Sharpe's Fortress: The Siege of Gawilghur, December 1803 (The Sharpe Series, Book 3)

By: Bernard Cornwell

Narrated by: Rupert Farley

Length: 13 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Ensign Richard Sharpe, newly made an officer, wishes he had stayed a sergeant after he is put in terrible danger by Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill at the impregnable Gawilghur's ravine.

To regain his confidence and his authority, Sharpe will fight as he has never fought before.

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.

Please Note: The historical note is NOT included in this audiobook.

©1999 Bernard Cornwell (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishing Limited

Critic reviews

"Sharpe and his creator are national treasures." ( Sunday Telegraph)
"Bernard Cornwell is a literary miracle. Year after year, hail, rain, snow, war and political upheavals fail to prevent him from producing the most entertaining and readable historical novels of his generation." ( Daily Mail)
"Cornwell's narration is quite masterly and supremely well-researched."( Observer)
"The best battle scenes of any writer I've ever read, past or present. Cornwell really makes history come alive." ( George R.R. Martin)

Sharpe leads capture of fortress

This is the third of the India prequels to the Sharpe series and it is classic Richard Sharpe. Recently given a battlefield promotion to Ensign, Sharpe finds himself rejected by the officers of his assigned battalion. He ends up being assigned to assisting the supply officer who turns out to be crooked. In addition, his old nemesis Obadiah Hakeswell also serves under the supply officer. Sharpe uncovers the stolen supplies and ends up making enemies. He manages to extricate himself from that situation alive, and then joins in the fight for Gawilghur. Sharpe discovers a back way in to the fort and leads a ragtag force in and ends up being key to the victory. This is classic Sharpe. The plot moves at a brisk pace, there is a lot of fighting, and plenty of revenge. What I didn’t like about this particular audiobook version was that it omits the historical note that Cornwell always includes at the end of his books.

Great characters and plot line

If you have not yet gotten into Richard Sharpe well you are in for a treat

iron clad fortress

excellent narration of fact based historical fiction.
the storyline is great and the narrator is awesome and will try other sharpe books

Love it

This was the best Sharpe story yet in my opinion. I really am enjoying the series notwithstanding that I am not a Great War buff nor have any special interest in that time period in India. The story is great and the historical references have made me curious and interested in the time and setting. Can't wait to start the next one.

Great way to wrap up India!

Another solid chapter in Richard Sharpe's life. Great seeing how he adjusts to being an Ensign.

Anti gun, but still love Cornwell

Don't understand how I can love this author so much because his books are so violent. Perhaps that violence is in all of us, but just under the surface, hidden away, but by God I love Bernard Cornwell. I love everything he has ever written and am on my second and third listens and/ or reads of each book. His heroes are real heroes. His historical research is marvelous, and he is a wonderful writer. I have learned so much about guns, long bows, artillery and long boats. For the lover of historical fiction, it doesn't get much better than this.