

Buy all the books in the series, start from the beginning, and enjoy!

Overdue Justice

Audio version narrated by Fredrick Davidson.

This one was just fun. The whole army of roaming deserters and the fact that one really existed was fascinating. It was really satisfying to see Sharpe finally catch up with Hakeswell and that military discipline won out the day.

Good book, not the biggest fan of the reader.

love this series and this book. I wish they would re do the whole series with Rupert Farley though. I like Fredrick Davidsons version for sure. but I can not stand that he sounds like his mouth is over flowing with spit and is licking his chops every other word. some of the previous works weren't as bad but this one I could hear every time he opened his mouth. just a personal pet peve but it would be nice if Rupert Farley re did all the originals. I also just like how Rupert does it more comparatively.

A fantastic addition to an amazing series

Cornwell introduces some new characters in this one, all of whom are just as likable (or loathsome!) as other notables figures in the Sharpe series.
The battles in this one were especially poignant, especially since we get to see Sharpe fully realize his strategic cunning.
Highly recommended for any fan of the series or those interested in the Napoleonic Wars.

excellent!

this is one of my favorites in the series so far. amazing! great narrator

Always good!

The history, the story line, the characters and the narration of this series is always fantastic.
I highly recommend!

Another brilliant job of writing and of narration

I’ve gone in order now onto Sharpe’s Honor. I’ll be so sorry when I’m through the series. I can read them all again and will.