On His Majesty's Service (Matthew Hervey 11)
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Review
`What is left to be said about Allan Mallinson? Only this perhaps: he has done for the British army what C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian did for the royal navy, and his novels are every bit as addictive as theirs... On His Majesty's Service is the tenth of his Matthew Hervey novels. The Napoleonic wars are long over: it is 1828. Catholic emancipation and parliamentary reform are in the air. There are riots in the country and talk of reducing the military establishment...Splendid, irresistible stuff, and not for addicts only'
--Allan Massie, The Spectator, June 2011
--Allan Massie, The Spectator, June 2011
Review
"What is left to be said about Allan Mallinson? Only this perhaps: He has done for the British army what C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brien did for the royal navy, and his novels are every bit as addictive as theirs... Splendid, irresistible stuff, and not for addicts only."
--Allan Massie, "Spectator"
" "
"As a history of a little-known conflict, this is a fascinating lively romp."
--"The Times, Saturday Review" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
--Allan Massie, "Spectator"
" "
"As a history of a little-known conflict, this is a fascinating lively romp."
--"The Times, Saturday Review" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It`s always good to have a old friend back in the saddle and its been 3 years since our last outing with Matthew Hervey.After his adventures in the Cape, Hervey and Fairbrother are back in London waiting for Horse Guards to decide on his future now that the army is being cut back,sounds very much like the present day.Once again Allan Mallinson does what he does best with his in-depth research and passion for the period that kept me page turning to the end, as Hervey and Fairbrother are sent as observers with the Russian army in their ferocious war with the Ottoman Empire and they are soon in the thick of the action.Mallinson is in his element with the army and the battle scene`s,but i also really enjoyed how he brought to life the snow coverd streets of 1829 old London town.I am sure we have more to come of Hervey and Fairbrother and i for one can not wait for the next bugle call.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I always find Allan Mallinson books hard to review, the man is obviously highly literate, he knows his subject better than most writers alive, the series is obviously successful with this being book 11 but i think it falls into the marmite of books.
If you like the slow burn slightly dry writing, the story that could be at times out of a text book then this will really appeal, but if you like the cut and thrust of an action packed tale full of blood and thunder then you will not get it...well not much, and it takes too much time getting there.
Im cheap i like to be entertained most of the time and this time it did and didn't do it for me...but lets face it...I have 11 allan Mallinson books on my shelves, so i keep coming back for a look, i keep wanting to find out where Hervey will go next so even the adventure loving cynic that is my likes it enough to keep coming back.
I think you have to find out yourself. But if you are a new buyer sitting on the fence, wondering..."Do i buy this book"?
I would say yes, its well written, very well researched, the dialogue is good. You will just have to decide if thats enough for the future of if you also need the blood thunder and excitement of say a Scarrow.
I really wavered between 3 and 4 stars and eventually settled on 4, anyone who makes me buy 11 books deserves that much respect.
If you like the slow burn slightly dry writing, the story that could be at times out of a text book then this will really appeal, but if you like the cut and thrust of an action packed tale full of blood and thunder then you will not get it...well not much, and it takes too much time getting there.
Im cheap i like to be entertained most of the time and this time it did and didn't do it for me...but lets face it...I have 11 allan Mallinson books on my shelves, so i keep coming back for a look, i keep wanting to find out where Hervey will go next so even the adventure loving cynic that is my likes it enough to keep coming back.
I think you have to find out yourself. But if you are a new buyer sitting on the fence, wondering..."Do i buy this book"?
I would say yes, its well written, very well researched, the dialogue is good. You will just have to decide if thats enough for the future of if you also need the blood thunder and excitement of say a Scarrow.
I really wavered between 3 and 4 stars and eventually settled on 4, anyone who makes me buy 11 books deserves that much respect.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Allan Mallinson's writing gets better each time, and that's saying something when you consider how good the predecessors were.
But that's the saving grace here - this is not an action-packed military thriller. It's a carefully put together evocation of life in the mid-Victorian army at a time when, frankly, there wasn't much for the army to do. True, there are some action sequences and they are very well written, but this seems to be more about moving the narrative of Matthew Hervey's career forward to more interesting times.
If you have the others, you won't be disappointed. If you don't, then don't start here.
But that's the saving grace here - this is not an action-packed military thriller. It's a carefully put together evocation of life in the mid-Victorian army at a time when, frankly, there wasn't much for the army to do. True, there are some action sequences and they are very well written, but this seems to be more about moving the narrative of Matthew Hervey's career forward to more interesting times.
If you have the others, you won't be disappointed. If you don't, then don't start here.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
On His Majesty's Service
Followers of Matthew Hervey's life and career have been eagerly awaiting this lates book, but, frankly I found it dull, uninteresting and heavy going. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Schumann
On His Majestys Service
A good pace of interest Showing a deep knowledge of history
Previous reading of the exploits of Colonel Hervey made the reader feel at home. Read more
Previous reading of the exploits of Colonel Hervey made the reader feel at home. Read more
Published 7 months ago by philips
Ojn His Majesty's Service
Having read other reviews, some of which felt that this book is not up to the standard of the others in the series. I have to disagree. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. N. J. A. Hillson
Not his best.
I confess to some disappointment in this title from the Hervey series, the big problem as I see it is there has been such a long gap since the last book (over 2 years). Read more
Published 8 months ago by Nicholas Peacock MA
Herveys Last Stand?
Having read all of the Hervey books I have always really enjoyed them. However, this one disappointed. Too much about his matrimonial problems and not enough excitement. Read more
Published 8 months ago by A. Coop
Good read
His first book for several years (I think) but he writes well about another era and the story hangs together very well. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. John B. Fenlon
Mallinson, long wait severley disappointed
After years of waiting for our hero to re-appear, we are left with a humdrum view of the 19th century army being depleted and a short sojourn observing the ruskies. Read more
Published 9 months ago by P. J. Forester
Good book
Interesting story, well written as usual by Allan Mallinson.
Now, it will be interesting to discover the next one, Hervey having become the 6th Light Dragoons commanding... Read more
Now, it will be interesting to discover the next one, Hervey having become the 6th Light Dragoons commanding... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. Alain Jacquemet
Review
I have copies of all of the Matthew Hervey books and had waited anxiously for On His Majesty's Service to appear. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. G. Craig
A Serious Read
After a long wait it is nice to see that nothing has changed. The brief flash of human livelyness in a previous volume has been successfully quelled. Col. Read more
Published 11 months ago by gronow
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