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Sharpe's Regiment
Storyline
Sharpe has his regiment. However depleted through hard fighting and disease, it looks set to be broken up and the men distributed between other regiments also needing men. During a lull in hostilities Sharpe is sent to England to find the Regiments second Battalion. Sharpe sets off believing that it will be a simple matter to go to the Regimental base and fetch the men. How wrong can a man be?Sharpe arrives in Chelmsford to find that the second battalion of 700 men has disappeared. A few officers and Sergeants remain to keep the depot up together. Whilst at the depot Sharpe learns that the 2nd Battalion has been downgraded to a holding battalion that is no longer recruiting. However a chat with an old veteran from Spain soon reveals the truth. He has seen a recruiting party for the South Essex.
All trails seem to lead back to the War Office, Sharpe is sure that someone is making money from the non existent soldiers. But who? Sharpe fears that he will have to return to London and tackle the War Office and in particular Lord Fenner. However, fate intervenes when he is invited to be guest of honour at a function held by the Prince of Wales.
The meeting with the Prince does not go as well as hoped, and Sharpe meets his foe Lord Fenner. Sharpe heads back to the slums of London to find his former lover, who he intrusts with his pickings from Vittoria. Whilst on his way back he is attacked, by men acting for Fenner. In an act of desperation he decides that he and Harper will find the men by enlisting in the army.
Having found the truth about the missing men, and the secret training camp Sharpe is left in a quandary as to how to resolve the matter. The forces arraigned against him are formidable, and he knows that unless he acts quickly not only will he lose his battalion, but also possible his life as well.
In typical Sharpe tradition he takes the men to London to gate crash a festival to celebrate the victory at Vittoria. But will it be enough to save Sharpe and the Regiment?
Review
This story unlike many of the Sharpe novels is more about political intrigue than the Peninsular War. It is more a story of corruption in high places than one of battles and heroism. The idea of recruiting men and then selling them on is not new. There was a major scandal involving the Prince Regents lover that nearly brought the Government of the time down.
The story is well plotted, descriptive, but I feel that it does not work so well as the other stories, primarily because it takes the lead character out of his natural territory - the battlefield - and puts him in a situation for which he is ill equipped to deal with. Sharpe is not battling an enemy with a gun, but rich and powerful men who wield quills as weapons.
When the story lags, as it does in places, Cornwell does not have the option of a battle or skirmish to quicken the blood. Even the escape from the secret camp is hampered because Sharpe cannot kill the men pursuing him, and so the action does not hit home.
Where the book does score is in providing detail of life in England during the war. Whereas the soldiers endure every hardship the whole thing is largely ignored at home, unless a major victory is to be celebrated.
So whilst not my favourite book, it is still up to Cornwells usual standard of writing and research, with a couple of interesting characters, who will bring Sharpe, more grief in the future.
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