Customer Reviews

A Regimental Affair (Unabridged)

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4 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have now read all three of Allan Mallinson's novels of the life and times of Matthew Hervey and have enjoyed each one. The latest was especially interesting to me and brought back memories of my own time on active and reserve duty in the US Army. Assuming the historical truth of the book the parallels with the army I served in from 1967 to 1996 are striking including the relationships between officers and enlisted and even the description of the General Inspection. There are many good leadership lessons in this book for younger officers just coming up in ranks. Having served in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam I feel a certain affinity to Captain Hervey, although my horse was of iron and not flesh and blood.

I do feel that the books could be improved with the inclusion of maps and perhaps a glossary of military terms from the period of the novels. Many times it is necessary to infer the exact meaning of a term by a careful reading and re-reading. Perhaps Major (? guessing at the rank here since I note he is a serving British Army officer) Mallinson's English readers are familiar with all the old terms but unfortunately many of us from the colonies are not. Maybe it is necessary to purchase and read his book "Light Dragoons" to appreciate and understand the terms.

In any case I recommend this book as a good read of military historical fiction. I look forward to the next installment in the saga.

Mallinson continues the Hervey series with our hero having returned from derring-do in India. He must settle into dull regimental life with the 6th Light Dragoons who have changed much since he last served with them. Mallinson manages to make peace time service in England interesting in what would normally be dull fare. The style of the writting at times is a little like Jane Austen writing historical fiction! Mallinson writes very formally, almost stiff at times, but he does convery a period feel for his characters more than some authors attempt to do. His descriptions of regimental life and the various personalities that exist in a cavalry regiment are most vivid. No doubt much of this is taken from his own expereinces in the modern British army where regimental life has not changed all that much over the years. This stiff, rather paternal system comes across clearly in this story. At times a bit tedious the book rewards the reader who persists. There are interesting descriptions of post Waterloo England where much discontent existed with lay-offs and army reductions. Issues of civic disorder in an era where local Police had yet to be fully developed provides for imformative reading. The reader can see how difficult it was for the army to control civil matters. Hervey's imaginative responses to different situations makes us admire our intelligent hero, and the constant friction he has with his imcompetent Lieut-col. gradully builds suspense throughout the novel.

Hervey's relationship with his wife is warm and loving, and there is much thoughtful character development here. When the regiment is transferred to Canada relief comes from dealing with civil disorder in England, but new friction soon developes with tragic consequences for Hervey and his lovely wife. All of this is well done, if a bit slow at times. Mallinson does not write in the rapid-fire fashion of some authors of historical fiction, and this may put off some readers. Where the series is to go now is hard to say, but I shall look forward to Hervey's continued adventures.

Note: The helmit pictured on the cover of this book appears to be more of a Heavy Dragoon helmit as opposed to what the Light Dragoons wore in this period.

This book comes so close -- and misses so heartbreakingly.

Mallinson has a fascinating topic and setting, appealing characters, an excellent grasp of his subject and a good knowledge of the English language.

But he isn't good at telling stories. Over and over, he slips into exposition, sometimes about things only peripherally related to the plot, sometimes about important points. Over and over he builds up tension, leads up to an action scene, only to painfully disappoint the reader by skipping to when it's all over. Even at the end, which contains an undeniably moving fight scene, he seems to have a certain distaste for the action, and description is lacking. The plot, interesting in itself, suffers from a lack of flow and cohesion.

This is the continued story of Matthew Hervey. Rejoining his regiment, he finds them in the grip of an incompetent, vicious commander, Towcester. Through battles with Luddites and a trip to America, he must deal with Towcester's spite. Meanwhile, he marries Henrietta, and she follows him to America, with tragic results. Though the plot device of the malevolent officer is hardly new, it's a good one. But, as I said above, it isn't as well handled as it could be. The potential drama very much gets lost. The end of the book, which is dramatic, feels as if it should have come as the climax, halfway through.

Appealing characters, especially secondary characters, and a dramatic conclusion can't quite save this book. I feel bad giving it a 2, but I can't help thinking the author is capable of much better work, if only he would learn to storytell.

This is the third volume in the Matthew Hervey series, with Hervey back from India and returned to the Sixth, his beloved cavalry regiment. He has resigned his position as aide de camp to Wellington, and is now a Captain with a brigth future - but the Sixth has a new Lieutenant Colonel, Lord Towcester, who takes a dislike to Hervey for obvious enough reasons.

But on the other hand, Hervey has finally found wedded bliss - although this is given away by the resume at the back of the book, which also gives away a rather large plot twist, and it would seem, acts as quite a straightjacket on the writing (or I should say, acted, as I assume it was in the 1st volume as originally published back in 1999 or thereabouts). We know of Hervey's promotions, marital status, issue...it does not take away all the mystery, but to be honest, I'd prefer it weren't there and have not read it too closely as a result.

The back cover bills the contents as England and Canada, but of the 500 pages near 400 were set in England, with the Sixth largely undertaking police work against the machine-breakers of General Ludd. This is more nuanced than you might expect, but the point is made that at the time, the spectre of revolution in Europe had not quite given up the ghost. Perhaps it never did, at least until 1848. Or 1989. But I digress.

The last little climax to the book is the events in Canada, which will leave Hervey a changed man, I expect.

Mallinson has taken great care with the historical detail - thus the comparisons to O'Brien and Forester - but its not as good as Aubrey-Maturn: there are some inflicities of phrase, and the points of view can get muddled, but for all that it's a rewarding read, and recommended for readers of military historical fiction.

This book comes so close -- and misses so heartbreakingly.

Mallinson has a fascinating topic and setting, appealing characters, an excellent grasp of his subject and a good knowledge of the English language.

But he isn't good at telling stories. Over and over, he slips into exposition, sometimes about things only peripherally related to the plot, sometimes about important points. Over and over he builds up tension, leads up to an action scene, only to painfully disappoint the reader by skipping to when it's all over. Even at the end, which contains an undeniably moving fight scene, he seems to have a certain distaste for the action, and description is lacking. The plot, interesting in itself, suffers from a lack of flow and cohesion.

This is the continued story of Matthew Hervey. Rejoining his regiment, he finds them in the grip of an incompetent, vicious commander, Towcester. Through battles with Luddites and a trip to America, he must deal with Towcester's spite. Meanwhile, he marries Henrietta, and she follows him to America, with tragic results. Though the plot device of the malevolent officer is hardly new, it's a good one. But, as I said above, it isn't as well handled as it could be. The potential drama very much gets lost. The end of the book, which is dramatic, feels as if it should have come as the climax, halfway through.

Appealing characters, especially secondary characters, and a dramatic conclusion can't quite save this book. I feel bad giving it a 2, but I can't help thinking the author is capable of much better work, if only he would learn to storytell.

This is the third in the Matthew Hervey series and the last I will read. Mallinson's editor needs to find a new line of work. In a blunder of astonishing magnitude, Mallinson kills off his most sympathetic character Henrietta, Hervey's wife. Her death is oddly pointless in a novel that has no dramatic momentum whatsoever. In a final, and unforgivable slap in the in reader's face, he doesn't even bother to finish the work. O'Brian, Forrester or Kent would never have treated their readers with such disdain.