Sharpe's Escape
Book
Sharpe's Escape takes place in the summer of 1810, once again
in the Peninsular War. The French are mounting their third
and most dangerous invasion of Portugal. Captain Richard Sharpe
with his company of redcoats and riflemen meets the invaders
on the gaunt ridge of Bussaco. But there, despite a stunning
British victory, the French are not stopped and the army have
to fall back.
Sharpe has made enemies among the Portuguese and during the
retreat through Coimbra , he and Sergeant Harper are lured
into a trap designed to kill them. With the help of an Englishwoman,
Sharpe survives, but is cut off from the army. He has to rejoin
his regiment if the command is not to fall to the ambitious
Lieutenant Slinbsby. At the Lines of Torres Vedras, the vast
defences built to stop the French before Lisbon , Sharpe confronts
his enemies in a climactic battle.