The Snare

"The Snare" by Rafael Sabatini is a historical fiction that throws Lieutenant Butler, a British army officer with a mix of honor and fault, into a mess during the Peninsular War in Portugal. It all kicks off at a convent in Tavora, where themes of misunderstanding, the ups and downs of military life, and the tough choices between duty and doing what's right get explored through Butler's journey and the results of what he does. Early on, as Lieutenant Butler is shown on a trip to get supplies, his easygoing and impulsive side comes out, pushing him to have wine at a friendly steward’s house instead of doing his job. Because he's drunk, he makes the silly choice to raid a convent, thinking the monks are hiding wine, and this sets off a chain of violent reactions from the locals, causing chaos and serious problems for Butler and the British army in Portugal.