Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Bernard Cornwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 4, 1994

A Powerful and evocative story of the civil war's
first battle and the men who fought it

When Richmond landowner Washington Faulconer snatches young Nate Starbuck from the grip of a Yankee-hating mob, Nate is both grateful and awed by his idealistic rescuer. Turning his back forever on the life he left in Boston, Nate agrees to join the newly formed Flaulconer's Legion, even though it means fighting against his native North.

But Nate's dilemma is only one of many within the Legion. Faulconer's own son cannot bring himself to fight, while his daughter's cheating fiancé plots for control of the family fortune. As they come together to march into battle, the men are prepared to start a war ... but they aren't ready for how they -- and the nation -- will be forever changed by the oaths they have sworn for their beloved South.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First in a projected series, this brisk novel by the popular author of Sharpe's Devil follows the adventures of Nathaniel Starbuck, the rebellious and discredited son of a famous Boston abolitionist preacher. Nate flees the North after helping a femme fatale steal money she claimed was hers, winding up in Richmond as Fort Sumter falls and the Civil War begins. Unable to return home, distrusted by Southerners because of his parentage, Nate is taken under the wing of the mercurial and megalomaniacal Washington Faulconer, obsessed with building an independent army, answerable only to him, to fight for the Confederacy. Spanning the period from Sumter's capitulation in April 1861 to the First Battle of Bull Run in July, the book is well paced and filled with the historical details genre fans demand. Cornwell is at his best in action sequences like Nate's near tar-and-feathering and the riveting climactic battle, which are described in taut, gripping prose. Cornwell's clear affection for the Old South in all its aspects will put off some readers, but his highly entertaining novel will appeal to many, especially in the South. 50,000 first printing; $70,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Running away from his abolitionist preacher father, Nate Starbuck arrives in Richmond as Fort Sumter falls. He becomes an aide to Washington Faulconer, who is raising a legion to defend the South. Nate falls in love with a gorgeous country girl, recruits her father for the legion, and learns just enough soldiering to "see the elephant" at First Manassas and look across the battle line at his brother. Cornwell, noted author of many historical novels (most recently Sharpe's Devil , LJ 5/15/92), provides an excellent depiction of the unrealistic attitudes held by both sides as the Civil War began. This first installment in a projected series featuring Starbuck is highly recommended for historicity, plotting, and general excitement. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/92.
- Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army TRALINET Ctr., Fort Monroe, Va.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch; Repack edition (February 4, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061091871
• ISBN-13: 978-0061091872
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,063,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bernard Cornwell was born in London in 1944 - a 'warbaby' - whose father was a Canadian airman and mother in Britain's Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted by a family in Essex who belonged to a religious sect called the Peculiar People (and they were), but escaped to London University and, after a stint as a teacher, he joined BBC Television where he worked for the next 10 years. He began as a researcher on the Nationwide programme and ended as Head of Current Affairs Television for the BBC in Northern Ireland. It was while working in Belfast that he met Judy, a visiting American, and fell in love. Judy was unable to move to Britain for family reasons so Bernard went to the States where he was refused a Green Card. He decided to earn a living by writing, a job that did not need a permit from the US government - and for some years he had been wanting to write the adventures of a British soldier in the Napoleonic wars - and so the Sharpe series was born. Bernard and Judy married in 1980, are still married, still live in the States and he is still writing Sharpe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Series..., December 24, 2004

By 

Serene (Marina, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles #1) (Paperback)

Nate Starbuck is a naive young Northerner who, gets involved with a young actress who persuades him to steal money from their employer and flee South. Once the lovebirds reach the Southern states, Nate discovers that the love of his life has snookered him. Unable to return North to his Puritanical father, Nate decides to join the legion being formed by a wealthy landowner Washington Falconer.

Nate's desire to become a soldier allows him to befriend a crew of odd characters like Major Bird, Truslow and Sally Truslow. Nate himself grows from being naive and guiless, to a rather self-sufficient young man. His adventures (and mis-adventures), are entertaining and gratifying.

My main and only problem with "Rebel" is that I found myself not really LIKING Nate Starbuck as much as I wanted to. Nate's a bit selfish in pursuing the things he wants, isn't particularly loyal to his family, and is rather self-indulgent. (Granted, Nate is young and irresponsible), but he seems to lack a moral compass and I wanted Nate to be a tad more heroic. Also, his motivations for fighting for the South, aren't strong. The desire to "Spite his father" seems immature to me.

Overall, this is a great series, sure to please fans of historical drama... But I just wish Nate were a bit of a nicer guy. I would've enjoyed the story even more.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest civil war series of all time, and sadly unfinished., June 26, 2004

By 

Isackson "Reader/Gamer" (WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

In Bernard Corwell's "Starbuck Chronicles" Cornwell does everything right, succeeding IMO in writing the best historical fiction ever written on the subject of the American Civil War - Yes even better then John Jake's "North and South", or "The Red Badge of Courage"

Cornwell's greatest success probably is his amazing detail and great historical accuracy in desribing the war. What i probably found most impresive was his great detail in desribing battles such as Bull Run and Antietam - every sentence kept me captivated and this detail alone is reason enough for anyone interested in the war to read each and every book in the series cover to cover. You will hard pressed to find anything either fiction or non fiction that does a better job giving you a total mental picture of the battles portrayed in the series (i was especially impressed with the great detail desribing the battle of Antietam)

As with the other historical and political aspects of the civil war Cornwell addresses everything, the struggle of freedom over slavery plays a pivotal role in the series and throughout Cornwell's novels he does a great job of accurately portraying nearly every pivotal political and military figure central to the eastern theater of the civil war.

For those of you woried that the series may be to much history, not enough story put your mind at ease. Not only does Cornwell succeed in writing one of the best accounts of the war ever written he gets an "A" grade when it comes to the story as well.

Cornwell delivers one of the most memorable cast of characters ever. Just to give you a little background, without giving to much away the main character Nathaniel Starbuck (Son of a fictional famous abolitionist) arrives in Richmond, Virginia just as news arrives of the siege of Fort Sumnter. Through a series of events Nathan finds himself fighting for the South out of simple gratitude to the father of his best friend.

While the first book "Rebel" ends after the southern victory at Manassas (Bull Run) the rollercoaster of emotions, fitting the events that surround the characters really comes into being in the following books.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "Rebel" and read this series - you won't be dissapointed. It isn't often that i read the same book more then once but i've read each book in the series at least several times, they're that good.

I dearly hope that one day Bernard Cornwell will do us the favor of completing this incredible series.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cornwell knows the heart of war, September 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rebel (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Oh to write like Bernard Cornwell! How is it that an Englishman so aptly portrays the inner conflicts of a northern Bostonian who has joined up with the Confederate cause? Perhaps Starbuck, the protagonist in this 3 volumn epic has a counterpart in the successful Sharp series circa the Napoleanic wars. The new Rebel is Nate Starbuck and he's just as dashing, daring, and reckless as the older hero. It's evident that Cornwell visited battlefields on-site and did extensive research prior to writing this novel. But true to Cornwell's style he is able to blend in the good/evil antagonist Washington Falconer, founder of Falconer's Brigade, add a dash of the sexy harlot Ms Truslow, and debate the morals of the good vs evil via Reverand Starbuck the hero's father and you have not just a good novel, but a great novel!