Book Review for

Sharpe's Christmas

by Bernard Cornwell

Two short stories written for a newspaper, The Daily Mail, at Christmas time.

The first story takes place in December 1813. Britain has defeated the French
in Spain and wants to prevent them from retreating back into France to rejoin
Napoleon's army. Richard Sharpe and 422 rifles are assigned the unenviable
task of defending a tight pass through the hills at a small village called Irati,
made up of mostly shepherds. The retreating French, over 1,000 strong, are
led by Colonel Jean Gudin, a man with whom Sharpe actually fought with in
India, and came to deeply respect. Gudin is despised and opposed by his own
Colonel Caillou, who believes Gudin to be a soft-hearted coward for refusing
to leave women and children behind  in their retreat.

 The 2nd story takes place in December 1815, after the war, when Sharpe is
now living with the French widow Lucille Lassan on her farm in Normandy.
While out hunting foxes, Sharpe notices 6 men approaching his farmhouse.
By the time he returns, they have taken his wife and son hostage. They are
former French soldiers who know about Sharpe having stolen back Napoleon's
gold after it had been first taken by the ruthless French spy Major Pierre Ducos.
Sharpe doesn't tell them he didn't keep the gold, but leads them to believe he
still has it so he can find a way to overpower them and save his wife and son.
In doing so, he enlists the help of the town who has been spiteful and rejecting
of an ex-English soldier living among them.

Both short stories are vintage Bernard Cornwell, one of the finest writers of today.
His plots are intelligent and engaging, his heroes are likeable and inspiring, his
villains are despicable, his stories are unpredictable and creative, and his endings
are always satisfying.


 
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