Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, #1)
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Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles #1)

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66  ·  rating details  ·  832 ratings  ·  63 reviews

When Richmond landowner Washington Faulconer snatches young Nate Starbuck from the grip of a Yankee-hating mob, Nate is both grateful and awed by his idealistic rescuer. To repay his generosity, he enlists in the Faulconer legion to fight against his home, the North, and against his abolitionist father. When the regiment joins up, ready to march into the ferocious battle a

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Paperback, 416 pages
Published September 28th 2001 by Harper Perennial (first published January 1st 1993)
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Gpritchard
I've gotten more interested in Civil War books, both fiction and non-fiction. This fictional book tells of Nathaniel Starbuck, a son of a northern, radical (emphasis on radical) abolitionist preacher, who flees Yale Divinity School, comes south, and ends up in the Confederate forces being led by a friend's wealthy father.

I thought the day-to-day issues of preparing for war and the variety of folks involved in war prep (some realistically honorable, some opportunistic, etc.) , absurd...more
Eric_W
Rebel is the first in the Nathaniel Starbuck series. Cornwell is best known for the Richard Sharpe series, but he has also written novels about Stonehenge and the Arthurian legend (all on my must-read list). The Starbuck series follows Nate Starbuck, son of Elial Joseph Starbuck, a radical abolitionist preacher, to the South, where he enlists in the Faulconer Legion, more from antagonism toward his father than from any allegiance to states’ rights or slavery.

Nate, while at ...more
Alex Telander
In 1993 Bernard Cornwell began one of his first series to actually be completed. This book gives new insight into the American Civil War, which is an interesting series to write, considering Cornwell is a native of England. Nevertheless, this series, entitled The Nathaniel Starbuck Chronicles, presents a new and different viewpoint of the Civil War, specifically from the Confederate point of view. Ironically, Starbuck himself is a Yankee.

In this first book, the reader is introduced ...more
Graham
Cornwell’s REBEL starts off with an excellent, humiliating and very painful enaction of the whole classic tar-and-feather punishment meted out by Americans in the 19th century, and it’s enlightening to find out just what this process entails. It’s this kind of minute detail that distinguishes Cornwell’s wide-ranging research from other contemporary efforts. For example, later in the story we learn what a ‘ganderpull’ means, and Cornwell pulls no punches in his in-your-face description of it. Sur...more
Wayne Wilson
A great read! The civil war is one of my favorite subjects and this historical novel takes a look at the war from the point of view of a young man from Boston who finds himself fighting for the South. The book is the first in I guess several that center on the impetuous Nathaniel Starbuck as he serves the confederacy.

I was struck by how unorganized the South was as they went to war. The citizens of the South were a much more individual centered society. They didn't go for many rules ...more
Joyce Lagow
Nathaniel Starbuck is a Northerner, the son of a Calvinist, fire-eating, abolitionist preacher, who finds himself in the South in Virginia at the outbreak of the US Civil war. Having run off with an actress who has taken him for all he has, Starbuck is penniless and friendless in less than friendly surroundings. He makes his way to the home of one of his best friends whose family is one of the wealthiest in Virginia. Almost by accident and without strong convictions either way, Starbuck becom...more
Elisabeth
I was entertained by the story, however it didn't really start to pick up until Bull Run, during the last 1/3 of the book. Felt like the character development was pretty good in everyone except Starbuck, the main protagonist. I felt like he was pretty one dimensional, again until near the end. He constantly seems to be distracted by remotely attractive women, to the point of complete oblivion, which seemed a little far fetched--are there no remotely attractive women in 19th century Boston? A...more
Peter Meredith
So far a little slow and a little too involved. When Stephen King goes on for a thousand pages in The Stand, I wanted another thousand. With this author, Cornwell, however, I'm already a trifle bored after only half the book. Is this about the civil war or what. An action/adventure novel should have a touch more action/and adventure for my tastes.
Finally done. This book couldn't hold my attention too long. Perhaps I was in the mood for a little more war in my war book and a lot less angst....more
Joseph
If you've read a pile of Sharpe's books by Cornwell, you may feel like skipping the Starbuck Chronicles. On the other hand, you might feel like reading an American Civil War version of a Sharpe's book, in which case, jump right in.

The language of the battle sequences is familiar to readers of Cornwell's other books, and the characters are perhaps modestly different than the Sharpe's books, but we don't read Cornwell for striking innovation in narrative, we read him for rousing bat...more
Brandon
This was the first book by Bernard Cornwell I ever read, and I did so in 7th grade. I've said for years that the Starbuck and Sharpe books were the only things that got me out of junior high in one piece.

That being said, Cornwell's unflinchingly graphic with battle scenes, and though this one is two-thirds character- and world-building, the First Battle of Bull Run is no less bloody than any of Cornwell's other battles, and just as richly detailed.

The need for Cornwell t...more
Ed
Ed rated it 4 of 5 stars  ·  review of another edition
Recommends it for: Civil War and other Historical Fiction fans
I might never have picked up this book to read if it hadn't been written by Bernard Cornwell.

I am not a big fan of Civil War novels, "Cold Mountain" notwithstanding.

This volume is the first in the four book "Starbuck" series featuring Nathaniel Starbuck, a conflicted ex-theology student and son of a fiery abolitionist preacher. He is seduced by an actress who dumps him in Richmond, Virginia at the start of the Civil War. He is rescued from tar and ...more
Steve
Steve added it
Having enjoyed Bernard Cornwell's earlier novel set during the American War of Independance, I thought I give this a go. It's the first in his 'Starbuck Chronicles', following Nate Starbuck, a northerner fighting in the southern army in the American Civil War.[return][return]Alas I gave this up about 150 pages in. It was okay, but I just didn't really care about the character or what happened. Probably just me.
Erik
Erik rated it 3 of 5 stars
Shelves: read-in-2011
I think I have been spoiled by the Shaara books on the Civil War which are very good and deal more with battlefield strategy.

Similar to his Sharpre series, Cornwell spends most of the book on a parallel storyline that usually sees it's climax during the books main battle, Bull Run in this case. I think I would enjoy the books more if he spent more time on the battle itself. Oh well... I am still going to read "Copper head".
Will
Will rated it 3 of 5 stars
Maybe I should have given this four stars, but I'm new to the game and I'd like to avoid grade inflation. The book, and Cornwell's storytelling specifically, caught me up and carried me once again to the place where the world all around slides by as I live in the continuous fictive dream. When the book ended, I wanted to spend more time in the company of that star-crossed rogue, Nate Starbuck.

Doug
Doug rated it 4 of 5 stars
I like GOOD historical fiction and I believe that Bernard Cornwell writes some of the very best of the genre. While waiting for his latest to hit the book stores I was looking to see what I had missed and discovered I had read none of the Starbucks Chronicles. When I got Rebel, the first in the series, I was sorry that I had overlooked it all this time. Starbuck is an interesting character and Cornwell writes about the Civil War amazingly well ( for a Brit, just kidding). A very good read.
zoomdoggies
I nearly gave up on this book. The central character was pretty useless, and I found it hard to care what happened to him. I understand the tendency of testosterone-poisoned young men to make the same mistake over and over, but this guy was just being stupid. Even so, the latter part of the book did a good job of conveying the confusion, chaos, and craziness of the Battle of Manassas. Because of that, and because I'm a Bernard Cornwell fan, I will probably try the next book in the series.
David Siler
Fun to read, a novel based on the true facts and events of the American Civil War. Nathan Starbuck has run away from his northern heritage and enlists with the Rebel army. The accounts of battle are exciting and vivid. A great read for those wanting an insight into the life of a soldier in the Civil War.
Michael
Actually, I never finished this book. It got ruined and I threw it away and never went out and bought it again. Books are spendy enough without having to buy them again, you know? I'm also not a big Civil War person. But I've heard from others that the series is good so maybe one day...
Mike
Mike rated it 3 of 5 stars
The story telling and description of the horrific action was reminiscent of the Richard Sharpe series. Which is not surprising since the conduct of the Civil War was similar to the Napolelonic wars. I think the main character is sort of a whiner and lacks purpose.
Luckngrace
I was put off at first by Mr. Cornwell's portrayal of Southern people as vacuous, arrogant and naive beyond belief. After all, Cornwell IS a Brit! However, his story swallowed me up in no time and I fully intend to read all 4 of this Starbuck Series and then move on to his other works.
Chuck
Chuck rated it 5 of 5 stars
A novel of the Civil War beginning with the fall of Fort Sumter through
First Manassas (Bull Run). Our hero, Nate Starbuck, finds himself in
Richmond, a long way from his Boston home, when hostilities begin.
Good character development and a good read.
Patrick
I thought this was an incredible book. Excellent description of battle scenes and good character building. Can't Wait to read the next one! If you're a fan of historical fiction and more precisely the American Civil War, this book is the way to go.
Ice Bear
I know that Bernard Cornwall's books follow a similar pattern and thus it is the context that makes them stand out. I like this series and eagerly await the next episode. I also like the Vikig series, but not Sharpe.
Tattyfowl
The first book I’ve read by Bernard Cornwell and he creates some very entertaining characters. The story begins just as war is breaking out and ends with the 1st battle of Bull Run near Manassas with some interesting goings-on in Richmond in between.
Jeff
Jeff rated it 3 of 5 stars
My second Cornwell, this one a different series which I think I'll continue. Protagonist Nathaniel Starbuck is a northern boy who finds himself in the Confederate ranks during the battle of Bull Run.
Lars Johnson
it was a very well written civil war novel also unlike other civil war novels where they just talk about the war this series also talks about the people of the time.
Amy
The writing grabs you and proceeds very smoothly. It's funny, too. It is very boy-centric, though, so couldn't hold my interest. I usually like historical fiction and battles, but I didn't find anyone to admire or identify with, male or female. I lost interest halfway through.
Edward Creter
Very good action. Nate Starbuck is stuck with the worst choice one can make in The Civil War--to fight for the North or the South? I recommend it!
Dave
Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book. I was an interesting way to learn about the Battle of Bull Run during the American Civil War. Very interesting. It brought the battle to life and made learning so much more fun. I look forward to getting the rest of the Nathaniel Starbuck Cronicles and reading them also.
Frank Kelly
How Cornwell is able to churn out so many diffuse, highly researched and incredibly entertaining novels is beyond me. This is the first in his US Civil War series. Great summer reading.
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Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, #1)
Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, #1)
Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, #1)
Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, #1)
Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, #1)

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Cornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his mother's maiden name, Cornwe...more
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