Rousing fiction about the infantry in the Pennisula War.

#14 in the Richard Sharpe series.

Wellington’s army—and therefore Richard Sharpe—is in Spain, near Salamanca, still fighting the French. But there’s a new element in the mix—Napoleon’s personal intelligence officer, Colonel Leroux, who has been tracking down and eliminating the network of spies who supply information for Wellington’s army. His latest coup is someone who will lead Leroux to the coordinator of the network, known only as El Mirador.

By accident, Sharpe encounters Leroux under disguise. Later, in another meeting, Leroux, with his sword made by Kligenthal, breaks Sharpe’s cavalry sword and nearly kills Sharpe. Determined to get Leroux’s sword, Sharpe pursues his nemesis through the intrigues that end up in the Battle of Salamanca.

Although this book gets off to a slow and somewhat awkward start, it soon picks up and Cornwell delivers a faced-paced, exciting story such as we have learned to anticipate. The plot is excellent. Of course, the usual battle is the piece de resistanceof the novel, and it lives up to all the other superb battle descriptions that Cornwell has written in the series. Sharpe is not the most sensitive hero in literature, but he continues to interest as he does evolve, if slowly. But then there are so many more books to go! Sgt. Harper continues to provide a foil for Sharpe.

As usual, there is an excellent Historical Note that provides more information on two characters in the novel that were historical figures. He waxes lyrical about Salamanca and, as usual, describes the battlefield as it currently exists. He also gives directions to the battlefield of Garcia Hernandez, the site of the magnificent charge of the King’ German Legion.

Another magnificent installment in this superb series. Highly recommended. ( )