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Sharpe's Escape
Storyline
The French are on the move. The plan to push the English Army through Portugal and into the Atlantic. The English are making a gradual retreat, but at great cost to the Portuguese civilians who are ordered to burn or otherwise destroy all food supplies. A Portuguese criminal called Ferragus believe that the new masters of Portugal will be the French, and the best way of staying alive will be to collaborate with them.
Sharpe is deeply unhappy. He is a Brevet Captain and his post is under threat from a newly arrived officer that has connections to the Colonel of the Company. To make matters worse Share stumbles upon Ferragus initial meeting with the French and destroys his hoard of food destined for the French. Ferragus vows to avenge his loss.
Sharpe more morose than ever (can it be possible), has fallen under a further cloud by being rude to the new Captain. Banished to the job of Quartermaster until he apologises, Sharpe is lured to a warehouse full of food ready for the French.
After escaping the warehouse, Sharpe finds that the English troops have gone. Sharpe takes it upon himself to bring Ferragus to justice, along with his traitorous brother. The scene is set for final clash, amidst the assault of French against the light company.
Review
This takes Sharpe back to the earlier part of the Napoleonic wars, when it looked as if the allies would lose. Sharpe being a mere Captain is of course at the forefront of the action. Sharpe is at his best when his hard won promotion looks to be under threat.
The battle at Bussaco is Cornwell at his best, describing the shear savagery and bravery of an assault, along with the equally stoutly defence. The story then takes a rather to long breather, as the action switches from the battlefield to the personal battle against Ferragus. The middle part of the book whilst ok does tend to flag slightly, although of course Sharpe does manage to find his obligatory damsel in distress.
If the book does flag in some respects, in others it gives a wonderful insight into the social niceties of life. Banished for being rude to an officer of equal grade, but who is higher up the greasy pole purely for being a gentleman!.
The book really picks up again when Sharpe reaches the Battle lines of Torres Vedras. Sharpe is always at his best when fighting the massed ranks of the French army, and the description and prose for this battle is excellent, with lots of invention to make things just that bit different and to give it a unique feel. After all it must be incredibly difficult to come up with new descriptions for what is exactly the same thing after 20 novels. Unlike modern warfare where battle techniques would be different from battle to battle, the battles of the Napoleonic era, very much follow the same basic pattern,set up your lines advance, counter advance and defend.
I did however enjoy the book. It has fitted into the chronological history of Sharpe well, and managed to find another battle for Sharpe to become mixed up in. I look forward to the next book in the series, as promised in the final paragraph.
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