War and Enemies

An important theme in both of these stories is war and enemies, especially significant because Sharpe serves as an officer in the British war against Napoleon. In "Sharpe's Christmas." Nicholls is eager for war when he informs Sharpe that Hogan wants to talk to him about some Frogs, but Sharpe hopes they do not go to battle. Unfortunately, Hogan sends Sharpe and his battalion to Irati to prevent a French garrison at the fort at Ochagavia from escaping. In Irati, Sharpe scouts for the French and admits to liking Gudin when he was in India, even though Gudin was a Frenchman and thus an enemy. When he sees a French brigade approaching from the north, he prepares for battle, knowing that he will have an enemy in front, an enemy behind and a battle to win the next day. Though Santon hopes the British are not...