There have been many historians who have taken to historical fiction. Adrian Goldsworthy, known for his excellent works on the Roman Empire, is merely the latest in a growing list of respected writers, not all of whom have been successful in fiction. Goldsworthy's chosen topic for his new series has been well trodden. The British campaigns in the Peninsular war from 1808-14 is a popular subject; Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels are probably the most famous from the vast array of books available. Goldsworthy's approach however is refreshing. The `Gentleman volunteers' of the fictional 106th Foot are the focus of Goldsworthy's work. These men were part of the gentry, but served in the ranks in the hope of earning a commission. A great amount of research and effort has clearly gone into portraying the 106th as a standard regiment in Arthur Wellesley's army, to account for the real experience of the men. Therefore the adventures of the likeable protagonists feel more authentic than characters from other series in this genre. A harsh critic might argue that the book takes a few chapters to really get going, but this is easily forgiven, partly because it is Goldsworthy's first attempt at fiction, but mainly because Goldsworthy writes so well. The narrative skips along with flair, and accounts for the British landing in 1808, and the battles of Rolica and Vimeiro in commendable fashion. The sense of fear and confusion during battle, as the smoke from musket fire blinds the British and French ranks, is transmitted to the reader particularly well.
The novel is filled with a number of colourful characters, and for the most part, their personalities are conveyed to the reader. Far from the French bashing bravado that Sharpe enjoyed on a daily basis, the men Goldsworthy created have clear strengths and failings. Williams, who becomes a decent soldier in his goal to gain a commission, is frustratingly shy when interacting with the opposite sex. The easy going Pringle is the opposite, as his heavy drinking and womanising threatens to be his undoing. Meanwhile, their friend Hanley, a failed artist forced by poverty into the military, attempts to come to terms with a new career he loathes. The bad, as well as the good, are given space in Goldsworthy's work. Lieutenant Wickham is a classic product of the British aristocracy. Arrogant, cowardly and disrespectful to his peers, Wickham sees war only as an ideal opportunity to climb the social ladder. Considering the size of Goldsworthy's book, which is just shy of four hundred pages, one could argue that there are too many characters, thus each protagonist does not feature enough. As a result, some readers might consider a few characters such as Wickham to fit too well into different stereotypes. Despite this, True Soldier Gentlemen is the first in a series, where there will be ample opportunity for Goldsworthy to flesh out his protagonists more.
Although Goldsworthy accounts well for the day-to-day experiences of the common soldier in the Peninsular, he clearly felt it necessary to spice their story up with a little adventure. Hence the group of characters become preoccupied in between the set piece battles with discovering the intentions of a mysterious and dangerous Russian Count. This particular series of events is well written and has been carefully placed in the larger narrative of the campaign, but a critical reader might find fault with Goldsworthy's attempt to add more action at the expense of realism. Others may even consider the whole Russian side of the narrative unnecessary. In spite of this, these sections are enjoyable to read, and provide some variety to the men's routine.
As a book which focuses solely on the Peninsular War, True Soldier Gentlemen is destined to be compared to Cornwell's Sharpe series. It is however, written in a very different style, and deserves to stand alone. Certainly Goldsworthy writes more eloquently than Cornwall, and conveys a more authentic atmosphere. Therefore, True Soldier Gentleman is not an action-packed blockbuster. It provides a decent and relatively well balanced account of the rigours endured by the British during the early phases of the Peninsular War. For historians and readers interested in a little more authenticity in historical fiction, True Soldier Gentleman is to be recommended.
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