15th in the Richard Sharpe series.

Although late in the chronological sequence, this book is one of the earliest that Cornwell wrote. Like any good writer, he learned and improved as he went along. Sharpe’s Enemy, however, does bear something of a burden from being one of the early ones, because as in one or two other early books, Cornwell has a bit of a difficult time getting the action off the ground smoothly.

However, the book suffers only from comparison with later ones that come earlier in the chronology. It’s still a whacking good action-adventure story, and Cornwell has no peer, now or then, in writing battle scenes.

Unlike all the other books that precede it, Sharpe’s Enemy is not based on a real battle. In his Historical Note, Cornwell explains that he wanted to write one story that would reflect the last winter before Wellington started his ultimately victorious march that would end up at Waterloo.

There are a few interesting historical facts. One is the introduction of Congreve’s Rocket System, somewhat earlier than actually occurred, but still sticking to historical fact as to their deployment. The other is that there did exist a band of deserters from all the major armies—British, French, Spanish, and Portuguese—that terrorized a large part of southern Spain.

What makes this book special is that Cornwell devotes just about 2/3 of the story to this fictitious defense of a fortified pass in southern Spain, Liberated from the necessities of following history as far as a battle is concerned, Cornwell, turns his truly impressive descriptive powers to an imaginary engagement in which Sharpe battles not only the French but his arch-enemy, Obadiah Hakeswell. The result is yet another fantastic installment in a terrific series.

Highly recommended. ( )

About my favorite of the Sharpe novels - this one has him squaring off against Ducos for control of the pass known as Adrados. ( )