Review
'The Devil's Own is a marvellous book, colourful in its descriptions, its detail and rousing stories of battle exploits and highly informative in its historical imput' - Peterborough Evening Telegraph; 'Those who enjoy going into battle with Sharpe will love joining forces with Sergeant Jack Crossman... he's a hell of a character' - Darlington Northen Echo
Product Description
First of the colourful exploits of 'Fancy Jack' Crossman; The Crimean War is notoriously one of the most brutal and bloody conflicts of the nineteenth century. In an uneasy allience with the French, the Turks and the Sardinians, British soldiers faced death both on the battlefield from the fierce Cossacks and off it from cholera. Sergeant Jack Crossman, referred to by his admiring comrades as 'Fancy Jack', a tough, shrewd and skilful soldier, is part of the proud 88th regiment, the Connaught Rangers, also known as The Devil's Own. Within the regiment Crossman is picked out to lead a covert operation, well knowing that his success or failure could determine the outcome of the war. Gary Kilworth is a master of the period, and of writing sharp, page-turning military adventure.
From the Publisher
Garry Douglas Kilworth has great skill in creating page-turning military adventure, his characters form their own story within the framework of true accounts of the Crimean War. The historical accuracy is impeccable and has been authenticated by two specialist researchers.
From the Back Cover
The Crimean War: one of the most brutal and bloody wars in history, and the soldiers fighting it face violent death both on the battlefield at the hands of the fierce Cossacks, and off, from the scourge of cholera. Sergeant Jack Crossman, tough, shrewd and skilful, is part of the proud 88th regiment, the Connaught Rangers, also known as the Devil’s Own after Wellington saw them and exclaimed, ‘I don’t know what effect those men will have on the enemy, but by God they terrify me.’
Nicknamed Fancy Jack by the troops for his aristocratic background, Crossman chose to join the ranks instead of buying a commission to prove his worth as a soldier. Grudgingly admired equally by his commanding officers and the men in the ranks, Crossman is singled out to go on a series of near suicide missions – known as fox hunts – with a motley crew of expendable troublemakers from the regiment. Conscious that the success or failure of these missions could determine the outcome of the war, Crossman is determined not to fail. As one of the bloodiest battles of the war approaches, Crossman must push himself to the very limits of his abilities as a soldier if the defeat of the Russians, and the pride of the British army, is to be assured.
In the spirit of all great military adventures, 'The Devil’s Own', with the bold and ingenious Sergeant Jack Crossman, relates rousing stories of battle exploits and the horrifying truth of campaign life with verve and dash and meticulous historical detail.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Garry Kilworth was raised in South Yemen, the son of an RAF sergeant. Later he served 15 years in the RAF himself. Most recently he was with the British Army in Hong Kong, where he wrote for the South China Morning Post. He now spends his time between Suffolk and Spain, writing full time. He has won many awards for both his children's and adult novels.
