Customer Reviews

Badge of Glory

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This is the story of a young officer in the Royal Marines during the transition from sail to steam. The hero is from a Marine family, yet is thinking of leaving the Service. This is the background for the adventures off the African coast and in the Med. You see some of the resistance to change in the outlook of the Navy to steam and the new and strange machines. Possibly the start of a series. If you have read any of Alexander Kent's Bolitho series, you will like this.

Reeman has a talent for writing nautical fiction in unusual settings - for example, his novels about the British navy in the two World Wars range from commerce raiders to midget subs. The Royal Marines series is no different, with this book set during the transition from sail to steam. (The second valume takes place in China during the Boxer Rebellion, another interesting and overlooked period.)

However, the characters are a bit one-dimensional, and more importantly, Reeman's dialogue is incredibly choppy. Its as if he writes a complete conversation and then goes back and deletes every third line. He also has a habit of abruptly telling the reader what he wants them to know, rather than bringing it out through action or dialogue.

If you are interested in the time period, or in the history of the Royal Marines, you will probably enjoy this book in spite of its limitations. I just wish I could combine the imagination and historical perspective of Reeman with the storytelling ability of a Patrick O'Brien or Bernard Cornwell.

"...Hoarse drum of the regiment..." The story of a man and his world; a world that might seem incomprehensible to many: self sacrifice for the common good; the struggle between heart and tradition; fraternal love; the way some of us see duty towards flag and country;

The unbreakable bond that develops amongst men in battle; the inexplicable admiration and adoration for the leader; after all, isn't he the one leading them to their potential death? Yet, still ".... the unexplained glory flies above them...." and they try to forget that in that ".... field where a thousand corpses lie..." some of their most beloved friends ceased to exist;

There's not many ways that can project the majesty of a pure soldier's heart, yet this effort is more than successful; In a historical journey it wanders from sail to steam, from on-board soldiers to Royal Marines... And the unique way to present that "...these men were born to drill and die..." made "per Mare et per Terram". Superb!