Sharpe's Siege (Sharpe, #18)

Title: Sharpe's Siege (Sharpe, #18)

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Published in: 1987

Date read: 16th April 2018

Score: 4/5

Genre: Historical fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Sharpe's Siege" by Bernard Cornwell, published in 1987, is the eighth novel in the Richard Sharpe series. Set in 1813, during the Peninsular War, it sees Major Richard Sharpe embroiled in a daring commando raid on a seemingly impregnable French-held fortress, with a mix of British and French prisoners, and a treacherous American privateer thrown into the deadly mix.

The story begins after the Battle of Vitoria, where the British and their allies have decisively defeated the French. Major Richard Sharpe is ordered by Lord Wellington to lead a unique and perilous mission. He is to take a small force, consisting of British soldiers and a group of French Imperial prisoners (ostensibly deserters, but a highly volatile and potentially unreliable contingent), to capture a vital French-held coastal fort. This fort, located in a strategic position on the northern coast of Spain, controls access to a crucial waterway.

The fort is seemingly impregnable, built high on cliffs and heavily defended. Adding to the complexity and danger of the mission is the presence of Captain Bampfylde, a treacherous American privateer who is ostensibly working for the British but is largely motivated by personal gain and is willing to betray anyone to achieve his aims. Bampfylde becomes a significant antagonist, clashing with Sharpe over tactics and spoils.

Sharpe's objective is to capture the fort and the French prisoners within it, preventing them from escaping or reinforcing other French positions. However, the mission is fraught with internal and external dangers. The French prisoners under Sharpe's command are a constant source of tension and potential rebellion, deeply resentful of fighting for their captors. Sharpe must maintain iron discipline over them while also battling the fort's determined French garrison.

The "siege" of the title refers to Sharpe's audacious attempt to take this fortress by cunning and direct assault rather than a lengthy, conventional siege. He has to use unorthodox tactics, exploiting weaknesses in the fort's defences and the overconfidence of its French commander.

The novel features intense close-quarters combat, detailed descriptions of commando tactics, and Sharpe's trademark blend of brute force and cunning. He faces not only the French defenders but also the treacherous Bampfylde, who attempts to betray Sharpe and seize the fort's valuables for himself.

Themes explored include:

• Trust and Betrayal: The complex dynamics of forced alliances and internal treachery.
• Military Strategy and Tactics: Sharpe's ingenious methods for overcoming overwhelming odds.
• Loyalty: The unwavering bond between Sharpe and his Chosen Men.
• The Morality of War: The grey areas of conflict, where lines between allies and enemies blur.
The climax of "Sharpe's Siege" is a brutal and daring assault on the fort, where Sharpe and his mixed force must overcome formidable defences and internal treachery to achieve their objective. Sharpe's leadership is put to the ultimate test as he battles to secure the fort and deal with the duplicitous Bampfylde, solidifying his reputation for undertaking impossible missions.

Comments:
I read all of the Sharpe books in chronological order, one after the other. When I have looked back, I have not separated them at all unless there is a specific thing to add which will be after saying that I suddenly loved historical fiction and anything that Bernard Cornwell writes.

Books that we've read by Bernard Cornwell (28):
Sharpe's Eagle (Sharpe, #8) (1981), Sharpe's Gold (Sharpe, #9) (1981), Sharpe's Company (Sharpe, #13) (1982), Sharpe's Sword (Sharpe, #14) (1983), Sharpe's Enemy (Sharpe, #15) (1984), Sharpe's Honour (Sharpe, #16) (1985), Sharpe's Regiment (Sharpe, #17) (1986), Redcoat (1987), Sharpe's Siege (Sharpe, #18) (1987), Sharpe's Rifles (Sharpe, #6) (1988), Sharpe's Revenge (Sharpe, #19) (1989), Sharpe's Waterloo (Sharpe, #20) (1990), Sharpe's Devil (Sharpe, #22) (1992), Sharpe's Battle (Sharpe, #12) (1995), Sharpe's Tiger (Sharpe, #1) (1997), Sharpe's Triumph (Sharpe, #2) (1998), Sharpe's Fortress (Sharpe, #3) (1999), Sharpe's Prey (Sharpe, #5) (2000), Sharpe's Trafalgar (Sharpe, #4) (2000), Gallows Thief (2001), Heretic (The Grail Quest, #3) (2003), Sharpe's Havoc (Sharpe, #7) (2003), The Last Kingdom (The Saxon Stories, #1) (2004), Sharpe's Escape (Sharpe, #10) (2004), Sharpe's Fury (Sharpe, #11) (2005), The Pale Horseman (The Saxon Stories, #2) (2006), Sword Song (The Saxon Stories, #4) (2007), Lords of the North (The Saxon Stories, #3) (2007)