Sharpe's Eagle **Spoilers**, Synopsis of Sharpe's Eagle Options

[Tonyblack]

The following synopsis was written some time in late 2005 and was saved as a Word document. I am posting it here to replace the original version that was lost when the site when down. Please feel free to add comments and if you read the book yourself and want to add your own synopsis, please also feel free.

Tony (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


Richard Sharpe and his Rifles are doing quite well for themselves in Portugal. They are being used by Major Hogan as escort on his surveying missions and helping out when regiments need their Light Companies strengthened with rifles. However, they are a long way away from their parent regiment and that means that they are finding it difficult to get re supplied with uniforms and Richard has no chance of getting a company for himself legitimately. They are a victim of their own usefulness.

Sharpe's shabby appearance nearly gets him in trouble when he is mistaken for a private by Lt Gibbons of the newly arrived South Essex Regiment. The South Essex's colonel, Simmerson takes an immediate dislike to Sharpe and when the Rifles find that the South Essex is coming with them to demolish a bridge, they aren't too happy.

There is a wonderful battle scene in this book. The South Essex and a Spanish regiment cross the bridge and form themselves into square when they see some French cavalry. That should have been the end of it, but the inexperienced regiments totally screw up and get massacred. Not only that, but they lose one of their newly awarded colours. Sharpe and Harper manage to save the day and the other colour. But Simmerson blows the bridge leaving the Rifles and a couple of companies stranded on the wrong side of the river and the French have an artillery piece.

In a beautifully written scene, Sharpe uses his knowledge as a soldier to defeat the French and capture the gun. They make their escape using ropes found in the gun's limber only to find that Simmerson has arrested Richard and is blaming him for the initial defeat.

What a git!!!

Chapter 10 of this book is a pure joy to read. One thing that Bernard does really well is write about Sir Arthur Wellesley. You completely believe in the man and understand why people like Sharpe want his admiration and to gain his respect. In this chapter Simmerson tries to blame Richard for the loss of the colour and Wellesley turns the tables on him. Not only does he ridicule Simmerson and Gibbons, he also goes and promotes Richard to Captain of the South Essex Light Company. I always grin like an idiot when I read that chapter. It's pure class!

More soon. :wink:

I nearly forgot - Sharpe and Harper make a promise to the dying Captain Lennox... What is that promise? Wait and see. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

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Simmerson has sent a letter that blames Sharpe for the loss of the colours to Parliament. He also recommends that Sharpe be sent to the West Indies, where the life expectancy is very grim indeed. All this means that capturing an Eagle (the promise to Lennox) is a priority. If he can get one, it will secure his place and wipe out any rumours started by Simmerson.

The battle lines are drawn and the battle is set to take place, but the Spanish decided not to attend - it's Sunday and they want a lie on. This delay causes the French to strengthen their troops. Where they would have been outnumbered, they now outnumber the allies. Add to that the fact that the food the Spanish promised to supply the British with hasn't materialised and you can see that Wellesley isn't happy - is he ever?

The night before the battle Richard gets a message to say that Josefina has been attacked. It was Gibbons and Berry. She asks Richard to kill them. He sets off in pursuit of revenge only to find that the sneaky French are making a dastardly night attack. He manages to raise the alarm and the French are repulsed. While all that is going on, he finds Berry and kills him - revenge, he discovers tastes very nice, thank you!

Gibbons will have to wait, but he's hiding with Simmerson. The main battle starts and all is going well - except that Simmerson decides that the British are going to lose, so he withdraws his battalion at a crucial point in the battle, abandoning the Light Company. Richard and co. continue to fight and suffer heavy losses. In the meantime, Sharpe's old mate, Col. Lawford takes command of the South Essex and leads them back to the battle.

A Dutch battalion fighting for the French are stalled. Their colonel is dead and they don't know what to do. They can't retreat and they daren't move forward - but most importantly -THEY HAVE AN EAGLE!! And our boys have seen it and decided they are going to get it.

Harps and Richard manage to win the eagle. Ensign Denny dies during the capture, but it's his own fault because Sharpe sent him back.

On their way back to the battalion, Harper goes off bird watching and Gibbons, who was ordered to join the Light Company, attacks Sharpe and tries to get the eagle from him. Snotty little goit! Just as he is about to finish Richard off, Pat Harper skewers him on a French bayonet. While robbing his corpse they find a locket with a picture of Gibbons sister, Jane in and Richard remarks what a pretty girl she is ---- Oh boy! Is he in for a shock!

The lads are heroes. Simmerson is sent packing and it's slap up dinners in the mess all round. Josefina finds a cavalry officer who can keep her in the manner she is accustomed to (he's got lots of wonga!) so she dumps Richard for him.

The army have to retreat to Portugal. They can't stay in Spain without supplies and the Spanish are as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Some bloody good bits in this one. I think a map would have been helpful to follow the battle as it gets quite complex. However, the Sharpe's Companion has two, so no worries.

[RnRPaintGrL]

I just finished this one. It was the second time I've read it. I think I understood the battle scenes a lot better now, having read several of the Sharpes books and having gone thru this one twice. I did notice a bit of indiscrepencies between this being the first novel written and the prequel "Havoc" where Sharpe claims to have never met "Daddy" Hill, yet interacts with him in "Havoc"; but that was the only one I noticed in the entire book.
It's hard to believe Harper and Sharpe ever disagreed with each other, their bond seems so perfect. Where would one be without the other?
A Great beginning to an amazing series. I highly recommend everyone read these in cronological order, next up is Sharpe's Gold!

[Doc Jim]

Just a quick note.
So far I have read all but one book and the name I cant remember right know. But Sharp and Harper had many disagreements. But those were between friends. I think the word is trust. They trusted each other with there live's. Being in a war trust is one of the few things you have between friends.
The one book I cant seem to find is when Sharp went to Denmark/Holland I think it was.

[Lessa]

the book you are thinking of is Sharpe's Prey

Synopsis
The 18th novel in this bestselling series takes Sharpe to battle in Copenhagen. An army is travelling to the Danish capital to enforce British policy, but unless Sharpe can complete the mission against enemies as subtle and clever as any he has ever faced, that army will meet disaster.

Amazon.com

[Captain_Chase]

I just finished this one. It was the second time I've read it. I think I understood the battle scenes a lot better now, having read several of the Sharpes books and having gone thru this one twice. I did notice a bit of indiscrepencies between this being the first novel written and the prequel "Havoc" where Sharpe claims to have never met "Daddy" Hill, yet interacts with him in "Havoc"; but that was the only one I noticed in the entire book.
It's hard to believe Harper and Sharpe ever disagreed with each other, their bond seems so perfect. Where would one be without the other?
A Great beginning to an amazing series. I highly recommend everyone read these in cronological order, next up is Sharpe's Gold!

This book was my first introduction to Napoleonic battles, and they never made sense before. There is a lot more strategy than I expected for a group of people that stand 50 paces away and blast each other with single shot muskets.

[Doc Jim]

the book you are thinking of is Sharpe's Prey

Synopsis
The 18th novel in this bestselling series takes Sharpe to battle in Copenhagen. An army is travelling to the Danish capital to enforce British policy, but unless Sharpe can complete the mission against enemies as subtle and clever as any he has ever faced, that army will meet disaster.

Amazon.com

Thanks Lessa
That is the one I cant find even at the expensive book stores here.

[Lessa]

you're welcome Doc. Hope you have more luck now. You might even find a copy in the used book section of amazon. Mum recently discovered it and found some books she thought were out of print. all in excellent condidtion and a lot described as good by amazon that hadn't even been read.

[Tonyblack]

Next time I come over to visit Charlene I'll bring a load of my double copies and mail them to you guys who are having difficulties getting them in the US. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Although, they are published by Harper Collins, so you should be able to get them through Amazon or such.

[Tonyblack]

Next time I come over to visit Charlene I'll bring a load of my double copies and mail them to you guys who are having difficulties getting them in the US. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Although, they are published by Harper Collins, so you should be able to get them through Amazon or such.

I just noticed this last post and have to apologise as I completely forgot. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Obviously I had other things on my mind. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Captain_Chase]

Since I moved back to St. George, Utah I decided to visit the local library and guess what I found on Audio!! It's been nearly 10 years since I first read Sharpe's Eagle and I've reread it at least twice, now I have it on Audio and I have been listening to it on my drive to and from work. It's about a 30 minute commute and I love listening to books in the car. I tend to drive slower and enjoy the ride more. I'm not sure who reads it, but he does a pretty good job with the accents; switching between Harper's Irish, Sharpe's London(?), and Leroy's American accent. I hope I can find the whole series through my new library!

[Thornclad]

Since I moved back to St. George, Utah I decided to visit the local library and guess what I found on Audio!! It's been nearly 10 years since I first read Sharpe's Eagle and I've reread it at least twice, now I have it on Audio and I have been listening to it on my drive to and from work. It's about a 30 minute commute and I love listening to books in the car. I tend to drive slower and enjoy the ride more. I'm not sure who reads it, but he does a pretty good job with the accents; switching between Harper's Irish, Sharpe's London(?), and Leroy's American accent. I hope I can find the whole series through my new library!

I've just finished "Fortress" on Audio - also a good reader who did Hakeswill's voice brilliantly.

Sharpe, I believe should have a bit of a Yorkshire accent - a lot of readers do the Yorkshire accent - but I can imagine he'd also have a bit of London there too - I don't think it fades easily.

BC should write a book called, "Sharpe's Accent" - (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[this charming...]

the only reason for a yourkshire accent is sean bean, without said actor Sharpe wopuld of beenm london through and through.

His time in sheffield was thrown in later to justify the casting of Sean Bean

[Thornclad]

Oh right, I did not know that! You'd think a decent actor like Sean Bean could do a London accent.

[Tonyblack]

Although Sharpe lived in London, he went on the run and lived for a time in Yorkshire (if I remember correctly) and learned about horses. But I agree, he shouldn't have a Yorkshire accent. Sean Bean can only seem to do Yorkshire. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

At least we didn't get the original choice for Sharpe, Paul McGann doing Liverpudlian. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Blackdog]

As I recall they had Yorkshire accents in ancient Greece and Middle Earth . ;-)