Sharpe's Siege
Sharpe's Siege is the eighteenth historical novel in the Richard Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell first published in 1987. The story is set on the Atlantic coast of France in the Napoleonic wars during the British Invasion of France in 1814.
 First edition | |
| Author | Bernard Cornwell |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Richard Sharpe |
| Genre | Historical novels |
| Publisher | Collins |
Publication date | 1987 |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) and audiobook |
| Pages | 352 |
| ISBN | 0-00-221431-8 |
| Preceded by | Sharpe's Christmas |
| Followed by | Sharpe's Revenge |
Plot
A combined naval and infantry force is sent 100 miles up the coast from the British foothold in France to capture a seemingly weakly defended fortress. Major Richard Sharpe is given command of the land forces, primarily two rifle companies, one of them led by his friend, Captain William Frederickson. Colonel Wigram and Royal Navy Captain Horace Bampfylde, the overall commander, also want to incite a monarchist rebellion in Bordeaux, only 25 miles away, based on rumours of unrest. However, army Colonel Elphinstone dismisses the rumours. He informs Sharpe in private that the goal is to capture three dozen chasse-marées sheltering under the fortress's guns to use to construct a boat bridge (over the Adour River) and orders Sharpe to avoid any advance on Bordeaux. The Comte de Maquerre, a member of the Chasseurs Britanniques and another Bordeaux enthusiast, joins the expedition at the last minute.
Bampfylde changes plans without warning, ordering Sharpe to set up an ambush on the road to Bordeaux, while he reserves the supposedly easy capture of the fortress for himself and his Marines. Sharpe, however, spots an ambush by American sailors under the command of privateer Cornelius Killick. Sharpe then gains entry to the fortress by a ruse, accompanied by Regimental Sergeant Major Harper and Captain Frederickson; his men follow and defeat the stronger-than-anticipated garrison. They also capture some of the Americans, including Killick. Bampfylde decides to hang the Americans as pirates, despite Killick presenting him his letter of marque, but Sharpe releases the Americans after obtaining Killick's oath not to fight the British. Sharpe then marches inland, toward Bordeaux, while Bampfylde writes an official report wherein he claims all of Sharpe's successes as his own.
Sharpe ambushes and routs a French column, using surprise to overcome an inexperienced force three or four times larger than his own. As the French regroup, he retreats back to the fortress. He is met by de Maquerre who claims Bordeaux has risen in open rebellion and insists that Sharpe march his men there to support it. Sharpe refuses, distrusting him, but de Maquerre reaches the fortress first and informs Bampfylde that Sharpe's contingent has been destroyed to the man, and that a vast French force is marching rapidly toward the fortress. De Maquerre is acting on the orders of French spymaster Major Pierre Ducos. Bampfylde strips the fortress of supplies, spikes the guns, and detonates the main arsenal, seriously damaging the defenses. He then sails away.
Hours later, Sharpe is stunned to find a partially ruined and empty fortress. Meanwhile, Ducos, having arranged for his longtime nemesis Sharpe to be stranded, orders General Calvet and his demi-brigade to capture the fortress. Killick, who is reluctantly working for Ducos, warns Sharpe beforehand and gives him a hint about some quicklime he found nearby. Sharpe's men are outnumbered ten to one and are short of ammunition, but manage to hold off several assaults, dumping the quicklime onto some of their enemies, blinding them. Ducos orders Killick to break his oath and use his ship to bombard the fortress in coordination with another attack. Sharpe has an idea; he meets secretly with Killick to arrange for a contrived surrender in exchange for releasing Killick from his oath. The next morning, Sharpe surrenders to him. This unexpected development confuses the French long enough for Sharpe and his men to board the American privateer. Killick lands Sharpe close to British lines. Sharpe reaches the newly completed floating bridge and kills the traitorous de Maquerre. All the news is not good however; he learns that his good friend Major Hogan has died of a fever.
Characters
- Richard Sharpe: Major in the British army
- Patrick Harper: Sergeant in the British army, close friend and ally to Richard Sharpe.
- Cornelius Killick: Captain in the United States Navy
- Horace Bampfylde: Captain in the British Royal Navy
- Pierre Ducos: Major in the French army, intelligence agent.
- Calvet: General in the French army.
- Comte de Maquerre: member of the Chasseurs Britannique (Frenchmen for Britain) but in fact a spy for French intelligence.
Television adaptation
The novel was adapted for the fourth season of the Sharpe television series, guest starring Christian Brendel as Maquerre, Christopher Villiers as Bampfylde and James Ryland as Captain Palmer. The adaptation gave Maquerre a sister, Catherine (played by Amira Casar), who remains behind at the fort when it is captured by the British and serves as a secondary love interest for Sharpe. The nautical element is removed, making Bampfylde the new commanding officer of the Prince of Wales' Own Volunteers and omitting Killick altogether. Hogan was replaced with Major-General Ross, a character created for the series, and both he and Sharpe's wife Jane suffer from fever but recover. Ducos poses as the Mayor of Bordeaux, who is a separate character in the novel, and Maquerre's death is altered, with him remaining with the French and being shot from a distance by Hagman. The adaptation ends with Bampfylde being arrested for deserting his post.