The Shangani Patrol (Simon Fonthill)
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Review
"Fonthill rivals Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series in military action and characterization." "--Historical Novels Review"
Product Description
This gripping new military adventure featuring Simon Fonthill brilliantly depicts one of the last and most tragic of all battles in the 'Scramble for Africa'.
1893. In the African Cape, recovering from the loss of their child, ex-captain and one-time subaltern Simon Fonthill and his wife Alice find themselves on tribal land and at the mercy of Matabele warriors. While being held under the orders of the Matabele king, Lobengula, Fonthill becomes aware of a Portuguese plot to undermine a valuable mining treaty between Lobengula and the richest man in Africa, Cecil Rhodes. When friction develops between Rhodes and the Matabele tribesmen Fonthill is forced to take sides and, together with comrade '352' Jenkins and Alice, he becomes embroiled in one of the bloodiest battles in British history, the Shangani River massacre.
1893. In the African Cape, recovering from the loss of their child, ex-captain and one-time subaltern Simon Fonthill and his wife Alice find themselves on tribal land and at the mercy of Matabele warriors. While being held under the orders of the Matabele king, Lobengula, Fonthill becomes aware of a Portuguese plot to undermine a valuable mining treaty between Lobengula and the richest man in Africa, Cecil Rhodes. When friction develops between Rhodes and the Matabele tribesmen Fonthill is forced to take sides and, together with comrade '352' Jenkins and Alice, he becomes embroiled in one of the bloodiest battles in British history, the Shangani River massacre.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A good read from John Wilcox, but this book seems to be one of those ones that you could describe as a contract fulfilment or maybe an author struggling for ideas?
Its still written with JW's skill and flair, the characters are still fun and full of life, but with this book i was happy to get to the end, and thinking i hope the next book is better and a return to the brilliance of the past.
So should you the reader buy it...Yes, its still a good read, and while i may cast doubt on it, its in comparison to his excellent books of the past, if i compare it to other writers then its well worth the spend.
I look forward to the next book and the next episode of the intrepid duo of 352 and Fonthill (or are they a trio now the wife seems to go everywhere?)
(Parm)
Its still written with JW's skill and flair, the characters are still fun and full of life, but with this book i was happy to get to the end, and thinking i hope the next book is better and a return to the brilliance of the past.
So should you the reader buy it...Yes, its still a good read, and while i may cast doubt on it, its in comparison to his excellent books of the past, if i compare it to other writers then its well worth the spend.
I look forward to the next book and the next episode of the intrepid duo of 352 and Fonthill (or are they a trio now the wife seems to go everywhere?)
(Parm)
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This the 7th of the Simon Fonthill outings,and it is up to high standard that we expect from John Wilcox,although i do not think it is the best of his adventure`s but still a ripping yarn.The reason i feel this,is because Simon and Alice spend more of there time as emissary`s and path finders for most part of the book and their real problems come from the Portuguse agent Manuel de Sousa,"Gouela" then the Matabele chief King Lobengula.The adventure comes to life first with the battle with the Matabele Impis which become a no conquest as it was spear`s (although they did have a few rifle`s supplied by Simon from Rhodes)against machine guns, but were it really takes you right into the thick of it is Wilson reguard action, which has it`s Rorke`s Drift moment of backs against the wall,only this time the river.There has been moore author`s venturing into this field recently i.e Saul David and Douglas Kilworth but they have away to go to reach the standard set by John Wilcox,looking forward to the next outing of Simon,Alice and 352 Jenkins.
6 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Perhaps the biggest drawback of this book is it is based on a little known invasion of Matabeleland under the auspices of Cecil Rhodes. For all that the book is very well written and there are interesting segments on the African tribal way of life, fast disappearing by the 1890s. For those looking for lots of military action you will perhaps be disappointed, however when you realise the Matabele are a fragment of the Zulu nation there is that little bit more excitement. The book does drag a little in places but for all that it's not the worst of the series but not the best either.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
More please
I despaired of ever finding an author as good with Africa as Wilbur Smith, or as good with battle scenes as Bernard Cornwell but luckily I've discovered John Wilcox. Read more
Published 16 months ago by BookWorm
Simon Fonthill adventures
I have read all of John Wilcox books relating to Simon Fonthill,s adventures. Boys Own books? Well you could say that but I find them very readable, believeable and the link with... Read more
Published 17 months ago by David
Dreadful
I had great expectations for this book and was completely disappointed.
Sorry but I thought it was rubbish. Read more
Sorry but I thought it was rubbish. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Anthony Williams
Shangani Patrol
a rip roaring read about 2 characters who have figured in a previous series of novels. this is the first one i've read and it was enjoyable along the lines of "Prester John" by... Read more
Published 18 months ago by M. L. Mcintyre
John Wilcox does it again!
Another in the Simon Fonthill series that once you start you don't want to put it down! This one was not about a historical event that I knew much about before I read the book but... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Kim Fan
Excellent military historical
I have bought all of John Wilcox's books. He maintains his standards well throughout his Simon Fonthill series and I look forward to more of them
Mike Herwin
Mike Herwin
Published 20 months ago by Mr. M. E. Herwin
Rollocking romp across the veldt
This is the first of the series that I have read, having been completely unaware of it up to now, but probably not the last. Read more
Published 20 months ago by H. T. Davies
SHANGANI PATROL
Rollocking adventure in a diverting and interesting series. This time our hero survives one of the bloodiest battles of the 1879 Zulu War
Published 20 months ago by C. J. Newbould
Reading
Another good read, though perhaps not one of his best. I still enjoyed it.
Published 23 months ago by Sqn Ldr Raymond Leach
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