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The Diamond Frontier (Simon Fonthill)
 
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The Diamond Frontier (Simon Fonthill) (Mass Market Paperback)

by John Wilcox (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Headline; New Ed edition (11 Sep 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0755309871
  • ISBN-13: 978-0755309870
  • Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.2 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 20,607 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Product Description
It’s 1880, and the atmosphere is explosive in the South African province of the Transvaal. The discovery of diamonds has bred greed and violence, while British forces contend with murderous bePedi tribesmen and subversive Boer farmers.

Former army captain Simon Fonthill has had his fill of conflict. But when he hears an old friend has been kidnapped by diamond smugglers, he and his servant '352' Jenkins embark on a rescue mission. Yet this is only the beginning. For when the acclaimed General Wolseley decides to lead his column against the bePedi stronghold, Fonthill and Jenkins once again find themselves marching to war…

About the Author
John Wilcox was a journalist for many years before travelling all round the world while working in industry. He is now a full-time writer.

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Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Historically Interesting but Dramatically Episodic, 7 Dec 2006
By C. Green "happily low brow" (Faringdon, Oxon, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
John Wilcox's Simon Fonthill novels are a comparatively little known series of military adventure stories set at the height of British Empire. Although not as critically lauded as Allan Mallinson's Hervey novels or as populist as Cornwell's Sharpe, the two pevious books in the series, Horns of the Buffalo and the Road to Kandahar were both hostorically interesting and dramatically entertaining.

The third book in the series, once again following the adventures of former British Army officer Simon Fonthill and his companion '352' Jenkins, continues very much in the same vein. It opens in 1880, and finds Fonthill & Jenkins back in South Africa after their adventures in Afghanistan, where they become caught up in the British campaign to suppress the BiPedi Tribe whilst trying to rescue a close friend.

Once again Wilcox paints an interesting portrait of a little known episode in British colonial military history, and does well in evoking the look and feel of both place and period. Whilst Horns of the Buffalo dealt with the comparatively well known events surrounding the Zulu uprising and the battle for Rourke's Drift, this return to Africa covers the less well known campaign against the BiPedi and the beginnings of the Boer independence movement that would lead to the first Boer War. The historical details, barring a slight shift in dates for dramatic purposes, are mostly spot on and a liberal scattering of real historical characters are spread throughout the story, giving it an even more authentic flavour. Wilcox also conjures up vivid images of the African Veldt, the BiPedi capital and the mining town of Kimberly; the latter at the time being reminiscent of a wild west frontier settlement. He also sticks to modes of speech that are correct for the period, even if some of the terms used such as Kaffir are now no longer acceptable, instead of trying to contemporise the dialogue for modern ears as some authors of historical fiction are prone to do.

Unfortunately by concentrating on the historical details of the story, Wilcox appears to have given less thought to making it dramatically satisfying. Whilst there is plenty of action and adventure for Fonthill and Jenkins to get stuck into, the story as a whole feels like something of a travelogue and become episodic. There is a bit of action, followed by a bit of travel and a description of the environment, followed by more action, followed by more travel and more scene setting, and so on. Despite the fact that they are men on a mission there is little sense of urgency to proceedings and some events, such as a lion attack, seem surplus to requirements.

It doesn't help that some of the periods of action come across as pretty perfunctorily written. The lion attack is one such example; as is Fonthill and Jenkins stealthy infiltration of the BiPedi camp. Both scenes should be charged with tension and excitement, but they come and go with barely any sense of real danger. In the latter case Wilcox doesn't even bother describing their escape from the camp after they've achieved their aims.

For readers interested in the period in which The Diamond Frontier is set there is much to recommend in this book. For fans of Fonthill & Jenkins there's enough to keep them reading the series (its certainly a more enjoyable read than recent Allan Mallinson novels). For newcomers to Wilcox's novels however, this is not the place to start. There is a good book buried somewhere here, but it is obscured by poor pacing and structure. Here's hoping the next Fonthill & Jones adventure, out soon in paperback is more satisfying.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars okay, military actioner, 31 Jan 2008
By N. Brett (Wiltshire, England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
The third in the 'Simon Fontwell' series finds him back in South Africa a little while before the Boer war. This time he blends a rescue mission with a campaign against one of the local tribes.
A lesser known aspect of British history and the historical element is interesting enough but this never rises above an okay novel. It lacks tension and never quite grips you like it should. By no way is this a bad novel but with a few tweaks, this could have been very good indeed. So expect to be entertained but it does lack the wow factor.
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