Devils Own (Fancy Jack Crossman 1) [Paperback]

Garry Kilworth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2002 | Series: Fancy Jack Crossman 1

First of the colourful exploits of 'Fancy Jack' Crossman; The Crimean War is notoriously one of the most brutal and bloody conflicts of the nineteenth century. In an uneasy allience with the French, the Turks and the Sardinians, British soldiers faced death both on the battlefield from the fierce Cossacks and off it from cholera. Sergeant Jack Crossman, referred to by his admiring comrades as 'Fancy Jack', a tough, shrewd and skilful soldier, is part of the proud 88th regiment, the Connaught Rangers, also known as The Devil's Own. Within the regiment Crossman is picked out to lead a covert operation, well knowing that his success or failure could determine the outcome of the war. Gary Kilworth is a master of the period, and of writing sharp, page-turning military adventure.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The Devil's Own is a marvellous book, colourful in its descriptions, its detail and rousing stories of battle exploits and highly informative in its historical imput' - Peterborough Evening Telegraph; 'Those who enjoy going into battle with Sharpe will love joining forces with Sergeant Jack Crossman... he's a hell of a character' - Darlington Northen Echo

About the Author

Garry Kilworth was raised in South Yemen, the son of an RAF sergeant. Later he served 15 years in the RAF himself. Most recently he was with the British Army in Hong Kong, where he wrote for the South China Morning Post. He now spends his time between Suffolk and Spain, writing full time. He has won many awards for both his children's and adult novels.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Robinson Publishing (July 31, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841195243
• ISBN-13: 978-1841195247
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,289,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garry Douglas IS the Bernard Cornwell of the Crimea!, November 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Devils Own (Paperback)

Excellent story line, developing characters throughout the book. Douglas keeps the reader involved with the twists and turns in the same high paced, detail as Cornwell, Cussler and MacNeill. Fancy Jack Crossman is here to stay - let's hope for a complete series to come.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent Fun, But It's No Sharpe, April 6, 2003

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Devil's Own (Hardcover)

Set in 1854, some forty years or so after the bulk of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe books, this first entry in Kilworth's"Fancy Jack" series finds the British Army in rather dire straights in the Crimea. The hero is a Sergeant in the 88th regiment (the mainly Irish Connaught Rangers aka The Devil's Own), who is an outsider in more ways than one. Born and bred a gentleman, "Fancy Jack" Crossman has done the unthinkable and renounced his upbringing and entered the army as a ranker. While in the Sharpe series, we see a lowborn orphan rise though the ranks, here we have a highborn Scotsman in much the same situation. Mostly hated by those below for his education and manners, he's also mostly hated by his superiors for being a class traitor.

Kilworth seems to be attempting to emulate Cornwell's template in presenting an unvarnished ground-level view of historical military exploits. The book is full of details on equipment, procedures, social composition of the British forces, et., plus a parade of real historical figures. However, it's not done nearly as smoothly and seamlessly as Cornwell (or George McDonald Fraser's Flashman series for that matter). Clunky prose and exposition somewhat mars the storytelling, as Fancy Jack is sent on a few secret missions behind enemy lines with a band of misfit soldiers. For example, we're told three different times that the Allied (British/French/Turkish) forces number 55,000. We're also privy to a number of scenes of high-level commanders bickering that don't have much to do with anything other than to get across the historical reading Kilworth's on the ineffectiveness of the leadership. And in case you didn't get how devastating cholera was to the army the first time it's discussed, don't worry, you'll get several more chances to absorb the information. Kilworth has apparently written a number of children's books, and often the prose reads as if it's intended for a younger audience.

But the battle scenes are plenty gory, and there are plenty of "adult themes", and a requisite love interest. All in all, it's a decent page turner, but not nearly as good as the Sharpe books. The Fancy Jack saga continues with Valley of Death, Soldiers in the Mist, and The Winter Soldiers, and perhaps in these later volumes Kilworth touch becomes more subtle.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Different Kind of Sergeant, March 19, 2007

By 

John A Lee III "jal3" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Devil's Own: Sergeant Jack Crossman and the Battle of the Alma (Hardcover)

Jack Crossman is a sergeant of the 88th foot but he is not like other sergeants. He is intelligent and resourceful, as sergeants are supposed to be, but he is also the son of a nobleman. Gentlemen are expected to be officers, not noncoms. This leads to his not quite fitting in with either.

Not flitting in does not stop the army from using his talents, however. The British are at war with Russia in the Crimea. Jack is called upon for a variety of special missions in the furtherance of taking Sebastopol. The first thing standing in their way is the Alma and Jack is needed to get vital information on its defense. All he has to work with is a scratch group of soldiers, not all of whom he can trust.

As far as storytelling goes, this one is fair. What is interesting is seeking the Victorian Army from a different point of view.