Richard Sharpe at the Battle of Talavera, July 1809
***
Just finished a rather short and quickly read entry into the Sharpe series. This was the second book written in the wonderful series (Sharpe's Rifles was first), but occurs as the eighth book in chronological order.
Herein our hero is promoted to Captain, and fights alongside his friends in high places: including General Arthur Wellesley. The small British army is tangling with a numerically superior French collection of armies in Spain. The Spanish are nominally allies of the English, but are never dependable or reliable. After defeating three combined armies of Frenchmen at Talavera, Wellesley is forced to withdraw due to a complete lack of supplies. His victorious army counted on the Spanish for food, and they never came through. So the Peninsula War continues; Gen Wellesley vowed that when he next returns, the supply lines will not require Spanish assistance.
As usual, a wonderful book, filled with great action, some romance, a bit of intrigue and revenge. Sharpe again has to deal with an incompetent blowhard as a superior officer, but he is thankfully saved from the situation by the end of the book.
