Man of War

Matthew Hervey #9

by Allan Mallinson

Captain Sir Laughton Peto, recently engaged to Matthew Hervey's sister, Elizabeth, has just taken command of HMS Prince Rupert, the only three-deck line-of-battle ship in commission. He is the proud master of a wooden fortress whose formidable firepower is the equal of Bonaparte's grand battery at Waterloo. But his passage to the Ionian - where Admiral Codrington is assembling an Anglo-Russian-French fleet to evict the Turks from Greek waters - will not be smooth sailing. First he must exercise his crew, most of whom have not seen action before. He has also been entrusted with the safe passage to Malta of the Admiral's youngest daughter.





Six months on, and Matthew Hervey is in London recovering from another bout of malaria and the wound from his battle with the Zulu. All is set fair for his marriage to the eminently suitable Lady Lankester, and his subsequent return to active duty at the Cape. But trouble lies ahead as familial commitments clash with affairs of the heart, and Hervey finds himself embroiled in a military enquiry that can, at best, spell personal embarrassment, and that could result in public humiliation.





As the cataclysmic battle of Navarino Bay looms ever closer for Peto and his crew, the full outcome of which is not known in London even six months later, Hervey faces a crisis that could change both his life and his military career...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, War, Audiobook, Military Fiction

339 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in 2007, and its the 9th volume of the delightful "Matthew Hervey" series.

This book is set in England with Hervey after his actions with the Zulus, and recovering from malaria and from his wound taken in that hard fought clash.

His sister Elizabeth's fiancé, Captain Sir Laughton Peto, is taking his battle ship, HMS Prince Rupert, to the Ionian and there to rendezvous with Admiral Codrington's fleet to fight the Turks from Greek waters.

For Matthew Hervey, his marriage to Lady Lankester is near and his return to active duty at the Cape.

But before all is settled he will find himself embroiled in a military enquiry that can cost him his military career, and thus embarrassment and humiliation.

With Peto and the Navy's clash at Navarino Bay is coming ever closer, and its final outcome not known until six months later, during this time Matthew Hervey will have to face personal problems of his own by clearing his name and military career, and all these actions will be brought to us in a most wonderful fashion by the author.

Very much recommended, for this is a very exciting addition to this wonderful series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Very Enjoyable Hervey Read"!

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Matthew Hervey novels are probably my favorite novels about the early nineteenth century British Military (C.S. Forester's Hornblower books are the close competition.) Hervey, Armstrong, Elizabeth, Peto, Private Johnson, Sister Maria, the Somervilles, and Edward Fairbrother are such fantastic characters. These are people I would like to get to know personally. Man of War adds Rebecca Codrington to that list of great characters.

Mathew Hervey is flawed and sometimes hypocritical (like most of us are at least occasionally). I love those complexities in him as a character that really work well in Man of War. What's more, the naval combat in this volume is intense and engulfing.

Man of War also excited me because Hervey finally gets to be a ....(no spoilers here).

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best. Frankly not interested in his sister's liasons with the German Baron. Pitty the poor broken captain though.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ninth in Mallinson's fine series centered on Matthew Hervey, an English cavalry officer in the early 19th century. IMO, this is one of the best in the series. Mallinson, doubtless looking for variety, devotes at least half this book to naval Captain Laughton Peto and his mission on a ship of the line to Greece, with its climactic battle against Turkish forces. This is beautifully done, rivaling Patrick O'Brian's work, and a welcome diversion. Hervey's plot line in the book is relatively minor, involving no actual military action, but still very interesting because of his mercurial nature. Some of the major assets of this story are the emphasis on several new characters, and the developing relationships among existing characters. All in all, this book is richer than some of the earlier ones, but it would probably be best enjoyed by those who are familiar with the entire series.

[Viva · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not so much a review as a note to my future self not to bother to read this series. I'm a big fan of CS Forester's Hornblower series and I've read 3-4 other British naval serieses including those of Kent, Stockwin and others. I'm always on the lookout for other HH clones. I started/tried to read this series, picking this one at random however the writing is too stilted and formal, may be too full of itself. CSF lets his ideas carry the reader, you read because you are compelled to by the flow of the intent. In this book, the words try to carry the intent single handedly and it doesn't work. It's a chore to follow the writing. Something that CSF conveys in a few words, like the senses of Hornblower conveying to him the state of the weather in a few words Mallinson tries to copy in a whole paragraph that is awkward to read. Even the romance is awkward. Dnf'd.

[Dean David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Michelle Ohara · Rating 4 out of 5]

another good story in the matthew hervey saga

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting historical

[Joseph Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best in the series so far, maybe because half of it was set on a Royal Navy warship.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, which was not just 'blood and thunder', but also explored the main character's feelings as well. I thought it to be well written, and historically as correct as a work of historical fiction can be. I have no problem in recommending this book, which I found hard to put down!

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hervey moves to Turkey.

I'm OK with the war part, but the social niceties of English class, marriage, and the stilted language is way too Jane Austen for me.

[David Campton · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of his Matthew Hervey books, but this one read a bit like Hornblower as written by Jane Austen... and that is NOT good...