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Storyline

And the impossible is exactly what the formidable Major Sharpe is asked to do when he's dispatched on an undercover mission behind enemy lines, deep in the Spanish countryside.

For a remote village is about to become the centre of a battle for the future of Europe. Sitting high above the Amaraz bridge, it is the last link between two French armies, one in the north, the other to the south; if they meet, the British are doomed.

Only Sharpe's small group of me - with their cunning and courage to rely on - stand in their way. But they're rapidly outnumbered, enemies are hiding in plain sight, and time is running out ...

Review

Sharpe is also still happily married to Teresa, who joins on the mission for General Hill.

Sharpe's mission on face value is simple, go behind enemy lines, scout out the enemy defences, see whether they are approachable with heavy guns, and contact the local partisan Chief El Heroe. As Sharpe says, if he is being sent on the mission then someone needs a good beating.

The book opens with Sharpe having just been shot by the partisans, and his relationship with them from that point on is downhill al the way, as it becomes clear that El Heroe is in league with the French in order to be left alone.

Having disobeyed Hill's orders in keeping a low profile, he is forced to fight the French garison and nearly loses the fight, until another band of Partisans comes to his rescue. Later that night Sharpe leads his band of men into an attack on the engineers encampment, before dragging himself into the fight to capture the fort guarding the pontoon bridge. Having captured the French fort El Heroe is found hiding in a bakery oven. A prisoner, he is left to the tender mercies of Teresa, in a wicked fight to the death.

All in all a really good tale, told with the usual Cornwell up and at em style. The story is set when the war could go either way with the allied forces on the back foot to some extent, however by keeping the two French armies apart the British have a chance to beat them once and for all.

I really enjoyed the story, we have the French in the background but also the puffed up self styled Hero of the partisans, whose only goal is to make as much money as he can, whether selling information or young girls to the French.

Enjoy the ride.

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