Customer Reviews

Company of Spears

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although the cover blurb talks about Hervey v the Zulu, the entire first half of the book is set in England, with Hervey's hopes of command dashed, his command of the Sixth being used to suppress either Catholic drunkards or Government agents provocateur, and his greatest achievement being his proposal to marry his former CO's widow. None of this is badly done per se, but its not what the book promises either. Hervey is trying to get his life back on track; a realisation he seems to have come to (if somewhat incompletely) in a Spanish prison. As a result however, he seems a man grasping at straws in the wind rather than making considered choices. In making the big decision to be a better man, he is ignoring the small decisions that go with it, or at least failing to put proper thought into those decisions.

In short, Hervey remains a deeply flawed character: an excellent soldier perhaps, but somewhat incapable outside that capacity (shades of Jack Aubrey there as a great sailor but incompetant on land).

The book picks up when Hervey hits Africa, and adventures to the frontier. Some intriguing new characters are introduced, and who themselves show signs of development - the prickly Fairbrother being the best of them. There is then a big battle to close out the story, but it is only half-told: something O'Brien could get away with, but Mallinson quite can't. It's a bit frustrating, but not too bad.

The book then closes with an unexpected look at Captain Peto, who is also engaged to be married, and in charge of a first-rate. Presumably this will make more sense in light of Man of War. All up this is more like 3.5 stars, but 4 is close enough.

Fantastic continuing story of Matthew Hervey. Brigadier Mallinson continues a great tradition, of outstanding storytelling! I look forward to his next book!