Sharpe's Fortress

Richard Sharpe and the Siege of Gawilghur, 1803

***

Wow, these "Sharpe" books just fly by. Another gripping story and fantastically quick read. Good old Ensign Sharpe is done with India at the end of this novel: he'll be trading his red coat for a green coat, and swapping his trusty musket for a new-fangled rifle.

Gawilghur is a is a rocky mountain fortress in the sky, towering above the plains below. Impregnable, or so the Indian defenders think. That traitorous snake Dodd is holed up there, too. The Sir Arthur Wellesley-led British forces will crush the last of the Mahrattan resistance if they can crack open this double-walled compound. But it most certainly won't be easy.

Who better to send in such a bloody assault than some angry, screaming Scotsmen and Richard Sharpe? Good ol' Ensign Sharpe always finds a way.

Quick read, fierce action, bloody battles, double crossing treachery and wanton bravery. A fine book, indeed.

Post Captain

Captain Jack Aubrey, R.N., formerly of the HMS Polychrest & temporary commander of HMS Lively, 1803

***

Just finished this wonderful read; the second of the Aubrey-Maturin books, and as my brother-in-law and Aubrey-Maturin veteran promised, the pace of the book, not to mention the humor, has picked up considerably from the opening of the series.

A delightful joy to read, with many humorous episodes. Much pulse-pounding nautical action, of course, and a number of informative side treks, mostly involved with Captain Aubrey narrowly avoiding debtors prison and/or a French jail cell.

Dr Maturin grows ever more interesting as a character, as grows his sideline of high profile spy. He remains a source of humor, as well, particularly as it relates to how the sailing men view such an odd duck aboard their vessels. He steadfastly declines to learn too much about ships and ropes and sails, etc. His skill as a surgeon and naturalist more than makes up for his eccentricities, however.

Captain Aubrey has finally made it to Post-Captain, a rank from which, he assures us, he is now able to die an Admiral. It's just a matter of time and seniority, now. One trouble will his being able to secure a command. Napoleon has reignited the on-again off-again English-French open warfare, but there are still many more captains about than there are vessels to command. Aubrey has some wonderful success during a temporary posting as the captain of the HMS Lively, taking over for her regular captain who bought himself a seat in Parliament. At the end of the book, the Lively takes part in a squadron action off the coast of Spain, intercepting a quartet of treasure laden galleons returning from the New World. The pay off will likely spell and end to the good Captain's financial difficulties, and even moreso set him up in a marriageable way.

Love blooms, withers, and partially blooms again throughout this book, including a Aubrey-Maturin-Lady love triangle. This source of friction almost forces a duel with pistols between the two men. I am eager to continue on my sea journeys with this crew; interested to see where the winds take us next.