Sharpe's Skirmish

Sharpe's Skirmish delivers all the action and drama loyal fans have come to expect from Bernard Cornwell's iconic Sharpe series. As the title suggests, this compact novella chronicles Richard Sharpe's skirmish along the Tormes River in August 1812, on the heels of the Battle of Salamanca. Still recovering from grave wounds sustained in that major clash, Sharpe finds himself relegated to the quiet backwater of San Miguel. But in classic Sharpe fashion, the remote Spanish fort proves far from quiet for long.

Cornwell excels at plunging his rough-and-tumble protagonist into impossible situations, and Sharpe's Skirmish is no exception. Vastly outnumbered by skilled French cavalry determined to cross the vital river crossing, Sharpe must tap all his cunning and combat experience to defend the bridge. Cornwell delivers his trademark gripping battle sequences, made all the more intense in such a compressed format. Peppered with memorable new characters, old score-settling, and high stakes on Spain's war-ravaged landscape, Sharpe's Skirmish whets readers' appetites for more.

While more a snacks-ized amuse-bouche than a full entree compared to the hefty historical novels, Sharpe fans will relish this tight 60-page installment. Sharpe's Skirmish slips enjoyably between major series titles, offering a glimpse of our quick-witted hero at his scrappiest. This skirmish may be small, but with Richard Sharpe at the helm, it proves plenty momentous.