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Sharpe's Rifles (novel)
Encyclopedia
Sharpe's Rifles was the first prequel novel in the series written by Bernard Cornwell
. It tells the story of Richard Sharpe
and the French Invasion of Galicia, January 1809. Written ninth, the book naturally fits before Sharpe's Eagle
which was the first to be written, although the later novel Sharpe's Havoc is set between the two.
. Sharpe's battalion, acting as rearguard to the army, are cut down by a squadron of French regular cavalry. From then on the story follows the small band of surviving riflemen (from the 95th Rifles) as they try to foment an uprising in the city of Santiago de Compostela
. Sharpe's Spanish ally is Major Don Blas Vivar and they are fighting the Don's brother, the Count of Mouromorto.
Patrick Harper is introduced as well as the core group of the surviving company for the first time. Running along in the background is the other Irishman in the series, Captain Hogan, who appears for the first time at the very end of the novel.
In this book, Sharpe sees Captain Murray's heavy cavalry sword as clumsy and cumbersome, yet in India he wishes he had such a heavy sword to butcher people with. During his time in India he used a claymore
which he found less cumbersome than the cavalry sword.
and in the 1809 retreat to Corunna
.
The uprising in Santiago de Compostela is incited by the legend of St James the Moorslayer.
Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell OBE is an English author of historical novels. He is best known for his novels about Napoleonic Wars rifleman Richard Sharpe which were adapted into a series of Sharpe television films.-Biography:...
. It tells the story of Richard Sharpe
Richard Sharpe (fictional character)
Sharpe is a series of historical fiction stories by Bernard Cornwell centred on the character of Richard Sharpe. The stories formed the basis for an ITV television series wherein the eponymous character was played by Sean Bean....
and the French Invasion of Galicia, January 1809. Written ninth, the book naturally fits before Sharpe's Eagle
Sharpe's Eagle (novel)
Sharpe's Eagle is an historical novel by Bernard Cornwell. Set in July 1809 during the Peninsular War and featuring the Battle of Talavera it is the 8th in the Richard Sharpe Series...
which was the first to be written, although the later novel Sharpe's Havoc is set between the two.
Plot summary
The story recounts Sharpe's exploits in the retreat to CorunnaA Coruña
A Coruña or La Coruña is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country...
. Sharpe's battalion, acting as rearguard to the army, are cut down by a squadron of French regular cavalry. From then on the story follows the small band of surviving riflemen (from the 95th Rifles) as they try to foment an uprising in the city of Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
. Sharpe's Spanish ally is Major Don Blas Vivar and they are fighting the Don's brother, the Count of Mouromorto.
Patrick Harper is introduced as well as the core group of the surviving company for the first time. Running along in the background is the other Irishman in the series, Captain Hogan, who appears for the first time at the very end of the novel.
In this book, Sharpe sees Captain Murray's heavy cavalry sword as clumsy and cumbersome, yet in India he wishes he had such a heavy sword to butcher people with. During his time in India he used a claymore
Claymore
The term claymore refers to the Scottish variant of the late medieval longsword, two-handed swords with a cross hilt, of which the guards were in use during the 15th and 16th centuries.-Terminology:...
which he found less cumbersome than the cavalry sword.
Characters
- Richard SharpeRichard Sharpe (fictional character)Sharpe is a series of historical fiction stories by Bernard Cornwell centred on the character of Richard Sharpe. The stories formed the basis for an ITV television series wherein the eponymous character was played by Sean Bean....
– Lieutenant in the British army - Patrick Harper – one of Sharpe's new group of Rifles
- Captain Michael Hogan – an Engineer, also one of Wellesley's exploring officers. In the film of the novel, he is portrayed as Major Hogan.
- Sir John Moore – commander of the British army in Portugal.
- Major Blas Vivar – a Spanish ally
- Count of Mouromorto – A Spanish foe, ally to the French and brother to Blas Vivar
- Captain Murray – Sharpe's commander who dies leaving Sharpe his own sword
- Louisa Parker – Young Englishwoman whom Sharpe takes a fancy to. Ends up marrying Major Blas Vivar.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
References are made to incidents during the Peninsular WarPeninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
and in the 1809 retreat to Corunna
Battle of Corunna
The Battle of Corunna refers to a battle of the Peninsular War. On January 16, 1809, a French army under Marshal Soult attacked the British under Sir John Moore...
.
The uprising in Santiago de Compostela is incited by the legend of St James the Moorslayer.
Release details
- 1988, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-223233-2, Pub date ? December 1988, hardback (First edition)
- 1989, UK, Chivers Audio Books ISBN 0-7451-5876-5, Pub date ? June 1989, Audio book cassette
- 1994, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-617697-6, Pub date 1 January 1994, paperback