Warrior (Matthew Hervey 10) [Hardcover]

This, the tenth book in Brigadier Mallinson's excellent series of novels, sees Matthew Hervey, now an acting Lieutenant Colonel, return to Southern Africa, to the Cape and Natal, where he comes up against the warriors of the great - but brutal - Zulu king Shaka. A great achievement for the good Brigadier, this also seems quite a landmark for me, for while I have read many serial military-historical novels, including Cornwell's Sharpe and O'Brian's Aubrey and Maturin, this is the first series where I have read all of the books as they have come out. I declare something of an interest, therefore - I was predisposed to liking the book. That having been said, however, I don't think anyone will be disappointed by it, and I would rate it one of his best.

As usual, Mallinson integrates many well researched period details into the narrative. We are revised in the relative merits of breeds of horses, although not, for a change, in veterinary procedures. We get an insight into the status of Roman Catholics in England in 1828 - just before the Catholic Emancipation Act - and even description of Catholic funeral services as the 6th Light Dragoons bury one of their faithful servants. We learn of the eighteenth century rituals around engagements, weddings and marriages, as if Mallinson is content not only to be the successor to Cornwell and O'Brian but to Jane Austen too. We even come across a device called a "grammar box", an early educational toy, and of Zulu remedies for the wounds caused by leopard claws.

We meet Colonel Smith, the historical hero of the Peninsula War, and his wife, Juana, who would in due course be the Lady Smith after whom the South African town Ladysmith was named. Hervey rescues (or is rescued by, perhaps) the redoubtable (and historical) Zulu queen Pampata, who would surely have appeared in one of George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman novels had she lived a generation later. (Hervey treated her more chivalrously than Flashman would have, of course; Mallinson gives us one meaning of the Zulu phrase "washing of the spear" that came as something of a surprise to me, but Hervey does not wash his!)

While these details are interesting, it is in the character of Matthew Hervey himself that Mallinson makes his greatest efforts. It is easy to believe that Hervey is a man of his class - a son of a rural vicar from a modest parish - and of his profession - a cavalry officer in an expensive regiment, living substantially off his (relatively modest) salary. Newly remarried, he is a man of reputation and conscience who has to deal with the dangers and now the consequences of adultery - a theme for future instalments too, I'll warrant. He may be rather more reflective and cultured than most of his contemporaries, but the character is credible in his milieu. There are, however, some inevitable, albeit deliberate, anachronisms: blessed with Mallinson's knowledge of the next two centuries of development in military tactics and weaponry, Hervey and his naval and military confidants cannot resist the temptation to make predictions of the future, such as when Hervey states "single, aimed shots were surely the future?". Hervey's relationships with his NCOs are probably also anachronistic, even in the most progressive cavalry regiment of the early nineteenth century. Neither of these themes troubles me unduly, however, and both do contribute to the impression that Hervey is truly the most progressive soldier of his generation.

If I have a regret about this, and the other Hervey novels, however, it is that I don't find the battle scenes as gripping as those of the afore-mentioned Cornwell and O'Brian. This may be because they are more realistic. It is also fair to say that Mallinson does not resort to the equivalent of Cornwell's (self-stated) device of "bringing on 40,000 Frenchmen in column of attack" as soon as his sub-plots began to falter. The battle scenes, important though they are, are less important than the other storylines. Notwithstanding that, however, this book is a gripping tale.

Enjoy this instalment as it seems that it will be two years before we get another, as Mallinson is engaged on the writing of a history of the British Army.

In my opinion, with a couple of exceptions, every book in this series is a slightly better read than each of its predecessors and this one follows suit. Our hero seems less of a prig with advancing years and a touch of his military decisiveness is entering his more personal dealings.
The book is in two distinct halves the first deals with his domestic affairs and is very interesting in its scope although I still think the occasional flash of humour would be welcome. Perhaps the Brigadier is indeed a serious man. But it is written with more warmth than usual which enables you to engage more readily with the characters.
The second of course takes us into the military and is equally interesting. Although it does contain one example of the "With one bound Jack was free." school of writing. It is a great adventure written with restraint and skill, the mayhem when it occurs is usually short, sharp and shocking without needless heroics and blood drenched pages.
As usual I think that most people who bother to read these reviews will be familiar with Matthew's story so far and to precis it would be pointless. I don't think this is quite a 'stand alone' book some prior acquaintance with the cast helps. 'Fans' will not be disappointed.
My pet gripe is the continual comparison with other writers of historical fiction. A previous reviewer has compared the characters and attributes of their heroes with Mallinson's that is fair enough. But in the writing Mallinson has developed a style all his own and really doesn't need the names of other authors sprinkled over the dust wrappers of his books! His hero is quite capable of standing on his own two feet, thank you, and although you may not exactly warm to him he is a very believable creation.
I assume the Brigadier is taking time off to finish his History hence we shall not meet Matthew for a couple of years, a pity as I'm getting on a bit. I shall endeavour to hang on. Perhaps the next effort will be twice as long. I look forward to it.

Spoiler - beware.

As usual, I had the book on pre-order and abandoned the book I was reading in order to devour Mallinson's latest. I have read The Washing of the Spears and thoroughly enjoyed Hervey's adventures among the Zulu with Shaka. I have even warmed to the dryness of his personal relationships. But, and it is a big but, has Mallinson's book editor taken leave of his senses? In the lead up to the grand finale, where was the reunion with Johnson? We had a whole chapter of Johnson's tearful search for his Colonel - and then nothing. In the final battle - Mallinson's typical cliffhanger - the battle is in full flow, the chapter ends, and then we get "Cape Town, a month later." What is that all about? Oh, and after all the fuss of arranging the catholic funeral, he doesn't write about it. It is as if the editor excised whole chapters and Mallinson didn't read the redraft. Once again, I enjoyed the book but was left frustrated. I have a personal test for a book. If I get to the end and smile warmly as I close it, it was a jolly good read. If, however, I go, "What the ... ?" and frantically leaf back because I must have missed something, I know I'm reading a Mallinson. With such a brilliant character to work with and an otherwordly writing style reminiscent of Jane Austin or Susanna Clarke, I wish Mallinson would finish the job and not leave these gaps.