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Soldier of the Queen
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 6, 2020
Fabulous read
The author brings to life the Crimean war in all it horror. It leaves you hoping the Goff family escape every incident without harm and that they succeed in their chosen career. The hopes of the characters are very realistic and leave you turning the page willing them to achieve their hopes. A thoroughly enjoyable book and thankfully there is two more to go
The author brings to life the Crimean war in all it horror. It leaves you hoping the Goff family escape every incident without harm and that they succeed in their chosen career. The hopes of the characters are very realistic and leave you turning the page willing them to achieve their hopes. A thoroughly enjoyable book and thankfully there is two more to go
September 27, 2015
First book of a trilogy that I have read and reread. Tells the story of the military'Goff 'family from Balaclava to the Zulu war. Page turner
October 19, 2022
I'm currently going through Max Hennessy's books and this is about the 10th one I've read. For some reason this one feels slightly different. More serious maybe? But it gets better as the book progresses, like the author loosened up and became more himself. Spoilers ahead.
It's quite a long book and goes from Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) all the way up to the Battle of Ulundi (1879) a period of 25 years, though the personality of the protagonist (Colby Goff) doesn't change at all. He feels the same age despite the aging.
At first I thought this was one of those books where the author tries to fit the character into as many historical events as possible. The Charge of the Light Brigade event introduces Goff and starts at the charge. It's quite brief and doesn't try to get much into the Crimean War, just that event and then a bit of the cause and effect of it.
Goff goes home after that where we are introduced to his family and background. (He was also involved in the Mutiny but we are just told after the fact). Then he is sent to the US as an observer for a fictitious newspaper. He is at first embedded with the north but he is captured by the Confederates and spend the rest of the time with them. He is at first also just an observer but he throws his lot in with the south when the cavalry unit he is with loses its leader and he steps in. We are given a little background and commentary of the US Civil War and Goff is in a couple of battles. Then he is injured and he goes back to England. The US is also where he meets his future wife (Augusta) who is only 15 at the time.
Next Goff is sent to the Franco-Prussia War (1870) as an observer again. And once again Hennessy gives a pretty good summary and commentary of the early actions. He doesn't fight this time but he is in the thick of the action. I don't know much about this war but it seems that the French lost because of poor leadership and training, they simply didn't know how to run a war. And the Germans won because they studied and trained for it.
Goff leaves after the Prussians get to Metz but he is sent back again during the siege of Paris (1870-1871), which he endures. He is there to help evacuate British nationals from the capital. Here he meets Augusta again and asks her to marry him.
The next historical event is the Anglo-Ashanti war (probably 1873-74). He is sent there with Wolseley and they go all the way to the capital and back. He is afflicted with a disease and is sent back. In comparison with the other wars, not much is written about this even and it seems like a short side trip. I don't even think Hennessy explained what it was all about, unlike the other conflicts.
The last conflict is when Goff is sent to South Africa. He just misses Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana (1879) but is present at Ulundi.
During this time, he rises in rank to eventually command his regiment (fictitious 19th Lancers), becomes head of his family seat, marries and has 4 kids, but as I say, he doesn't seem to have grown old at all in depiction.
I think Hennessy did a fair job of putting the protagonist in those events and giving us a ring side seat or in the saddle view of the action. As usual, he also does a pretty good job of giving us a brief summary and commentary of the events. Oddly enough some of the writing seems disjointed as if part of the transcript was missing. Like the part with Napoleon III's heir. He is depicted as going to South Africa with the British, then the next time he is mentioned he is dead, like the part where he was killed on patrol was missing.
Overall not a bad book. Half of the book seems to be about just putting a character into all those battles just so Hennessy could write about it. I wasn't really engaged with the character despite everything because I think he was somewhat bland. To be honest, you could switch him with a dozen other Hennessy characters and you wouldn't really notice the difference. I think von Hartmann, his Prussian acquaintance was more memorable. Anyway I did enjoy the book and I've already started on the next one.
It's quite a long book and goes from Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) all the way up to the Battle of Ulundi (1879) a period of 25 years, though the personality of the protagonist (Colby Goff) doesn't change at all. He feels the same age despite the aging.
At first I thought this was one of those books where the author tries to fit the character into as many historical events as possible. The Charge of the Light Brigade event introduces Goff and starts at the charge. It's quite brief and doesn't try to get much into the Crimean War, just that event and then a bit of the cause and effect of it.
Goff goes home after that where we are introduced to his family and background. (He was also involved in the Mutiny but we are just told after the fact). Then he is sent to the US as an observer for a fictitious newspaper. He is at first embedded with the north but he is captured by the Confederates and spend the rest of the time with them. He is at first also just an observer but he throws his lot in with the south when the cavalry unit he is with loses its leader and he steps in. We are given a little background and commentary of the US Civil War and Goff is in a couple of battles. Then he is injured and he goes back to England. The US is also where he meets his future wife (Augusta) who is only 15 at the time.
Next Goff is sent to the Franco-Prussia War (1870) as an observer again. And once again Hennessy gives a pretty good summary and commentary of the early actions. He doesn't fight this time but he is in the thick of the action. I don't know much about this war but it seems that the French lost because of poor leadership and training, they simply didn't know how to run a war. And the Germans won because they studied and trained for it.
Goff leaves after the Prussians get to Metz but he is sent back again during the siege of Paris (1870-1871), which he endures. He is there to help evacuate British nationals from the capital. Here he meets Augusta again and asks her to marry him.
The next historical event is the Anglo-Ashanti war (probably 1873-74). He is sent there with Wolseley and they go all the way to the capital and back. He is afflicted with a disease and is sent back. In comparison with the other wars, not much is written about this even and it seems like a short side trip. I don't even think Hennessy explained what it was all about, unlike the other conflicts.
The last conflict is when Goff is sent to South Africa. He just misses Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana (1879) but is present at Ulundi.
During this time, he rises in rank to eventually command his regiment (fictitious 19th Lancers), becomes head of his family seat, marries and has 4 kids, but as I say, he doesn't seem to have grown old at all in depiction.
I think Hennessy did a fair job of putting the protagonist in those events and giving us a ring side seat or in the saddle view of the action. As usual, he also does a pretty good job of giving us a brief summary and commentary of the events. Oddly enough some of the writing seems disjointed as if part of the transcript was missing. Like the part with Napoleon III's heir. He is depicted as going to South Africa with the British, then the next time he is mentioned he is dead, like the part where he was killed on patrol was missing.
Overall not a bad book. Half of the book seems to be about just putting a character into all those battles just so Hennessy could write about it. I wasn't really engaged with the character despite everything because I think he was somewhat bland. To be honest, you could switch him with a dozen other Hennessy characters and you wouldn't really notice the difference. I think von Hartmann, his Prussian acquaintance was more memorable. Anyway I did enjoy the book and I've already started on the next one.
October 30, 2020
Mixed feelings about the story
For a book whose title implies it is about the British Empire, two thirds of it is about other countries conflicts.
The first chapter is a gory description of the charge of the Light Brigade. The book then skips over the rest of the Crimean war and the Indian mutiny in a few sentences, before spending quite a bit of time on the American Civil War.
The Franco-Prussian war also gets a bit of coverage, with the rest of the book devoted Britain in Africa.
At times overly gory. At times a bit boring. At times engaging.
I will probably buy the sequel, but only if its cheap.
For a book whose title implies it is about the British Empire, two thirds of it is about other countries conflicts.
The first chapter is a gory description of the charge of the Light Brigade. The book then skips over the rest of the Crimean war and the Indian mutiny in a few sentences, before spending quite a bit of time on the American Civil War.
The Franco-Prussian war also gets a bit of coverage, with the rest of the book devoted Britain in Africa.
At times overly gory. At times a bit boring. At times engaging.
I will probably buy the sequel, but only if its cheap.
November 23, 2020
An OK tale
If one can suspend disbelief, this tale is written from an English cavalry officer’s perspective. It encompasses action at Balaclava, the American Civil war, the Franco Prussian war, revolution in France and culminates with war in South Africa against the Zulus. I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters for they all seemed a bit distant. As plots go, there really isn’t much of one other than inserting the main character and his colleagues into the above mentioned events. It is light reading which I won’t recall next week. 3:5 stars would be more accurate n
If one can suspend disbelief, this tale is written from an English cavalry officer’s perspective. It encompasses action at Balaclava, the American Civil war, the Franco Prussian war, revolution in France and culminates with war in South Africa against the Zulus. I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters for they all seemed a bit distant. As plots go, there really isn’t much of one other than inserting the main character and his colleagues into the above mentioned events. It is light reading which I won’t recall next week. 3:5 stars would be more accurate n
May 6, 2021
I would give this book 10 stars, if I could!!
This story is so well written, I didn't want it to end. All the elements that make an exceptional read are here. I wouldn't say it's for everyone but if one likes military history, with a bit of well-balanced romance, then this is for you. Action scenes abound, locations/topography are well described and, above all, characters believable and hold your interest. Excellent writing!
This story is so well written, I didn't want it to end. All the elements that make an exceptional read are here. I wouldn't say it's for everyone but if one likes military history, with a bit of well-balanced romance, then this is for you. Action scenes abound, locations/topography are well described and, above all, characters believable and hold your interest. Excellent writing!
April 21, 2020
Plenty of action
A good story well written the author shows the errors and mismanagement of the army at the time of Balaclava , the hero gets into all sorts of situations and carries the battle scars along with the experience of many campaigns,will definitely read the rest of the series.
A good story well written the author shows the errors and mismanagement of the army at the time of Balaclava , the hero gets into all sorts of situations and carries the battle scars along with the experience of many campaigns,will definitely read the rest of the series.
April 21, 2020
Holy Smokes Batman! It be a sleep chaser!
I wish someone could have warned me that this book was hard to put down. My afternoon naps would have been much longer. It is loaded with action, drama , history and edge of your seat suspense. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book to all history buffs.
I wish someone could have warned me that this book was hard to put down. My afternoon naps would have been much longer. It is loaded with action, drama , history and edge of your seat suspense. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book to all history buffs.
March 21, 2020
Good
This was actually a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be, I bought this book in a weak moment reminiscing about the earlier Wilbur Smith books, and then enjoyed the story so much that I now have to read the next 2 books as well.
This was actually a lot more enjoyable than I thought it would be, I bought this book in a weak moment reminiscing about the earlier Wilbur Smith books, and then enjoyed the story so much that I now have to read the next 2 books as well.
July 4, 2020
Can you trust the people at your side
First book I have read by this author but had to give it 5 stars. The army is built on trust some wish to abuse that to gain there own ends. Who was it.
First book I have read by this author but had to give it 5 stars. The army is built on trust some wish to abuse that to gain there own ends. Who was it.
July 22, 2025
While I enjoyed the read, this was, for me, curiously uninvolving and seemed more like a tour of European conflicts during the mid-Victorian reign until the story moved to South Africa and the caction became more personal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 2, 2020An OK story.
May 9, 2020
War in the 19th
The hero covers all the wars of the 2nd half of the 19th century in all the continents! Good mix of war and peace.
The hero covers all the wars of the 2nd half of the 19th century in all the continents! Good mix of war and peace.
July 26, 2024
Just about ok if you like this kind of book. Quite far from the level of Sharpe or Matthew Hervey though. I probably won’t go for the rest of the trilogy.
March 13, 2020
Good
Enjoyed the book very much about 19 century war fair with horse soldiers of the old British empire especially Africa
Enjoyed the book very much about 19 century war fair with horse soldiers of the old British empire especially Africa
March 11, 2020
Good read
Good read why do I have a required number of words? Who are you to tell me how to express my opinion
Good read why do I have a required number of words? Who are you to tell me how to express my opinion
February 26, 2020
A rousing charge through the 18th century wars and battles of The British Empire.
February 11, 2020
Great Read!
Covering a part military history that's seldom covered, this the story of a young cavalry officer from Crimea to the Transval. The plot and history is fascinating, the characters interesting and well developed. I'm looking forward to the next book.
Covering a part military history that's seldom covered, this the story of a young cavalry officer from Crimea to the Transval. The plot and history is fascinating, the characters interesting and well developed. I'm looking forward to the next book.
February 10, 2021
This is by some distance the worst historical novel I have ever read - and (at least so far) the only 1 star rating I can remember giving here. Even after finishing it, I'm yet to identify anything resembling a plot.
The author seems to have picked half a dozen or so Victorian-era battles (spanning 25 years) and then written an action scene - not all of them good - for each one. There isn't really any story connecting these unrelated action scenes, a problem 'resolved' with jarring timeskips.
Out of the myriad of characters only Augusta Dabney actually has personality. The rest are lifeless, emotionless mannequins who exist only to fill up space on the page.
If you want the style of book that this is trying to be you have so many better options. Mallinson's Hervey (A Close Run Thing) or Goldsworthy's Hamish Williams (True Soldier Gentleman) come to mind.
The author seems to have picked half a dozen or so Victorian-era battles (spanning 25 years) and then written an action scene - not all of them good - for each one. There isn't really any story connecting these unrelated action scenes, a problem 'resolved' with jarring timeskips.
Out of the myriad of characters only Augusta Dabney actually has personality. The rest are lifeless, emotionless mannequins who exist only to fill up space on the page.
If you want the style of book that this is trying to be you have so many better options. Mallinson's Hervey (A Close Run Thing) or Goldsworthy's Hamish Williams (True Soldier Gentleman) come to mind.
Read
January 12, 2020Interesting; Great read
January 18, 2020
For history buffs.
An exciting. clear trail thru the martial history of the last half of the 19th century. A great informative read!
An exciting. clear trail thru the martial history of the last half of the 19th century. A great informative read!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews