Sharpe's Escape

Richard Sharpe and the Peninsular War, 1810

***

This book focuses on the Battle of Bussaco, September 1810, a part of the Peninsular War, wherein the invading French are trying to complete their takeover of the Iberian Peninsula by conquering Portugal. The British have built some amazing defensive works and are conducting a "scorched earth" type fighting retreat, leaving no food or supplies for the French as they cede ground.

Wellesley has constructed, in secret, the Lines of Torres Vedras, a monumental series of interconnected earthen works and forts. His plan is to simply retreat to these fortifications and let the French starve.

In this book (as per usual), our hero Richard Sharpe is toyed with by the powers that be in the army. He gets into tough spots and dire situations, finds romance and kicks some butt along the way. A nice formula for an adventure book, to be sure.

One of Sharpe's specialties seems to be running afoul of traitors, then dealing (permanently) with said traitors. This tale is no exception.

The way this book ends, I assume our next joint exercise with Captain Sharpe will still take place in Portugal. We shall see.