Customer Reviews

Bloody Ground (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 4)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love Bernard Cornwell's books - having discovered him, as many have, through Sean bean's TV portrayals of Richard Sharpe, I devoured the Sharpe books and then moved onto Starbuck.

I'm English, and prior to picking up 'Rebel', I had little knowledge of, or interest in, the American Civil War (we add the 'American' because we had a Civil War of our own). My the end of 'The Bloody Ground' I'd become an obsessive.

I've read a pile of factual books on the subject, and am getting Shelby Foote's huge hitory for my birthday, and I have to say, the story of this war is the greatest tale of the millenium. It has the grandeur of Greek myth, and yet it all happened.

I have not read a single thing in any other books since that makes anything in Cornwell's books seem false. Experiencing Bull Run and Sharpsburg with Starbuck is real enough for you to smell the powder.

I wish he'd write more. I know this series has had relatively poor reviews, by Cornwell's standards, but not series has ever captured mt imagination as powerfully. Perhaps those who bring extensive knowledge of the War to these books will be less impressed, but as an introduction to the most fascinating conflict since medieval times, this can't be beaten.

I also will defend Cornwell's telling of this from the Southern perspective - few Southern soldiers gave a damn about slavery, yet their memory often gets damned because, at its core, their cause was unjust. yet the South, fighting for the wrong cause, brought nobility, courage, brilliant and panache to the field, while the North, fighting for the righteous cause, was incompetent, brutal and clumsy - rarely winning by any other means than crushing the Confederates under weight of numbers and superior resources. Its hard NOT to root for the South - even though you know you shouldn't, and Cornwell makes this paradox the core of the series.

I cannot rate this book without talking about the brilliance of the whole series. Cornwell takes you from your reading room, and teleports you back to a simpler time. And you find out that it's not so simple. Set against the backdrop of the Eastern Theatre in the American Civil War, he portrays the massive carnage and greatest bravery in minute detail. You actually hear the cannons, and smell the rotting flesh of the wounded. Yet, the main plot does not take place amongst the gunfire outside. But, rather, within. It is a story of a soul, and his struggle with God, man, who he is, and what he stands for. Amidst the shouting, crying, blasting, and dieing...is a poor heart, searching for peace. I found Cornwell's protrayal of Nate Starbuck to be no less than perfect. I found myself rooting, questioning, hoping, and praying for this fictional character. For, I saw myself in Starbuck. The same questions, fears, and desires. When done, I walked away from this story with a different outlook on life, liberty, and what's truly important. As will you. Awesome series Bernard! I cannot wait until the saga continues...

I loved this series, even though I discovered it about a year after "The Bloody Ground" came out. To the potential customer, I'd say buy it. It has a wonderful plot and almost perfect descriptions. To the author, I'd say to continue the series. I'm Indian myself, and though I enjoyed the Indian branch of the Sharpe series immensely, I'd much rather prefer to see the Starbuck Chronicles continued.

I have read the whole series and this book is not the best one. I think that the first two books- Rebel and Copperhead are better than the last two- Battle Flag and The Bloody Ground.

The battlefield scene desciptions are very good and alone make it worth reading. I just was not impressed with the character development, especially for the new ones introduced in this book.

I do hope that Mr. Cornwell continues the series, I would hate to see it end at this point.

I very much enjoyed this book. It had all the makings of a good historical fiction book. I am only 14, but have read quite a few books, and this is one of my favorites. It is the 4th, and best in the series of books that tell of a lost boy that develops into a hard soilder. of which I have read all of them. Bernard Cornwell was amazing, and made me want to keep on reading. He has many very developed characters, well described settings, and many things all going on at once, that make this book stand out as a work of art.

As the book opens the once drunken Colonel Gordon Swinyard is a changed man, no longer a drunk but a rabid bible thumper. To escape these pressures and as a prelude to advancement on some other battlefield Starbucks is given a test a most difficult one. He is required to turn a bunch of convicts into soldiers. I have several problems with this book the first of which is that it has been so long between this book and any other new releases in the series. Doesn't Mr. Cornwell have anything better to do then come out with trite books like "The Archer's Tale"? These were wonderful books sir please get back to them. My second complaint is Luthifer the new character it just seems a little too P.C to have another black guy with a gun rebeling agienst his southern overlords. These points did not take away from a wonderful book however, and I hope Mr. Cornwell continues them.

I've followed the Starbuck series since Copperhead's publication several years back, and I've loved every page of every volume. The Bloody Ground is probably one of the installment's most riviting volumes that culminates into the second battle of Bull Run. What depresses me most is that while the series' first four volumes came out in such a short period of time, there hasn't been a page published in several years, as author Cornwell has gone back to his Sharpe series, among other things. I really hope he'll come back to Starbuck, as it's probably one of my all-time favorite series of books.

The Starbuck series has been an excellent read. I am about finished with 'The Battle Flag'. I personally hope Cornwell will fire up another three or four books in this series. Reading this fictional series has piqued my interest in the Civil War. In conclusion, Cornwell is an excellent author and continue to be one of my favorites. I hope he does us all a favor and continues writing in the series. jes

A Civil War re-enactor myself, I began the Starbuck series with scepticism - believing that like most Civil War fiction - this would be more romanticized drivel. But... was I ever wrong. I've been to Sharpsburg, I've walked the Cornfield and west woods, and I am amazed by the accuracy and emotion conveyed by Starbuck and Company. The panic, the sheer bewilderment felt by those brave men on both sides is utterly captured by Mr. Cornwell. Though true "history's" are indespensible, the authors descriptions gave me a sense of being there that I've not experienced for some time. What a ride!

Bloody Ground is the final book in the Starbuck Chronicles and in some ways it's a very strong book and in other ways it's very weak. The plot is almost a rehash of an amalgamation of Sharpe books. That is the problem. Although the book is interesting and fun to read, it's not that original. Major Starbuck is transferred to command of a punishment battalion filled with cowardly officers and corrupt sergeants. His second in command is a situational conformist who wants to rape, pillage and plunder and stay well away from battle. With the help of a drunken but loveable officer named Potter (reminiscent of Harry Price from the Sharpe series), Starbuck must get the battalion in fighting order in time for Antietam. Starbuck has to worry about bullets from behind and in front as the Civil Wars bloodiest day commences. The battle of Antietam is well written and this book is enjoyable enough. In fact, I wish that Cornwell would finish the series and go through the entire war. OVerall a fun and interesting read, but too much like Sharpe