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. To repay his generosity, he enlists in the Faulconer legion to fight against his home, the North, and against his abolitionist father. When the regiment joins up, ready to march into the ferocious battle at Buff Run, 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.
Rebel: Novel of the Civil War, A (The Starbuck Chronicles)
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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.
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.
- 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.
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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
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Serene
Format: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.
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.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Isackson
Format: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.
... Read more ›13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format: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!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By "p_trabaris"
Format:Paperback
For a different type of Civil War story I recommend "Rebel" by Bernard Cornwell. "Rebel" is the story of a lackluster seminary college student from Boston, MA finding his true calling in life as a soldier. Part of a four book series set, "Rebel" is book one of the Nathaniel Starbuck Chronicles. The story is set in ante-bellum Virginia right before the Civil War is in full swing.
The hero Nate Starbuck is a northerner who decides to fight for the Confederacy. His reasons are not specifically stated but we can infer that he is rejecting his family's way of life and rebelling against both his nation and his repressive father. Starbuck decides to join his friend's father's legion as a second lieutenant. Prior to the war, Starbuck has shown little aptitude for any other trade and he hopes that soldiering is his true calling. The battle of Manassas (or the first battle of Bull Run) is Starbuck's proving ground where he shows his budding talent.
Very much like Cornwell's Sharpe series, Starbuck is a little too good to be real and that's what makes "Rebel" so fun to read. Interestingly enough Cornwell gives lots background about Starbuck, more than he has shared about Sharpe in any of his Sharpe stories. I think it is unusual that Cornwell's hero Starbuck selected the South to pledge his allegiance, he is after all a northerner born and bred. Perhaps It is Cornwell's way of illustrating how far Starbuck is rejecting his old way of life.
Nevertheless, I found the novel very entertaining and recommend it to readers who look for high adventure and exciting stories. It is hard to find fault with any novel by Bernard Cornwell. He is an excellent story-teller and he can write.
... Read more ›Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Again
Once again Bernard Cornwell has gotten my attention. I look forward to finishing the series.
Please keep them coming, especially the medieval novel's
Please keep them coming, especially the medieval novel's
Published 2 months ago by J.Verna
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rebel
Well written novel from, primarily, the Southern perspective of the Civil War. As with all of Cornwell' s books it is well researched making for good and informative historical... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Riley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Right up there with the Sharpe books
The "Starbuck" series is my favorite Bernard Cornwell series after the Sharpe books. I really don't understand the few reviewers who liked Sharpe but didn't particularly care for... Read more
Published 6 months ago by "Publius"
3.0 out of 5 stars
Check it out!
A good read for Cornwell fans and history buffs,,cornwell's usual fantastic character buildup, gotta love those confused but heartfelt emotions that we all struggle with. Read more
Published 6 months ago by sophie loftus
5.0 out of 5 stars
enjoyable reading
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fact included in the fiction. I cannot wait to purchase the next book in this series. Read more
Published 7 months ago by norman347
4.0 out of 5 stars
A definite "Good" but not great . . .
Good book in terms of characters (as typical, BC gives you some to love some to hate) and action, but it did seem to go a little overboard on the descriptive stuff (the sun, like a... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Doug Caver
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
If you like the civil war period, you will like this book. Something for everyone in it. And something going on all the time. I was pleasantly surprised at how well I liked it.
Published 8 months ago by Diane Leadman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rebel
I enjoyed this book as well as the previous "Starbuck" novels. I really enjoy the historical fiction novels and found that this really fills the bill on the civil war period.
Published 9 months ago by Toot
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bernard Cornwell's Rebel: Novel of the Civil War
This is a first of several chronicles written by the master of historical fiction, Bernard Cornwell. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Stephen A. Stomps
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cornwell takes on the Civil War.
Bernard Cornwell is one of the best writers of historical military fiction around. In this one he takes on the civil war with all the description of men engage in killing each... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Doug Dandridge
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 2
books:
- Battle Flag (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 3) by Bernard Cornwell in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Bloody Ground (The Starbuck Chronicles, Book 4) by Bernard Cornwell in Front Matter, and Back Matter
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