Sharpe's Rifles

Richard Sharpe fights the French on the Iberian Peninsula, 1809

***

This book was a bit of an outlier. It had a somewhat different tone, particularly at the outset, and did not "introduce" Sharpe as a character very quickly. Furthermore, when we do finally hear Sharpe's name, it seemed to be a first time introduction of the character rather than a re-joining of our old friend, now six books into the series  (chronologically). This initially led me to suspect that "Sharpe's Rifles" was, in fact, the first of the Sharpe books in terms of publication date. That, however, is incorrect. This novel was in fact the ninth novel published (even though it is sixth in chronology).

At any rate, the action is as good as ever. This time we join Lt. Sharpe and his 95th Rifles as they are being routed from Spain. The British forces are in disarray, attempting to flee to the ports and the safety of awaiting ships. The Rifles are acting as a rearguard for the retreating British, and get cut off during a brutal French cavalry charge. Sharpe leads the tattered remnants into the wilderness, attempting to stay clear of the numerically (and militarily) superior enemy.

The group encounters a Spanish officer, one Major Blas Vivar, who has a crazy idea to incite a full fledged popular uprising against the French invaders. He aims to inspire the Spanish civilians using an old legend. Sharpe reluctantly agrees to help with the hare-brained scheme, and adventure ensues!

Sharpe, unfortunately, does not get the girl in this one. He has a love interest, but the feeling is not mutual.

At the end of the book the ragged survivors of the 95th Rifles, led by Sharpe, cross into Portugal where they meet up with British soldiers from the Lisbon garrison. It seems that not only has the garrison in Lisbon not be evacuated, but the British are sending an army to reinforce it, led by none other than General Sir Arthur Wellesley.

Desolation Island

Aubrey and Maturin have a desperate run of bad luck while transporting prisoners, c. 1811

***

Ahhhh, to be back at sea with my good friends, Aubrey and Maturin. This book gives us, the readers, an unfortunate front row seat to some of the crueler hardships endured by a man-of-war crew. In particular the outbreak of disease in a large scale way and a desperately damaged ship followed by the possibility of being marooned and having to winter over on some tiny spit of land amid the frozen seas surrounding Antarctica.

The "gaol fever" experienced by the crew is another name for typhus.

I am always a bit surprised when, in the course of sailing from England to the Cape of Good Hope on the southern tip of Africa, Brazil is a common way point. Not so when coming back to England, due to the nature of the prevailing winds.

We are also treated to a running battle through a storm, on high and dangerous seas, which ends disastrously for Captain Aubrey's opponent.

A strong current of espionage and international intrigue flows through this one as well. The Americans are nearing the point of declaring war on the British. English forces are so preoccupied with countering Napoleon that they have taken to interfering with American merchant shipping and pressing both merchantmen and whalers into the Royal Navy. President Jefferson et al don't like this turn of events, of course, and they are planning to do something about it.