A Close Run Thing (Matthew Hervey 01)
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Review
"'I have never read a more enthralling account of a battle... This is the first in a series of Matthew Hervey adventures. The next can't come soon enough for me' Daily Mail"
Book Description
An heroic tale from the final days of the Napoleonic Wars that introduces an unforgettable new fictional hero.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have always been a fan of the Sharpe novels, but must confess to struggling to get into the Aubrey/Maturin novels. A display in a Waterstones drew me to Mallinson's series of books chronicling the exploits of Matthew Hervey, whose adventures take off where Sharpe's (if you exclude his South American foray) finish, at Waterloo.
The novel is pitched somewhere between Sharpe and Aubrey/Maturin, sure there is daring and dashing-do, but there is also a greater depth to the novels. A greater understanding and description of life in the army at the time, particularly the cavalry, and in this and later novels in the series, a bigger draw on the political upheavals of the time.
Hervey as a hero does not commend himself to you as immediately as Sharpe, perhaps he never does. But his exploits, whilst not so tied with the big battalions as Sharpe's, are equally as riveting and make very easy reading. If you are looking for something that complements your interest in Sharpe, this is for you.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Mallinson can't really compete with Patrick O'Brian - Hervey is more like a sanitised Sharpe.
Having said that, 'A Close Run Thing' is a lot easier to read than the Aubrey/Maturin series. The research is excellent, and in fact Mallinson seems to have more of a feeling for the period than Bernard Cornwell.
This book is undemanding, whilst being at the same time well-researched and written in far better English than most.... The story is very enjoyable too, and full of detail on cavalry warfare in the early nineteenth century.
Hervey is a paragon of moral rectitude and military skill, which makes the book read a bit like a Boys' Own adventure. Still, that's not necessarily a bad thing...
A perfect book to take on holiday. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There is no doubting the historical accuracy of this novel, in terms both of larger events and details. For that it can be applauded. I assume that, if this is to be a series of novels, the books will not be published in chronoligical sequence. If this is true, I'm looking forward to hearing of Hervey's adventures in Spain. Where the book does let itself down a bit is in its hero. Matthew Hervey is painted as a distilled perfection. In fact, too perfect to be credible. There is not a bad bone in his body. Every thought he has is noble, every deed brave and every action good in intent. Indeed, he is not the normal enobled cavalry officer but the son of a rural clergyman. Maybe I'm jaded, but I like my heroes to be a bit more flawed. If this were to be as accurate as the historic detail then this book would get 5 stars.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Worth a try
If (like me) you're still looking for a replacement for Sharpe, this one is worth a go. It is very thoroughly researched, and if you're interested in details of weaponry or what... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Homer
Authentic but overly technical
This is the tale of the young cavalry officer Matthew Hervey who is part of the British army during the Napoleonic Wars. Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. Cooper
Hornblower on horseback
I have not read the various Sharpe novels (yet!) and so cannot compare Matthew Hervey to the Sharpe series. Read more
Published 10 months ago by John Middleton
Terrific read
I thought this was a very enjoyable read and liked it enough to go on to the next in the series! I loved Patrick O'Brian and this has the same wonderful sense of period although of... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mrs. D. Bowers
Not just a rattling good yarn
I think this is a splendid tome. There's plenty of action, predominatly a gripping section about the battle of Waterloo, but the book also provides a fascinating insight into the... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2010 by N. Rose
A really pleasant surprise!
A Close Run Thing
I was given the book as a gift and I must say that I put off reading it for a while because I felt it couldn't be terribly interesting. Read more
I was given the book as a gift and I must say that I put off reading it for a while because I felt it couldn't be terribly interesting. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2009 by Sa King
A close run thing whether I finished it..
Mallinson is no Bernard Cornwell. This book does not fizz along like another hero from Waterloo, Major Richard Sharp. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2008 by SE Killick
Turgid proto-victorian prig
Religion, religion everywhere. Harvey saves the day all by himself for the plucky British. I thought it was all a bit more complex than that. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2007 by Palexr
BORING.
I'm not one to give up on a serie's after reading just the first book,I read the first three installment's in a row,none of these storie's got me gripped and so I decided to not... Read more
Published on 2 July 2007 by Mr. C. A. Miller
An unjustifiably lukewarm reception.
I would strongly recommend you read this, and make up your own mind. (I know..Right before I launch into an opinionated tirade of my own... Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2007 by gixxer
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