Sharpe's Trafalgar

Richard Sharpe partakes in Sea Battles, 1805

***

These land and sea books are beginning to meld into one massive narrative, in my mind. Here we have Ensign Richard Sharpe, attempting to return to England from India, accidentally becoming entangled in nautical adventures, including meeting the legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson and participating in the fierce action of the defining naval battle of the Napoleonic Era.

Such violence! Such mind-numbing action! Drive two cannon-laden ships up, park them next to each other, literally within touching distance, and empty your broadsides. Repeat. And repeat. And repeat. Then boarding action and the chaotic swirl of death and dismemberment becomes up close and personal. It is stunning to read about, and horrific to contemplate.

No Sergeant Hakeswill to worry about in this book. Sharpe has fed him to tigers, had an angry elephant nearly crush him, and shoved the odious man into a cobra pit in past books. I am firmly convinced the ne'er-do-well is still out there, somewhere.

This was a wonderful read, and another fast one. Can't wait to return to Aubrey-Maturin, then return to Sharpe. I like these characters and this time period. Excellent books, all.

H.M.S. Surprise

Captain Jack Aubrey, H.M.S Surprise, voyage to India, 1803

***

What a wonderful and quick read. I feel like I am really getting somewhere with these Aubrey-Maturin books, now. The book opens with Jack not, in fact, getting his share of the lucrative prize money presumed to be coming his way based on events at the end of the last book. As the Spanish were not at war with England, the capture of the treasure-laden galleons did not qualify as the taking of prizes. Debt (or at least part of it) finally catches up with Jack. He spends some time in the debtor's prison. In matters of love, by book's end Stephen finally gets the gumption to ask plainly for Diana Villiers hand in marriage. Jack also finally arranges to wed his dear Sophie.

The crew tangle with the tough French Admiral Linois and his squadron while trying to protect a flotilla of East India Company ships. The Surprise (a 28-gun 6th rate frigate) roughs up the Bercaeu (a 22-gun corvette) then goes toe to toe with the Marengo (a 74-gun ship-of-the-line), mauling each other and barely surviving, with help from the East India Company ships. This action appears to have given Captain Aubrey a financial windfall, as the Company is very grateful indeed.

The Surprise is en route back to England at the end of this book, preparing to face off against the French in what promises to be a difficult war with Napoleon's Navy.