THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN

Summer 1814, after almost two decades of incessant warfare, it the nations of Europe will soon know peace. Russian, Austrian and Prussian armies are at the gates of Paris. Inside the fabled city, Napoleon, his majestic empire in tatters is finally contemplating abdication.

Far to the south the Anglo Allied Army under the Duke of Wellington is fast approaching the city of Toulouse. It appears the defenders of that city are either unaware of events in the capital, or have chosen to ignore them. The battle weary British, Spanish and Portuguese troops will have one more hill to climb, one more breach to charge, before they too can rest and enjoy the fruits of peace.

Marching with that army, as he has for almost six years is Major Richard Sharpe. Sharpe is almost back where he started, a supply officer again. He was an overage Quartermaster Lieutenant during the retreat from Corona in 1808 and now once more he is pushing a desk.

Having lost command of "his" battalion, he is once more the thing he dreads and despises most, a staff officer. Mind he is more than a simple clerk this time. Sharpe is the Brigade Major for a Brigade of British Infantry, and while not in command he does ensure all the day to day functions of that force are carried out.

There are some compensations to his new post. First the Brigade is commanded by his old friend and benefactor, Major General Nairn. Second attached to the Brigade is a company of the 60th Rifles. A company commanded by Captain William Frederickson., "Sweet William" another close friend. Finally marching in that Rifle Company is Patrick Harper, Sharpe's oldest and closest comrade.

At Toulouse, Nairn's Brigade watches as Portuguese and Spanish troops try and fail to capture a vital ridge. Soon orders reach them to try and succeed where the other's have failed. The three battalions of Redcoats slowly begin to march up the ridge, colours flying, drums beating and pipes playing.

This ridge is defended with fanatical fury by General Calvert and his Brigade, the same men Sharpe Harper and Frederickson faced at the Teste de Buch. This time the situation is reversed. The British are attacking prepared positions, and the French safe behind them. Calvert's troops are also no longer unbloodied novices, having learned of warfare the hard way in their last encounter with Sharpe.

Nairn is mortally wounded and his men begin to hesitate. The attack begins to falter. Sharpe although not the senior man present seizes the initiative and rallies the Brigade. Setting a personal example in bravery he leads them forward and carries the ridge. Calvert and his men are forced to withdraw. With a last act of defiance, the French General refuse to flee after his men and slowly stalks down the hillside. Although neither realise it he and Sharpe will soon meet again it most unusual circumstances. So ends the last battle of a long and bloody campaign.

To the victors go the spoils and Sharpe, Frederickson and Harper are soon enjoying the wine woman and song of liberated France while awaiting the slow moving army bureaucracy which will discharge them and send them home to England. Sharpe has already despatched his wife Jane home with power of attorney over his fortune won on the battlefield of Vitoria. She will purchase a country estate for his retirement.

Others however are not tasking the defeat well. Chief amongst them is Major Pierre Duco, one of Napoleon's most fanatical intelligent officers. Duco is well aware of the fate that awaits him, should he fall into British, or worse Spanish hands. It is something he intends never to happen.

Duco however has learned of a special secret convoy one that contains the Emperor's personal possessions, uniforms and treasures and a not inconsiderable amount of gold, and jewels. he finds in the troops assigned to escort this convoy, kindred spirits. Men who have no intention of joining the thousands of beggar on the streets of France that the once proud armies have now become. They only lack a ruthless leader, and the officer tasked with guarding the convoy is not him.

Duco and his new henchmen, kill this officer and escape with their new loot from France. To ensure that no one will follow them to their well financed exile, Duco frames another for both crimes. With a certain amount of personal satisfaction he lays the blame for murder and theft at the feet of a British Officer, Major Richard Sharpe.

Sharpe, and Frederickson, Harper awaiting their demobilisation in Bordeaux are totally unaware of this until the two officers are arrested and brought before a court of inquiry. The evidence presented against them is surprisingly strong. In addition one of the members of the inquiry is Colonel Wigram who has no love for the Rifle Officers after the humiliating events in Sharpe's Siege. Finally the charges are being pressed by members of the new French government who have no love for two men who have killed so many of their brethren in the past six years.

Faced with an inevitable courts martial and with no other way to prove their innocence, Sharpe and Frederickson, with Harper's assistance escape. As Fugitives they begin to travel the back roads of France, hunted by an entire nation, seeking a shred of evidence that will clear their names.

In a chateau in Normandy they find their first bit of evidence, but Sharpe is shot and almost killed in an accidental encounter with a new ally. While he recovers from his wounds Frederickson heads to Paris to pick up the trail of Ducos, and Harper to England to gain money for their search from Sharpe's wife.

Frederickson is successful and soon finds where Duco and his men have gone to ground. However he discovers that others are seeking Napoleon's treasure, and the British officer is forced into a rather strange alliance with an old enemy.

Harper meanwhile returns with shocking news for the still recovering Sharpe. His wife Jane has run off with another man and the two of them have stolen and squandered Sharpe's fortune.

When all seems at its' lowest ebb for Sharpe he discovers the one thing that has eluded him all these years. It however comes at a great cost. however their still awaits the final confrontation with Duco in his new fortress on the shores of the Mediterranean.

Sharpe's Revenge opens with a duel on the windswept cliffs of the Bay of Biscay. Sharpe intends to extract a measure of honour form Captain Bamfylde of the Royal Navy who abandoned him and his men to the enemy in Sharpe's Siege. It ends with a desperate battle on the shores of the Mediterranean with a small band of elite veterans fighting the entire army of one of the Papal States. In between their is enough fighting and sword play to satisfy any reader of this series.

There is also so much more. This novel provides perhaps the most character development of any in the series regarding the principles. We see sides of Duco, Frederickson, Jane and Harper that to now have only been hinted at. As for Richard Sharpe here he has more stripped away from him than at any other time in his career. Left with nothing we see the depth of his strength and character as he refuses to submit and continues to battle on.

Cornwell as always has crafted a well written tale here. As in past efforts his meticulous attention to historical detail make this an extra enjoyable read. Sharpe and Harper have one more battle to fight before they can lay down their swords for ever.