| |
| Sharpe's Eagle | |
| Richard Sharpe and the Talavera Campaign, July 1809 | |
| Author | Bernard Cornwell |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Cover | The Battle of Albehera by William Barnes Wollen |
|---|---|
| Written | 1981 |
| Published | 1981 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0006173136 (paperback edition) |
| Preceded by | Sharpe's Rifles |
| Followed by | Sharpe's Havoc |
Richard Sharpe and the Talavera Campaign, July 1809
Richard Sharpe is ordered to accompany an inexperienced regiment, which has just arrived in Portugal. But the veteran Sharpe quickly comes into conflict with the regiment's colonel, especially after the latter's incompetence leads to the loss of the regimental colours and some good men.
Sharpe's promotion to captain aggravates the colonel's simmering resentment and he proves a dangerous enemy. As Sharpe leads his men into battle at Talavera, he knows he must find a way to save both his career and the honour of the regiment.
Storyline[]
Characters[]
- Lieutenant Richard Sharpe - gazetted to Captain by General Sir Arthur Wellesley (Chapter 10)
- Sergeant Patrick Harper
- Captain Michael Hogan
- Lieutenant Christian Gibbons
- Lieutenant Berry
- Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson
- Josefina Lacosta
- General Sir Arthur Wellesley
Other Details[]
Sharpe is reported (in Chapter 1) to command the remnants of a company of Riflemen from the 95th Rifles cut off by French Dragoons from the rearguard of Sir John Moore's army during its retreat from Corunna in the winter of 1808/1809 (see Sharpe's Rifles). The company's Captain and other Lieutenant were killed, but Lieutenant Sharpe fought clear and, with the company's few survivors, reached high rocks where the French horsemen could not follow. When the blizzard blew out, they were unable to rejoin the army, and whilst the 95th Rifles sailed home, Sharpe took the 30 survivors to join the British garrison in Lisbon.
Timeline[]
- July 27th and 28th 1809 - Battle of Talavera
Book Details[]
- Copyright: Rifleman Productions Ltd 1981
- First Published: 1981
- ISBN 0006173136 - HarperCollins Paperback edition (March 29, 2004)
- ISBN 074515879X - Chivers Audio Books Audio Cassette edition - Narrator: William Gaminara (November 1989)
See Also[]
- Sharpe's Eagle (TV Movie) - the Carlton TV feature length movie of this story
- Sharpe’s Eagle (novel) - Wikipedia entry for the novel
- Battle of Talavera - Wikipedia entry for the real battle of Talavera