Sharpe's Regiment

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**Sharpe's Regiment**

First edition cover
Author	Bernard Cornwell
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	Richard Sharpe
Genre(s)	Historical novel
Publisher	HarperCollins
Released	20 January 1986
Media Type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	416 p. (first edition, hardback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-00-221430-X (first edition, hardback)
Preceded by	Sharpe's Honour
Followed by	Sharpe's Christmas

Sharpe's Regiment is a historical novel by Bernard Cornwell.

[edit] Plot introduction

In this book set during the Napoleonic Wars, Sharpe repeatedly runs into problems caused by his lower social class and his officer standing. This is the only book in the series to be set in England, however in the Television series a second was produced - Sharpe's Justice - and involves Sharpe looking for the missing Second Battalion of the South Essex Regiment which he needs to reinforce the dwindling First Battalion in Spain. The story also involves Sharpe and Harper having to rejoin the South Essex as recruits to find the missing men.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Major Sharpe should be fighting the French, but his worst enemies are in England. Major Richard Sharpe's men were in mortal danger, not from the French, but from the bureaucrats of Whitehall. Unless reinforcements can be brought from England, the depleted South Essex would be disbanded, their troops scattered throughout the army. Determined not to see his regiment die, Sharpe returns to England and uncovers a nest of well-bred, high-ranking government officials engaged in crimping, selling off recruits inteded for the South Essex to the hightest bidder, any one of whom could utterly destroy his career with a word, or a stroke of the pen. Sharpe is forced into the a desperate gamble to resolve the situation.

Richard Sharpe stories

by Bernard Cornwell (in historical order)