Sharpe's Trafalgar (Sharpe, #4)

Title: Sharpe's Trafalgar (Sharpe, #4)

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Published in: 2000

Date read: 9th July 2017

Score: 4/5

Genre: Historical fiction

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Sharpe's Trafalgar" by Bernard Cornwell, published in 2000, is the fifteenth novel in the Richard Sharpe series. Chronologically, it's set much earlier than most of the Peninsular War books, specifically in 1805, during the epic Battle of Trafalgar, a pivotal naval engagement of the Napoleonic Wars. This novel is unique in the series as it places Richard Sharpe, still a Lieutenant in the infantry, at sea during one of history's most famous naval battles.

The story begins with Lieutenant Richard Sharpe, having recently been promoted for his actions in India (as detailed in "Sharpe's Fortress"), and his faithful Sergeant Patrick Harper, en route to England aboard a troopship. They are transporting a disgraced Major, Dodd, a villain from "Sharpe's Fortress" who has stolen valuable jewels. Their journey is interrupted when their ship is attacked and sunk by a French frigate.

Sharpe and a small group of survivors, including Dodd, are rescued by the British warship HMS Pucelle, part of Admiral Lord Nelson's fleet. Sharpe, being an infantry officer, finds himself a fish out of water aboard a Royal Navy vessel, but his quick thinking and combat skills quickly become evident.

The Pucelle and the rest of Nelson's fleet are on the hunt for the combined French and Spanish fleets. The tension builds as the massive naval engagement looms. Sharpe, despite his land-based training, finds himself pressed into service and directly involved in the preparations for the monumental clash.

The core of the novel is the Battle of Trafalgar itself, which occurred on October 21, 1805. Cornwell vividly portrays the chaos, brutality, and terrifying grandeur of a naval battle in the age of sail. He details the thunder of the cannons, the splintering wood, the screams of the wounded, and the disciplined courage of the British sailors. Sharpe, initially an observer, quickly becomes a participant, applying his infantry fighting skills in the chaotic boarding actions and close-quarters combat on the decks of the battling ships.

His personal mission to ensure Major Dodd is brought to justice, and to retrieve the stolen jewels, continues amidst the carnage of the battle. Dodd, ever the schemer, attempts to exploit the chaos to make his escape with the loot, forcing Sharpe into dangerous confrontations even as the battle rages around them.

The novel also touches upon the character of Lord Nelson, portraying him as an inspiring, albeit flawed, leader.

"Sharpe's Trafalgar" is a thrilling departure from the usual land-based battles, offering a unique perspective on a monumental historical event through Sharpe's eyes. It highlights his adaptability, his resourcefulness, and his unwavering commitment to his duty and to justice, even when thrust into an unfamiliar element. The climax is the heart of the Battle of Trafalgar, with Sharpe fighting for his life and his mission on the decks of a ship of the line, culminating in the decisive British victory and the resolution of his personal vendetta against Dodd.

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.
Great book but it was just a bit far fetched (even for historical fiction) that he happened to be caught up in the battle of Trafalgar.

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)