Rumours Of War: (The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 6): An action-packed and captivating military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson

(Paperback)

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1826: Bonaparte is dead, the Congress of Vienna's work is done and Europe is at peace. However, in Portugal, civil war is in the air following the death of King John VI. Newly returned from India, Matthew Hervey joins a delegation sent to make an assessment and lend support to the Portuguese regent, his place on the expedition having been secured with the help of his new friend, Lady Katherine Greville. But the Iberian Peninsula is redolent with memories for Hervey. For it was here as a young cornet that he first tasted military action. It was when the French had forced the British army into a gruelling and ignominious retreat until, under the leadership of Sir John Moore, they made their defiant stand at Corunna. In the epic battle that followed, Hervey and the Sixth Light Dragoons played their part. As the wave of the French onslaught broke against the solid rock of British resolve, the tide of war was turned once and for all in England's favour. And now, as the Spanish threaten the fortress at Elvas, Hervey makes ready for battle and prepares to confront ghosts from his past...

Reviews

I enjoyed the adventure enormously...Mallinson's descriptions of what it's like to be on campaign are as compelling, vivid and plausible as in any war novel I've ever read * Daily Telegraph *
With this intelligent but pacy book, Brigadier Mallinson stays well on course to be regarded as the landlubbers' Patrick O'Brian' * Sunday Telegraph *
Mallinson's shrewd handling of the issues of discipline and tactics, the responsibilities of junior and senior command, and the self-esteem of the cavalry, reflect both his own professional experience and excellent historical judgement' * The Times *

'As always, the author manages to integrate Hervey's life seamlessly into history...Rumours of War is as well-written, and as wholly engrossing, as any of the previous novels in the series' T. J. Binyon, Evening Standard

Mallinson writes in beautiful almost Jane Austen-like English and his command of history, military detail, horse-mastership ... polymathic. * Country Life *

Author Bio

A professional solder for thirty-five years, Allan Mallinson began writing while still serving. His first book was a history of four regiments of British light dragoons, one of which he commanded. His debut novel was the bestselling A Close Run Thing, the first in an acclaimed series chronicling the life of a fictitious cavalry officer before and after Waterloo (The Tigress of Mysore is the fourteenth in the series). His The Making of the British Army was shortlisted for a number of prizes, while 1914- Fight the Good Fight won the British Army's 'Book of the Year' Award. Its sequel, Too Important for the Generals, is a provocative look at leadership during the Great War, while Fight to the Finish is a comprehensive history of the First World War, month by month. Allan Mallinson reviews for the Spectator and the TLS and also writes for The Times. He lives on Salisbury Plain.