Combat

The book's dominant theme is combat. The opening chapters present the setting of the military theater and develop the rationale for the ensuing combat activity. The British Empire has invaded Southern France after prolonged and successful military operations in Spain. Napoleon's forces are unbalanced and undergoing strategic realignment. England hopes to prosecute the war effort and conquer France. In order to continue the advance, a river must be bridged and a new bridgehead established. The British generals fear that such action will not be successful without a major diversion to reduce French actions. To this end they contrive a false mission to the Bay of Arcachon; the forces landed will putatively march on Bordeaux and seek to incite rebellion in that city. Sharpe is selected to lead the diversionary and abortive invasion and the remainder of the novel deals with Sharpe's military adventures and combat between British and...