- Paperback
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (7 July 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007257686
- ISBN-13: 978-0007257683
- Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,797,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Rules of War (Jack Steel 2)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Praise for Rules of War:
‘If you like historic thrillers, Gale could blow you away’
Praise for Four Days in June:
‘A powerful novel of men at war. A triumph' Bernard Cornwell
'A debut novel to treasure…brilliantly evoking the horrors and excitements of war' Publishing News
‘A treat for every history buff, and a vivid picture of men at war’ Scotland on Sunday
‘Thoroughly researched’ Financial Times
‘An old-fashioned tale of military strategy and valour.’ Glasgow Herald
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.Product Description
Jack Steel, first met in Man of Honour, is a splendid hero on a new and dangerous mission. Perfect for all fans of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe.
MEET JACK STEEL - GENTLEMAN, SOLDIER, HERO.
In the early eighteenth century, the British army led by John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, were the leaders of a wide-ranging and very successful alliance. Jack Steel, maverick gentleman, superb soldier, was in the middle of any fight.
Ramilles 1706. One of the great victories of the British army, a signal battle honour for the regiments who were there. But for Captain Steel, standing at the head of his Grenadiers, sinking into the swampy ground, at odds with his Allied partners and receiving contradictory orders, it was hard to see the General, Lord Marlborough's grand stratagem.
Even after victory, Steel finds himself mired in further difficulties. The Allies had thought that they were liberating the Low Countries but some preferred their previous masters, the French, who at least were Catholic, and some wanted independence from all powers, while others of his fellow officers wanted out of the war altogether.
Far from the battle lines he enjoys, Jack Steel is sent undercover to discover and deal with the traitors. He needs to identify the loyal locals who would help a few British advance troops into the besieged city - a dangerous mission made deadly by his identification by an old enemy of his and the brilliant malevolence of the renegade French pirate who is in charge of Ostende.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
...will be delighted to review it as soon as I get it (1 month elapsed from the purchese and no sign of the book yet. That said, after reading #1 and 3, I would say that Jack Steel is quite enjoyable reading but Jack himself it's too much Sharpe's GranDa (and Sarn't Slaughter Harper's Uncle). Moreover, tactics and drills portrayed in the books fit better to late 18th-early 19th Century than to Marlborough Army. All in all, average, good for a train trip, but not much more.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When it comes to the second book of any series (this being Jack Steel 2), you get to know whether an author has real talent and able to maintain the standards portrayed within the original or whether the pressure was just too much and a poor offering was presented. There just isn't a middle ground, it maintains and builds or it goes down in flames, so what did Iain's writing do?
The fact that I'm having an Iain Gale Day should pretty much tell you. The writing was a pure joy, the characters fresh and complete although personally I'd rather have a Sergeant Slaughter series over a ranking officer any day. I love this series so far and to be honest there's not much more that can be added other than its something special for all readers. Special mention also has to go to the wonderfully creative villains that have so far appeared within the context who give Steel a real challenge and are just as wonderfully addictive, long may they continue to elude the hero to generate more chaos into which he's plunged. Cracking stuff.
The fact that I'm having an Iain Gale Day should pretty much tell you. The writing was a pure joy, the characters fresh and complete although personally I'd rather have a Sergeant Slaughter series over a ranking officer any day. I love this series so far and to be honest there's not much more that can be added other than its something special for all readers. Special mention also has to go to the wonderfully creative villains that have so far appeared within the context who give Steel a real challenge and are just as wonderfully addictive, long may they continue to elude the hero to generate more chaos into which he's plunged. Cracking stuff.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The sequel to 'man of honour'....it had the promise to be a better book and the series does have a great future as there's something glorious about this period of history.
Yet why does it fail? According to the amazon reviewer Alejo ADB, giving it 2 stars is a too low. Well i give it one, because thats my opinion.
Well because although the tale of battle and siege are the sort to be a page turner of most military readers, Iain Gale, can not write it well. On the book's cover it says "if you like Sharpe, Jack Steel is your man". A clever ploy used by the publishers to get sharpe fans to buy it, but Mr Gale is no Bernard Cornwell.
Richard Sharpe stories are (not without fault), but on the whole a cracking read. Jack Steel books are not. Jack Steel is a boring character, and I thought by the second outing we may have had the character flushed out, but no we don't. I would recommend Mr Gale not trying to write a Sharpe story and concentrate on making Jack Steel and his annoying Harper-esque Sergeant original.
Anyway, The book opens with the battle of Ramillies 1706, 2 years after Blenhiem when something more interesting happened. Steel survives...and is sent on a sort of dangerous mission which involves, conspirators, frenchmen, an enemy or two and in the setting of the great citadel of Ostend.
If you liked the first book, you'll like this one...the third book Brothers in Arms is apparently out, so give it a read if youre a fan. But Mr Gale - please give more ooomph. Thank you.
Yet why does it fail? According to the amazon reviewer Alejo ADB, giving it 2 stars is a too low. Well i give it one, because thats my opinion.
Well because although the tale of battle and siege are the sort to be a page turner of most military readers, Iain Gale, can not write it well. On the book's cover it says "if you like Sharpe, Jack Steel is your man". A clever ploy used by the publishers to get sharpe fans to buy it, but Mr Gale is no Bernard Cornwell.
Richard Sharpe stories are (not without fault), but on the whole a cracking read. Jack Steel books are not. Jack Steel is a boring character, and I thought by the second outing we may have had the character flushed out, but no we don't. I would recommend Mr Gale not trying to write a Sharpe story and concentrate on making Jack Steel and his annoying Harper-esque Sergeant original.
Anyway, The book opens with the battle of Ramillies 1706, 2 years after Blenhiem when something more interesting happened. Steel survives...and is sent on a sort of dangerous mission which involves, conspirators, frenchmen, an enemy or two and in the setting of the great citadel of Ostend.
If you liked the first book, you'll like this one...the third book Brothers in Arms is apparently out, so give it a read if youre a fan. But Mr Gale - please give more ooomph. Thank you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I Really Tried
When I read "Four days in June a battle lost, a battle won, June 1815" which I gave 5 stars to, I said "I will unquestionably give Iain Gale's other stories a go". Read more
Published 20 days ago by John H Glen
Hours I want back on my death bed
Unreadable. Pity it had to get even one star. An unimpressive attempt to be like the Sharpe books. One dimensional characters and no plot. Read more
Published 6 months ago by News book
light entertainment
This is not one of the best historical fiction books that i have ever read . It is light entertainment, it passes a quick hour of two and i think that is approximately how long it... Read more
Published 7 months ago by A. Browne
Enjoyable Historical Romp
There are a number of criticisms in the reviews here that Iain Gale isn't as good as Bernard Cornwell. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. Ross Maynard
A reasonable read
I'm an avid reader of historical fiction. I have now tried the first two books in the Jack Steel series - I finished reading this one about a month ago, and I'm finding it a... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Roger
A bit cheesy, but hey...
I've already read Man of Honour (the first Jack Steel book), so I knew exactly what to expect from the second. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Michael67
A Steady Sequel
As previous reviewers have already stated, a second novel in a series is a very difficult beast to master. I have to say that I feel that Iain Gale has made a very good stab at it. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by S. W. Armstrong
A Dissapointment.
I cannot but feel let down after reading this book. After the first Jack Steel novel, yes there were obvious reasons why it should be compared to the Sharpe adventures, but has a... Read more
Published on 31 July 2008 by Mike D.
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