Customer Reviews

Fire and Sword

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

 

 

This is the third book in Simon Scarrow's re-telling of the parallel careers and domestic dramas of Napoleon and Wellington - Fire and Sword. Previously, Scarrow has established some surprising similarities in their early life and the circumstances that formed their individual characters. He then built an interesting, detailed and vivid picture of their early careers and the military brilliance that each displayed in his country's service. In this book, Napoleon achieves his ultimate political goal and continues to outthink and out-general his rivals across Europe. Only England remains out of reach - but he has plans to change that. Wellington faces many obstacles to personal happiness but the outstanding military successes achieved in India provide a springboard for opportunities to display his strategic brilliance and leadership abilities. Scarrow's research provides the detail necessary for military history buffs, and his story telling style is lively. When I reached the end I wanted to start the next book immediately....

"Fire and Sword" is the third (of 4) books in a set (by Simon Scarrow) that relate to the life and times of Wellington and Napoleon. This book covering the years between abt. 1804-1809.

The book obviously makes more sense if you have read the books covering the earlier years "vol 1 - The Young Bloods" and "vol 2 - The Generals". However, if you just read the the book as a standalone, its still very easy to read and the pages just wizz by.

Simon Scarrow, as an author, seems to just drag you into the story itself which makes the book so very hard to put down, then when you get to the end of the book (although a story in its own right), you can't wait until the final volume "The Killing Fields" arrives so you can complete the fascinating historical journey that Napoleon and Wellington took that climaxed at the battle of Waterloo.

Another "worth every penny" book from Simon Scarrow.

Well, it seems that everyone who reads this book loves it - and for good reason.
This is some fascinating history, well told, about some of recent history's most significant figures.
Anyone who is in the least bit interested in military history will enjoy this and the backstories of the main protagonists are almost as interesting as the conflicts themselves.
Scarrow has done a great job with this series - my only complaint is having to wait for the last book in the series. Please - hurry up and put out Fields of Death! (Not too sure about the proposed title 'though).
Oh, one point. unless I seriously missed something the Product Description is incorrect. Arthur was not elevated to Viscount in this book. This book finishes just after the taking of Porto (Oporto). While he had probably well deserved the grant of the rank earlier, the granting of the title Viscount did not happen until after Talavera IIRC.

The third book in the series, I couldn't wait to see how it turned out. Yes I know wellington won, but I wanted to see how Scarrow would see it. I like the way he paints a story. I have already bought "Gladiator" from the eagle series...

I love Simon Scarrow, I have read everything he has written and can't get enough. I look forward to each book. This is a historical novel about 2 giants in history - Napolean and the Duke of Wellington. Great stuff.