Richard Sharpe is the fictional soldier created by Bernard Cornwell. Best known from novels such as Sharpe's Rifles, he fights through the Napoleonic Wars with courage, cunning, and a talent for surviving impossible odds.
If you enjoy Richard Sharpe’s blend of military action, historical detail, and hard-driven storytelling, these authors are well worth exploring next:
If Sharpe is what drew you to Bernard Cornwell, it makes sense to continue with the author’s other historical series. A standout choice is The Last Kingdom, set in Viking-age England.
The novel follows Uhtred, a young nobleman captured and raised by Danes, who grows up torn between the land of his birth and the people who became his family.
Cornwell delivers fierce battles, political tension, and a compelling hero pulled in two directions. Anyone who likes Sharpe’s grit, battlefield skill, and strong sense of period will likely be hooked by Uhtred’s struggle for identity and survival.
C. S. Forester is one of the great names in military historical fiction, especially for readers who enjoy war stories shaped by duty, leadership, and pressure. If Sharpe’s campaigns appealed to you, the Horatio Hornblower novels are a natural next step.
The first book, The Happy Return, follows Captain Horatio Hornblower as he commands HMS Lydia on a dangerous mission in Central American waters during the Napoleonic Wars.
Hornblower must contend with enemy action, uneasy alliances, and the heavy burden of command, all while navigating his own doubts and principles.
Forester’s strength lies in making strategy, character, and tension work together. The result is immersive naval fiction with vivid action and a hero every bit as compelling as Sharpe.
Patrick O’Brian offers a richer, more intricate take on the Napoleonic era, transporting readers to the quarterdeck with unmatched authenticity.
In Master and Commander, Jack Aubrey receives command of HMS Sophie and begins one of historical fiction’s great partnerships when he befriends ship’s surgeon and natural philosopher Stephen Maturin.
Aubrey is bold, instinctive, and made for action; Maturin is reflective, observant, and intellectually curious. Their friendship gives the series much of its depth and charm.
There are duels of strategy, fierce engagements at sea, and plenty of personal tension along the way. Readers who enjoy Sharpe’s martial energy and memorable characters should find O’Brian deeply rewarding.
Simon Scarrow writes fast-moving historical fiction with a strong military focus, making him an easy recommendation for Sharpe fans.
His novel Under the Eagle is set during the Roman invasion of Britain and follows the fortunes of Cato and Macro, two soldiers thrown into brutal campaigns and dangerous army politics.
As they fight for survival and advancement, they face battlefield chaos, divided loyalties, and commanders who are not always as trustworthy as they seem.
Scarrow combines solid pacing with plenty of action, while giving his central characters enough humanity to keep the story grounded. If you like military camaraderie and hard-fought campaigns, he’s a strong choice.
Conn Iggulden writes historical fiction on an epic scale, but he never loses sight of character. That balance makes him a great fit for readers who enjoy Sharpe’s action and momentum.
His novel The Gates of Rome opens the Emperor series and traces the early lives of Gaius and Marcus as they grow up in a world shaped by ambition, violence, and political maneuvering.
The story follows their rise from youth toward power, showing how loyalty and rivalry can coexist in a ruthless society.
Iggulden has a gift for clear, energetic battle scenes and dramatic turning points. Fans of capable protagonists and immersive historical settings should find plenty to enjoy here.
Alexander Kent is a strong pick for readers who want more martial adventure, this time on the sea rather than the battlefield.
His Richard Bolitho novels follow a British naval officer through war, command, and personal trial. In To Glory We Steer, Bolitho takes command of HMS Phalarope during the American War of Independence.
He must deal with a difficult crew, dangerous enemies, and the constant strain of making the right decision under pressure.
Kent writes naval combat with clarity and excitement, but what really gives the books staying power is Bolitho himself—a capable, tested leader facing challenges on every front.
Adrian Goldsworthy is best known as a historian, and that depth of knowledge gives his fiction a convincing edge. For Sharpe readers who value authenticity, that is a major draw.
In Vindolanda he introduces Flavius Ferox, a seasoned centurion patrolling the dangerous frontier of Roman Britain near Hadrian’s Wall.
Ferox must contend with tribal unrest, shifting allegiances, and internal Roman tensions as much as open warfare.
Goldsworthy blends atmosphere, action, and historical texture very effectively. If you like battle-tested protagonists operating in harsh borderlands, this series should suit you well.
Ben Kane brings the ancient world to life with energy, scale, and a strong sense of danger. His fiction should appeal to readers who like Sharpe’s mix of action and historical backdrop.
The Forgotten Legion throws readers into a turbulent Roman world through the lives of four very different people: a gladiator, a runaway slave, an Etruscan soothsayer, and her loyal young companion.
As political conflict and personal fate begin to collide, their separate stories become tightly bound together.
Kane writes battles with force, but he also knows how to make readers care about the people caught inside larger historical events. That combination gives the novel real momentum.
Steven Pressfield is an excellent recommendation for anyone drawn to the courage, endurance, and battlefield intensity found in Sharpe.
His novel Gates of Fire recounts the Spartan stand at Thermopylae through the eyes of Xeones, a young Greek who becomes a warrior.
The book captures the discipline, fear, loyalty, and sacrifice of soldiers facing impossible odds.
Pressfield writes with force and emotional conviction, making the ancient setting feel immediate and human. If what you love most about Sharpe is the experience of men under fire, this is a natural next read.
Anthony Riches delivers muscular historical fiction full of danger, intrigue, and frontline action. His work has an immediacy that should resonate with Sharpe fans.
Wounds of Honour begins the Empire series and follows Marcus Valerius Aquila, a Roman officer falsely accused of treason who takes on a new identity to survive.
Assigned to an auxiliary unit on Hadrian’s Wall, Marcus must endure brutal service, hidden enemies, and the constant threat that his past will catch up with him.
Riches combines vivid military detail with a strong personal story, giving readers both large-scale conflict and a protagonist with everything to lose.
David Donachie is another strong option if you enjoy historical adventure with a naval setting and a sturdy, action-driven plot.
In The Devil’s Own Luck, readers meet Harry Ludlow, a former Royal Navy officer turned privateer, operating during the war between Britain and Revolutionary France.
When Ludlow is accused of murder, he is pulled into a dangerous mix of betrayal, suspicion, and armed conflict at sea.
Donachie keeps the story moving while capturing the hazards and camaraderie of maritime life. Readers who enjoy Sharpe’s blend of peril and momentum should find a lot to like here.
Christian Cameron writes historical fiction with impressive scope and intensity, grounded in serious research and a clear love of military history.
His novel Killer of Men takes place in ancient Greece and follows Arimnestos, a young warrior drawn into conflict against Persians and fellow Greeks alike.
The book ranges across brutal infantry combat, naval action, and the shifting alliances of the ancient world.
Cameron excels at making warfare feel immediate without losing sight of character. For Sharpe readers who want something immersive, martial, and historically rich, he is an excellent choice.
Allan Mallinson is especially appealing if you enjoy military fiction written by someone with firsthand knowledge of army life.
In A Close Run Thing, he introduces Matthew Hervey, a cavalry officer facing the uncertainties of service in the years after Waterloo.
Hervey must navigate professional rivalries, political complications, and the demands of leadership while trying to build a future in a changing army.
Mallinson’s writing is measured but engaging, and his attention to military procedure and period atmosphere gives the novels real authority. Fans of Sharpe’s soldierly perspective should feel right at home.
Dewey Lambdin brings a lighter touch to naval fiction without sacrificing action or historical flavor.
His Alan Lewrie series begins with The King’s Coat, in which Lewrie enters naval service reluctantly and soon finds himself dealing with battles, storms, and difficult superiors.
Lewrie is less dutiful than some classic military heroes, which gives the series a more irreverent energy.
Lambdin mixes humor, danger, and shipboard realism in a way that keeps the pages turning. If you want something adventurous with a bit more swagger, he is well worth trying.
Giles Kristian writes vivid, atmospheric historical fiction with a strong sense of place and momentum, making him a good match for fans of Sharpe’s rough-and-ready adventures.
In Blood Eye. young Osric sees his life transformed when Viking raiders destroy his village and pull him into their harsh, violent world.
As he adapts to his new circumstances, he must navigate divided loyalties, brutal combat, and the challenge of discovering who he will become.
Kristian combines emotional pull with visceral action, creating stories that feel both immediate and immersive. Readers who enjoy historical fiction with edge, pace, and strong atmosphere should give him a look.
