Sharpe's Siege
1813, Southern France.
Published: 1987
Sharpe's Siege another quality Sharpe book, featuring all we would expect from a Sharpe Novel,
The writing is direct, the action fast paced, the plot takes a few twists, the bad guys are exceedingly bad, the goods are just about good , but exceedingly heroic. However my only criticism if it is that it is ‘just another Sharpe Novel', exceedingly enjoyable, but substitute boat for another regiment and the Naval Captain Bamflyde for a Lieutenant colonel in the army, and you have something that looks and read like many of the other peninsular war stories. Not that this is a bad thing per say, but the book fails to soar because of this fact.
The cast is good with Major Sharpe, Captain Frederickson, and Sergeant Major Harper to the fore. Major Ducos lurking in the background is also always going to make this book interesting, however I do often wonder how a major spy master can find the time to peruse a row over a broken pair of spectacles (see Sharpe's company) over 3 years and 7 books.
Major Hogan unfortunately is both instrumental in the plot, but is limited in his appearances in the book., and will be sorely missed.
Sharpe's Siege is a novel that does hit on the usual theme of corruption in high places and the honesty of the foot soldier, the futility of war and steps away from some of the glorification of war that we may of seen in the earlier books.
Synopsis
Sharpe's Siege begins with Major Richard Sharpe and his new wife Jane Sharpe, enjoy the early stages of married life as the Sir Arthur Wellesley Army moves slowly into the south of France.
With his friend hogan is dreadfully sick with the plague, and his new wife showing worrying symptoms he is selected to be the army's token commander on a navy led raid on a French fort.
Sharpe suffers from both an over stretching inexperienced Naval commander, and the plotting of his arch enemy Major Ducos in the background.
After successfully capturing the Fort, capturing an American ships crew, and heading inland ascertain that the local French are not going to rise against Bonaparte. Major Sharpe returns to the fort to find his transport home gone, the forts defenses sabotaged, and wounded men left to the enemy.
With the General Calvert's French brigade closing in on his desperate position deep behind enemy lines, Sharpe has to come up with a plan to survive the onslaught and get his men back behind British Lines safely.
Sharpe's Siege - Main Characters
Captain Richard Sharpe
Sergeant Patrick Harper
Major Michael Hogan
Captain William Frederickson
Captain Horace Bampfylde
Comte de Maquerre
Cornelius Killick
General Calvet
Major Pierre Ducos
Jane Sharpe
Sharpe Books
Wise Words
"On no Hamlett was no Irishman, he was a fool"
- Captain Hogan
