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A Close Run Thing: A Novel of Wellington's Army of 1815 (Matthew Hervey #1)
In the tradition of Patrick O'Brian's beloved historical military adventures comes the first in a dashing new series featuring Cornet Matthew Hervey, a young cavalry officer in Wellington's army of 1815. A Close Run Thing
For two decades, since the French Revolution, England and her allies have fought a seemingly endless war to loosen Bonaparte's stranglehold on Europe. M...more
For two decades, since the French Revolution, England and her allies have fought a seemingly endless war to loosen Bonaparte's stranglehold on Europe. M...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
August 1st 2000
by Bantam
(first published January 1st 1999)
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A CLOSE RUN THING is a difficult book to write about. My main knowledge of the Napoleonic Wars comes from reading Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books, probably my favourite series of novels, well, ever! So I was eager to try a 'rival' author and get their take on the same material.
This book is VERY different in terms of style. It's heavy on detail and description, and in terms of story not a great deal happens: we meet a character at war in France, who then goes to Ireland to help quell ...more
This book is VERY different in terms of style. It's heavy on detail and description, and in terms of story not a great deal happens: we meet a character at war in France, who then goes to Ireland to help quell ...more
Bernard Cornwell/C.S. Forester meet Jane Austen. We have a military history (well researched and accurate) coupled with a Jane Austen style of writing. Indeed, half the plot could have been written by Jane Austen and the other half by Bernard Cornwell. Mallinson uses the language of the period (including a great many words and phrases that were opaque to me) to create a picture of society at the time as well as descriptions of the battles of Toulouse and Waterloo, as well as the conditions in I...more
We've had Sharpe (Bernard Cornwell) and Rifleman Dodd (C. S. Forester) in the infantry of Wellington's Army and the formidable mix of Aubrey (Patrick O'Brian), Bolitho (Alexander Kent), Delancey (C. Northcote Parkinson), Drinkwater (Richard Woodman), Hornblower (C. S. Forester) and Ramage (Dudley Pope)to cover the Battles at Sea. Now, Mallinson, a cavalryman himself in a different type of cavalry, tells the story of the light dragoons at Toulouse and Waterloo.
Not only is this the onl...more
Not only is this the onl...more
The story is about an ever alert, smart, capable English officer during the Napoleonic wars. Said story is very wordy and therefore slow, BUT the those words are amazingly well written. That's why 4 stars. I am amazed at the ability of good writers to use the English language without being repetitive or colloquial. I am further amazed at writers whose knowledge of the times and customs are evidenced in the telling.
As for gaining something from the book, there was the bravery of the so...more
As for gaining something from the book, there was the bravery of the so...more
A bit slow at the beginning, which could have been my fault expectiing a different style. I enjoyed the story and will keep my eye open for more of Mr Mallison's books.
A cavalry officer in Wellington’s army
A thoroughly enjoyable book!!!
Waterloo with British cavalry. A few literary pretensions with Jane Austen references, but hey it's the first in the series.
Patrick O'Brian's Captain Aubrey joins the dragoons..."Pride & Prejudice" in uniform.
Could this be a worthy followup to Master and Commander, Sharpe and Flashman?
After a slow start, I started to enjoy this series - sort of a 'Sharpe on a Horse'. What is most intriguing about this series is that it's hard to find. Had to get through Alibris.
After a slow start, I started to enjoy this series - sort of a 'Sharpe on a Horse'. What is most intriguing about this series is that it's hard to find. Had to get through Alibris.
Has the flavour of a Patrick O'Brian book, but falls short of in terms of the richness of the characters and without the fascination of learning nautical language is a poor second to his writing.
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Brigadier Allan Lawrence Mallinson is an English author and was an officer in the British Army.
Mallinson is best known for writing a series of novels chronicling the (fictional) life of Matthew Hervey, an officer serving in the (fictional) British 6th Light Dragoons from the late Napoleonic Wars through subsequent colonial conflicts in India, North America and south Africa.
More about Allan Mallinson...
Mallinson is best known for writing a series of novels chronicling the (fictional) life of Matthew Hervey, an officer serving in the (fictional) British 6th Light Dragoons from the late Napoleonic Wars through subsequent colonial conflicts in India, North America and south Africa.
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