Attack on the Redan: Sergeant Jack Crossman and the Battle for Sebastopol

Sergeant Jack Crossman #5

by Garry Kilworth

In the sequel to The Winter Soldiers, "Fancy Jack" concludes his Crimean tour of duty amid the brutal clash of the British and Russian empires. The year is 1855, the port of Sebastopol is still under siege by the Allies, and the czar's troops are putting up a vigorous defense. Sergeant Jack Crossman and his hardy band of brothers make forays to harass the enemy in the hills and valleys around the troubled city. Russian sharpshooters disappear mysteriously as Crossman and his men chip away at the enemy's morale. But these foxhunts serve as a mere prelude to the British attack on the Redan, the massive fortification guarding Sebastopol itself. The British assault is as ill planned as it is ill advised, and it ends in a disaster as severe as the Charge of the Light Brigade. Crossman must witness the wholesale massacre of his fellow soldiers. And then-two months after this devastating failure, French and Sardinian forces foil a massive Russian counterattack to relieve their fortress. The Allies' final attack on the Redan will determine Sebastopol's fate, and the outcome of the first truly modern war.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 26, 2003

About the author

Garry Douglas Kilworth is a historical novelist who also published sci-fi, fantasy, and juvenile fiction.

Kilworth is a graduate of King's College London. He was previously a science fiction author, having published one hundred twenty short stories and seventy novels.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in 2005, and its the 5th volume of the delightful "Fancy Jack" Crossman series.

Its now AD 1855, and the port of Sebastopol is under siege by the British and its allies, with the Russians putting up a vigorous defence.

Jack Crossman and his men are sent once again on a "Fox Hunt" to infiltrate and destroy Russian sharpshooters, and when those Russians are mysteriously gone, the attack on the Redan can begin.

When that attack comes, its ill advised and poorly executed, ending thus in total disaster, and Jack Crossman witnessing this destruction and killing of his fellow soldiers.

After some months British are succeeding by foiling a massive Russian attack, before later on the final assault on the Redan is repulsed, and Sebastopol is abandoned and left to the British and its allies.

With the Crimean now over, we will see Jack Crossman next in India, and over there he will get into more cases of espionage and sabotage, and so make a name for himself.

Very much recommended, for this is another exciting addition to this delightful series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Very Engrossing Redan Attack"!

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than the previous novel.

I really enjoy the story of Fancy Jack Crossman. The historical-based stories in the Crimea war, are so interesting. The characters are great in the story, Wynter, Peterson and Major Lovelace.
This felt like one story not a mix of short stories like last time. I look forward to reading the next adventures of Fancy Jack in India.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the same as the previous novel - all substance but no plot. It seems to be just a rambling of a persons life during wartime. Interesting on the war but not for a novel. Could have been a lot better

[Stephen Fleet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and entertaining read the large print version of it so didn’t need my glasses. Lol.

[Mark Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in the series with some major plot twists plus it's the last in the crimea

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good book in line with the previous stories in the series, but occasionally, for me, it felt like a collection of short stories sooner than a complete novel.

[Sho · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up on tales of the Peninsular War and the Crimean War - coming from a military family, and having a dad in the Household Cavalry will do that to a person - and have always loved reading about those things.

So Jack Crossman is a kind of Anti-Richard-Sharpe in that he is the (illegitimate) son of a Scottish baronet who joined the army as a private although in the books he's already a sergeant. He's a snob, which is great because it means he's a non-perfect main protagonist, which I love.

There is the usual to and fro of Crossman's life, the same characters from previous books are around and there are some bloody battles. And a camel.

Thoroughly enjoyable read, although to be honest except for Jack most of the characters are pretty two dimensional.