"If you love historical drama . . . then look no further."--The Boston Globe "His characters are vividly drawn, betrayals lurk around every corner, the humor is as sharp as the swords, and the action is nonstop."--NPR A gripping novel featuring the legendary Richard Sharpe from Bernard Cornwell, the internationally bestselling master of historical fiction widely recognized as "the most prolific and successful historical novelist in the world today" (The Wall Street Journal). If any man can do the impossible, it's Richard Sharpe . . . The year is 1813. France is a battlefield, and winter shows no mercy. Amid brutal conditions, Major Richard Sharpe finds himself saddled with an unexpected burden: Rear Admiral Sir Joel Chase, dispatched by the Admiralty with sealed orders, unshakable confidence, and a frankly terrifying enthusiasm for combat. Sharpe's mission from Wellington is clear, yet anything but simple: Keep Sir Joel alive. Sir Joel could hold the key to defeating Napoleon once and for all. But to pull off his audacious plan, he needs someone who knows how to fight dirty, think fast, and survive the impossible. He needs Sharpe. . . .