Richard Sharpe is ordered to acompany an inezperienced regiment, which has just arrived in Portugal. But the veteran Sharpe quickly comes into conflict with the regiment s colonel, especially after athe latter s imcompetence leads to the loss of many men.
Sharpe s promotion to captain aggravates the colonel s simmering resentment and he proves a dangerous enemy.
As Sharpe leads his men into battle at Talavera, he knows he must find a way to save both his career and the honour of the regiment.