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Sharpe's Prey
First edition cover
Author	Bernard Cornwell
Cover artist	Danilo Ducek
Country	English
Language	United Kingdom
Series	Richard Sharpe stories
Genre(s)	Historical novels
Publisher	Harper Collins
Publication date	23 April 2001
Media type	Print (Hardcover and Paperback) and audio-CD
Pages	260 pp (hardcover edition)) 304 pp (paperback edition)
ISBN	ISBN 0-00-225875-7 (hardcover edition) ISBN 0-00-651310-7 (paperback edition)
OCLC Number	45735459
Preceded by	Sharpe's Trafalgar
Followed by	Sharpe's Rifles

Sharpe's Prey is the 2001 historical novel by Bernard Cornwell set during the Napoleonic Wars .

This book tells the story of Ensign Richard Sharpe, who is sent to Copenhagen in 1807 with the job of protecting a nobleman on an important, but secret, mission. Sharpe soon discovers that his task is not as simple as it seemed and that he must overcome traitors, spies and the bombardment of Copenhagen.

Plot introduction

This book is notable as a departure from the traditional style of Sharpe novels (which predominantly are set in India and Spain) as it mostly takes place in Denmark and also because it contains the first (chronological) brief appearance of Patrick Harper, later to become Sharpe's ever faithful companion. Bestselling novelist Bernard Cornwell returns to his popular Richard Sharpe series with this eighteenth installment, which finds his hero in the heart of war-torn Denmark, trying to protect the prized Danish fleet from Napoleon Bonaparte's ambitions.

Plot summary

The year is 1807, and Richard Sharpe is back in England, where his army career is at an end. Without love, destitute, and relegated to the job of quartermaster, Sharpe is on the streets of London, trying to contemplate a new life away from the army.

Then an old friend quite unexpectedly invites him to undertake a secret mission to the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Denmark is officially neutral, but Napoleon is threatening an invasion in order to capture the powerful Danish fleet, which could replace the ships France lost in its defeat at Trafalgar.

The British, fearing such enhancement of French power, threaten their own preemptive invasion. Sharpe, whose errand seemed so simple, is trapped by the treachery that will end only when the city, which thought itself safe, is subjected to a brutal and merciless bombardment.

Characters in "Sharpe's Prey"

• Richard Sharpe – the paid-off ensign, protagonist
• Patrick Harper – makes a brief appearance
• General Baird – Dispatches Sharpe on his mission.
• Honourable John Lavisser – A turncoat British Guards officer.
• Barker – A cuthroat servant.
• Lord Pumphrey – a machavellian Foreign Office employee.
• Arthur Wellesley– Divisional commander.
• Captain Gordon, an aide to General Baird, who is his uncle
• Major Dunnett, Sharpe's superior officer in the 95th rifles, with whom he enjoys a strained relationship

Release details

• 2001, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-225875-7, Pub date 23 April 2001, hardback (First edition)
• 2002, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-651310-7, Pub date 5 June 2002, paperback

External links

• Section from Bernard Cornwell's website on Sharpe's Prey
• Independent Review of Sharpe's Prey