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The Prequel To The Series, Describing Sharpe'S Experiences In India, Repackaged To Tie In With The Fantastic New Sharpe Look. Throughout The Series, There Are References To Sharpe'S Early Soldiering Life In India. With The Same Meticulous Research And Attention To Detail That Is Found In The Peninsular War Books, Bernard Cornwell Has Sumptuously Recreated The 1799 Campaign Against Seringapatam Which Made The British Masters Of Southern India, A Campaign That Pitted Brutalized Soldiers Against An Ancient And Splendid Civilization. Sharpe, The Rest Of His Battalion And Rising Star Of The General Staff Arthur Wellesley, Are About To Embark Upon The Siege Of The Island Citadel Of The Tippoo Of Mysore, Seringapatam. The British Must Remove This Potentate From His Tiger Throne, But He Has Gone To Great Lengths To Defend His City From Attack. When A Senior British Officer Is Captured By The Tippoo'S Forces, Sharpe Is Offered A Chance To Attempt A Rescue And Infiltrate The Tippoo'S Forces. Sharpe Needs No Invitation To Get Away From The Tyrannical Sergeant Hakeswill, But Once Inside The Dangerous World Of The Tippoo He Realises He Will Need All His Wits Just To Stay Alive, Let Alone Save The British Army From Catastrophe. Set Against The Background Of Dazzling Wealth, Ruinous Poverty, Gorgeous Palaces, Sudden Cruelty And Pitiless Battles, Sharpe'S Tiger Is His Greatest Adventure Yet.
Richard Sharpe must infiltrate the impenetrable fortress of Seringapatam to rescue a captured British officer, setting the stage for his rise within the ranks of the British Army in India. As a soldier trapped under the thumb of a sadistic sergeant, Sharpe seizes a dangerous opportunity to escape his immediate tormentors by volunteering for a covert mission behind enemy lines. He finds himself navigating the opulent yet lethal court of the Tippoo of Mysore, where he must rely on his instincts to survive. The narrative follows a third-person perspective, detailing the brutal realities of the 1799 campaign as the British forces prepare for a decisive siege against an ancient civilization.
This novel is widely recognized as a foundational entry in the long-running Sharpe series, effectively establishing the protagonist's origins for readers who began with the Peninsular War books. Critics often highlight the author's ability to maintain historical rigor while delivering a fast-paced military adventure. The depiction of the 1799 Seringapatam campaign is frequently praised for its balance of grand historical scope and intimate, gritty combat sequences. Readers appreciate how the narrative provides necessary context for Sharpe's later career, making it a significant piece of the larger series architecture.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
2006-04-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins
ISBN-10:
0007235046
ISBN-13:
9780007235049
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