A Close Run Thing : A Novel of Wellington's Army of 1815

Rating:
Summary: Good.. and bad and good and bad...
Review: Good: Fascinating subject. There's not nearly enough written about cavalry. Research that seems impeccable to me, a nonspecialist in the period. Essentially appealing characters and a plot where plenty happens.

Bad: Mallison seems to eschew sensory description almost completely. We never learn what most of the characters look like. We never smell the black powder and the horse poop, see the colors of the banners, hear the roar of cannons -- and so on. Also, the pacing of the plot is strange -- several scenes which really should be "shown", such as Hervey's first reunion with his family after several years, are "told".

Overall, I enjoyed this, and I suspect that the rough spots in Mallinson's writing may improve in later works.

Rating:
Summary: Read the first 40 and the last 80 pages
Review: I just finished this book by Alan Mallison. I was not impressed. Maybe I am spoiled by Sharpe and other fiction describing soldiers and their battles but IMO, this was very dry and a hard read. Hear me out. The book follows a young Cornet of the 6th British Light Dragoons and picks up as he is facing a military trial at the end of hostilities in 1814. It then goes back to recall the events that occurred and his subsequent release from charges. This takes all of about 40 pages of the 320 page book. We then follow him to his peacetime posting and his involvement in the Irish countryside. All the while woven in the story line is a series of encounters with ladies, who he just basically talks with until he finally gets told by his sister and sergeant that one likes him. He gets engaged and then Napoleon makes his escape from Elba. This center section of the story took up about 200+ pages and was absolutely boring. I read alot and I like to have a book to read in bed for 30-60 minutes every night. I put this down several times and read some O'Brien and others as this center section was just plain horrible to get through. While there were some interesting scenes in this section they were too few and far between to save this part of the book.

Then came our main character getting into it at Waterloo and becoming a hero. Great stuff and well written. I think the author has the ability to write good stuff but just has to figure out what is interesting and exciting. I actually wanted more at this point. So if you dispose of the middle section of the book you have something worth reading.

JM2C

Rating:
Summary: A Very Promising First Novel
Review: Mallinson tries, as he explains, to write an army counterpart to Patrick O'Brian's Aubery-Maturin series, and he very nearly pulls it off with this book. It is mostly a character study of his young Ensign rather than a book about war. Combat is limited to the very beginning and very end of the book, although the life of a cavalry officer is the main focus. Mallinson clearly intends to make a series of this book, but I am afraid he has run out of wars! O'Brian admitted regretting having started his series in 1800, leaving just 15 years for his characters' growth. Mallinson has started with the last battle of the Napoleonic Wars, so I'm not sure where he will go from here.

Yet this book does stand alone as a good read. It certainly gives the reader an idea of the scale of the carnage at Waterloo.

Rating:
Summary: Superb and engrossing historical fiction.
Review: Mallinson's book is a superb study of the life, traditions, perspective and environment of the Napoleonic cavalry officer. It is also thoroughly engrossing in its depiction of the England of that period, in all its complexity of class, religion, and politics. The story is well paced, beginning and ending with taut and realistic depictions of battle from horseback - this is one of the most detailed depictions of the unique and compelling world of the Napoleonic horse soldier in fiction. The reader is given an eye-level view of the critical impacts that horse quality, unit tactics and weapons, and aggressive regimental leadership had on the successes and failures of that military arm. The comparisons to O'Brien (who, by the way, is credited for delivering advice and encouragement to Mallinson during the writing, so HE apparently thoroughly enjoyed the book) are relevant in so far as the historical period goes, but the characters themselves are of a drastically different motivation and environment - form your own opinion on the validity of such comparisons. Aside from Cornwell's excellent "Sharpe" series, (which, with its focus on the up-from-the-ranks world view of its main character is much different than the upper class atmosphere of the cavalry that defines Mallinson's work) there are few good choices when it comes to military Napoleonic fictions. As we know, excellent choices in the naval arena abound - maybe if more writers with Mallinson's expertise and skill give it a try, the ground pounders (foot and horse) will reclaim some ground. If you enjoy accurate historical fiction, are a lover of horses or the cavalry, or simply enjoy a good story, try this book, you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: First rate historical fiction with a welcome twist
Review: Mr. Mallinson dedicates his book, appropriately to the Light Dragoons, formally the 13th/18th and 15th/19th Hussars. These fine old regiments, like so many in the British Army today, are no more, and live on in truncated form. Mallinson pays tribute to them in his book. Cornet Hervey is a different kind of hero. Those use to the head-bashing logic of Sharpe and co. may find this book a bit of a challenge. I must confess I did at first, but what we have here is a different perspective of the time, and perhaps a somewhat more realistic one. Mallinson's character is educated, and accomplishes more with brains than brawn, though he does not lack in his saber skills, and has a rash temper to boot!
Still, we are not dealing with another Sharpe here, and Mallinson
attempts to provide a portrait of the time as well. The middle section where the regiment is stationed in Ireland was particularly well done, as it shows how difficult the transition must be for soldiers to become policemen. Also readers can see how difficult the Irish posting was for British soldiers then, as it is now. Hervey is not a rake like Sharpe, and he must agonize before declaring his love for the woman he desires. The depiction of Waterloo was interesting as well, since Mallinson places Hervey on the left flank of the battlefield, the part of the battle often least discussed, because it lacked the glamor of Hugamont and Le Haie Sainte positions. But this flank was extremely important to Wellington, as the arrival of the Prussians were crucial to the success of the battle. Hervery expereinces the trials and tribulations of awaiting the slow moving Prussians, and must attemept to effectively liason with them as they arrive. Perhaps the characters are a little less vibrant, and the writing a bit slow at times, but this series has promise. Hervey will need to explore his career in the 19th Century British Empire, and will therefore provide the reader with an interesting transition from the conventional warfare of the Napoleanic period, to the smaller affais of the Empire. Perhaps we might get the Sikh Wars in a future installment as well!

Rating:
Summary: First rate historical fiction with a welcome twist
Review: Nearly everyone agrees that Mr. Mallinson's extensive research and intimate personal knowledge of the life of a cavalry officer make this an engaging read. However, one aspect of this novel that has not been discussed much is the role of the Christian faith of the main character, Matthew Hervey and several supporting characters (from fellow soldiers to his pastor father and brother). Like many in England in the early 19th century, Hervey is a devout Christian. Hervey is written as one who views the world from a Protestant Christian perspective, and who strives to be faithful on the battlefield, at home, or wherever he may be. He is shown praying on the battlefield, quoting scripture, and meditating on Christian ethics and morality. The portrayal is honest and not in the least polemical. Christianity and Christians are not caricatured, but portrayed faithfully and engagingly. Thank you Mr. Mallinson for this welcome twist.

Rating:
Summary: Cares More for Guns than Characters
Review: One the whole, the novel was enjoyable: the characters were interesting, the plot moved well, and it wasn't too predictable - other than the outcome of actual events. Being a horse-person myself, I have always wanted to read more about the role of cavalry in Napoleonic-era fiction. (Bernard Cornwell never dwells upon the topic too long.)

The elements of a great novel are all present, but somehow the book falls short of its potential. Perhaps, Mallinson tried to put too much into one book. I never felt that the plot was moving too slowly and would have liked to see the time in Ireland described in more detail.

Overall, this book was worth reading, but I will examine closely the subsequent books in this series before deciding to purchase them.

Rating:
Summary: Sure he is no Bernard Cornwell.....
Review: Sure he is no Bernard Cornwell.....But he is not that bad either. This book actually was something of a breath of fresh air considering my favorite adventure authors have been slipping recently. In fact, I've been trying to think I don't know of an author that has ever written a fictional book about the Napoleonic cavalry before.

Very good and well written with characters you can get attached to.
Overall-All I know is, I want more. If you are a Bernard Cornwell fan or a Patrick O'Brian fan do yourself a favor and check this guy out.


Rating:
Summary: This book is a smashing success for its first-time author!
Review: What Bernard Cornwell did for Wellington's infantry and Patrick O'Brian did for the Royal Navy, Allan Mallinson has done for the cavalry, and, in so doing, has written a book that is an excellent image of the early 19th century in England. While this book accurately reflects the military events of the time, what makes it such a memorable read is its depiction of the society and characteristics of the era. This reader hopes that Mallinson takes Matthew Hervey into some of the other events that a cavalryman might experience in the post- Waterloo age Talent like this should not stop with one. If dashing characters, action and romance are your forte, you will not go wrong with this fine, first effort. As for me, I'm looking forward to the next one--an eternal optimist!