Bernard Cornwell · 1997 · overland

Bernard Cornwell's 1997 novel, the first of Richard Sharpe's adventures. In 1799 Private Sharpe of the 33rd Foot marches with the British army from Madras deep into Mysore to besiege Tippoo Sultan's fortress-capital at Seringapatam. Posing as a deserter, Sharpe slips inside the city walls on a desperate mission - and helps storm the breach that topples the Tiger of Mysore.

1. 1
   Madras

   On the Coromandel coast the British East India Company musters its army, and among the redcoats of the 33rd Foot is the young private Richard Sharpe - flogged, mistreated, and half-minded to desert as the columns turn inland.

2. 2
   Vellore

   The army marches west through the heat and dust toward Mysore, the kingdom of the fierce Tippoo Sultan, whose tiger-striped soldiers and caged beasts await the invaders behind the walls of his island capital.

3. 3
   Seringapatam

   At Seringapatam, ringed by the river Cauvery, Sharpe slips inside as a false deserter to free a captured British spy - then fights his way out through the storming of the breach as the Tiger of Mysore falls at last.