Master of War, Wimp of Politics

Sharpe, the principle protagonist of the novel and indeed the entire series of novels, finds himself in an atypical milieu where straightforward attack is not only ineffective but in fact damaging. The prologue and epilogue present Sharpe in his usual role as battlefield commander, and in this atmosphere he reigns confident and supreme. His military orders are nearly infallible; his tactics are always sound, and his leadership is effective and respected. In war, Sharpe is a master. The chapters of the novel present Sharpe in a different atmosphere, one of intrigue, deception, and above all corrupt politics. Here, Sharpe attempts the same straightforward attack methodologies that have served him so well on the battlefield and here those tactics fail utterly.

Sharpe's basic reasoning is that corruption, once identified, will be recognized and eliminated from government. He knows that his corrupt foe, Lord Simon...