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  • Sharpe's Enemy: The Defence of Portugal, Christmas 1812

  • The Sharpe Series, Book 15
  • By: Bernard Cornwell
  • Narrated by: Rupert Farley
  • Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (766 ratings)

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Sharpe's Enemy: The Defence of Portugal, Christmas 1812 cover art

Sharpe's Enemy: The Defence of Portugal, Christmas 1812

By: Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by: Rupert Farley
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Summary

*SHARPE’S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*

Spain, December 1812

In a deathly cold winter on the Spanish-Portuguese border, a group of deserters take British hostages and it falls to Major Richard Sharpe to lead the perilous rescue mission in the biting cold mountains – where he faces one of his oldest, and most cunning, adversaries.

The British army’s fate rests on the hostages’ liberation. Outnumbered and attacked from two sides, it looks like surrender or certain death on the Gateway of God pass. Yet prepared to hold his ground, or risk his life trying, is Sharpe . . .

‘A master storyteller’ DAILY TELEGRAPH

©1984 Bernard Cornwell (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers 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)

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What listeners say about Sharpe's Enemy: The Defence of Portugal, Christmas 1812

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!

Great story and the narration is outstanding, it really is. And on to the next one...

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My first Sharpe book and love it!

I'm familiar with the Sharpe TV series and really love this.. 12 hours is quite a short book from my previous listens but I really love it. It's quite an 'efficient' book, there's a lot packed into it but there's also a lot of fine detail. Very well written with clever use of language without becoming pretentious. Although it took a moment to warm to the narrator, I felt he did an amazing job. He gave the characters great voices and the accents weren't distracting. Great at using inflection, tone and rhythm to set the mood. Will definitely be getting more of the Sharpe books.

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Another Bernard Cornwall materpiece.

Another Bernard Cornwall masterpiece. Great plot and subplots. Enjoyed listening to it all the way through. Even bought some ear buds so I could keep listening while on the move. I love the way the characters are developing through each story. Now onto the next Sharpe book.

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They just keep getting better

Every time I progress in the Sharpe series, the books never cease to build upon the previous spectacular performance and story. This one is gripping as usual, but explores a wider range of emotions as you'll see.

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Legendary

Superb tale, very interesting but a very sad ending. Harper and Sharpe are legends they really are!

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Sharpie

2nd time around and as good as it was the first time around
Excellent listen

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No one writes a better battle than Bernard Cornwall

Listening, you can almost smell the black powder, hear the guns!

Rupert Farley is a superb narrator. By far the best to ever record any of the Sharpe books. Every voice is clear and recognisable, and his narration is gripping. Simply a pleasure to listen.

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my favourite book

of all the sharp series up to this book , this is definitely favorite. brilliant from start to finish. highly recommended

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The best after Sharpe’s Eagle.

Interestingly the story holds less of Harper, Price, Hogan etc… and is a little less intricate - and less of some of the romance we have had prior in the series - but the book really does better than some previous iterations of the character.

The battle sequences were gripping, the villain is actually vile and compelling, and Sharpe actually does grow as a person here. You can actually mark the difference in a commander, see how he’s maturing, handling the aristocratic buffoons of the army with good all round results and is building up a catalogue of experience with us - the reader.

The pace is good, the performance adds to this story also, having me laugh on a good few occasions. Not just the story line but… for example Lt. Prices worry. And newer characters like sweet William and Cross are really adding a broad depth.

Really liked this one. And I’m glad the series isn’t stagnating but is improving.

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Best sharp to date

Been working my way through these best one yet seasonal too as it’s set at Christmas 1812

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