Customer Reviews

Saratoga: A Novel of the American Revolution

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3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The author has taken some pains to be evenhanded, but does not quite make it. The great hero/woodsman of the book is A BRITISH OFFICER! Even though he participates in several losing battles with the "rebels", he always manages to kill a few just before he retreats. Even though it is the colonies that are being invaded by the British army, it is the colonists who are the ones who commit atrocities- on hapless loyalists. The only atrocities commited against the Americans are done by the evil savage, untrustworthy Indian allies. The British soldiers are given a human face, cheerful in the face of adversity. The colonials (except for the artist, who is not a soldier) are pretty much cardboard figures, fueding, vain, petty, for instance, for not giving Arnold his due, who is pictured as a madman, anyway. If you want to cheer for the British, read this book.

In 1777, loyal veteran British Captain James Skoyles joins the 24th Foot marching down the Hudson Valley from Canada under the command of General John Burgoyne. A courageous warrior who earned his commission on the battlefield, James believes the upstart colonists will be quickly defeated once they reach the mouth of the Hudson in New York City and thus slice the colony in half.

This major force easily takes the undermanned Fort Ticonderoga from the rebels that lead to "Gentleman Johnny" and his senior advisors being confident that the ragtag group will be routed. Only James retains a healthy skepticism as he notices the intelligence and grit of the enemy. However, even James is somewhat distracted when he meets Elizabeth Rainham engaged to marry Major Harry Featherstone, who he realizes is an abusive officer with no concern about the soldiers dying or maimed and cares even less about the civilian populace becoming casualties. As they compete for Elizabeth's affection with James dreaming of a post war future in New York with her, Saratoga is reckoning.

This engaging revolutionary War historical fiction novel is at its best when the story line concentrates on the British military politics that hampered a powerful force. The plot loses some sting when it focuses on a romantic triangle between the two British officers and Elizabeth especially since James is all good and caring while Harry is all evil and a sociopath. Still the insight into the British military of 1777 makes for a fine tale as readers observe a confident James becoming increasingly a skeptic.

Harriet Klausner

In my view these historical novels when well done are good sources of information and entertainment for readers who prefer this genre to learn or refresh their memories of American history. The battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the American Revolution. This British military loss caused British
politicians to take action to rescind the laws that antagnized the colonist. And it also caused the French to enter into a treaty with the colonist before the British politicans could act lest their actions would end the revolution and keep America as part of the an expanding empire of their mortal enemy the British.
This British military loss was due in large part to their ignorance of the physical and human conditions in what can be described as the American savage wilderness. And the leader of the British force,"Gentleman Jack Burgoyne made no adjustments, he had 30 wagons of personal baggage to wine, dine and entertain himself and his officers through out the campaign while his troops suffered. The author of this book would have told a much better story by detailing all of this in more detail.
It is too bad this author did not follow the format of Harold Coyle's novel,"Savage Wilderness." Coyle used the so-called French and Indian War as the backdrop for his novel and described this important historical event through the action of four characters: a French army officer and a French Indian ally to tell their story of this conflict and a British army officer and American colonial soldier to tell the other side. Coyle in this manner present a balanced, informative and interesting story. David Garland, on the other hand, mainly uses one protagonist, British regular army Captian Jamie Skoyles, to depict the the British defeat at Saratoga which was another important American historical event. Skoyles would have done much better to expand his slim characterization of British General Burgoyne and American General Gates who led the opposing forces in this battle, as well as developing a character in the American army to counter Skoyles in showing the American soldiers side.
Readers will find the historically correct outline of this campaign leading to the British defeat at Saratoga in this book, but the emphasis on the James Bond-like exploits of a lone British Captain to tell the story falls short of a good way to do it.

I don't think it is fair to snipe at Mr. Garland for the art editor's fondness for the Battle of Princeton painting. I am sure Mr. G knows the difference between Princeton and Saratoga. More at fault are the repeated references in the novel to "Sir" John Burgoyne. 'Gentleman Johnny' Burgoyne never had a knighthood. His illegimate but acknowledged son, Field-Marshal Sir John Burgoyne, did in Victoria's day. Also there is a reference to "the royal standard" being flown by Burgoyne's army as it sets off from Canada. I am sure that Mr. G knows that the royal standard is only flown in the presence of the monarch; and George III certainly wasn't there! What I think he means is "the King's colors" which is a very different creature. Having thus pedantically karped, I enjoyed the book as a usually accurate and enjoyable sub-Bernard Cornwall rattle, despite its formulaic characterizations of comic sub-Shakespearean soldiers, snarling villain and panting heroine. I will read more of Mr. Garland's work.

This is the second novel of Mr. Garland's on the Rev War that I have read and enjoyed. He tells the story from the perspective of a British officer and a woman who is a camp follower. Good writing.

This is a great book. The author uses widely accurate information to give a detailed account of the battle and the events that led up to it. He also uses an action packed story line to help tell the story. This book would be a perfect read for anyone who enjoys American history.

I am a fan of all historic novels, but most stray from the actual accounts. This book does not. It is neat to actually learn something while reading a novel for entertainment. It is not necessarily a page-burner, but it kept the action rolling pretty well.

Here's another reason not to buy a book by its cover. Jacket exclaimed how this was in the Bernard Cornwell (Sharpe series) tradition, but it's about the poorest excuse for a historical novel that I've come across. Wooden characters and dreadful dialogue makes this more of a battle to finish the story than a story about a battle. Action scenes are unbelievable and motivation of the people in this story are comic book like.

I cannot understand how the editorial process allows this garbage to be printed.
Other than that, it was great.

-Bob

I make no comment on the book, as I have yet to read it but I hold out little hope for any historical accuracy for a book titled Saratoga to have the battle of Princeton on its cover. Didn't anyone at the publisher notice George Washington figured prominently in the center of the battle. Washington was not at Saratoga, Gates and Arnold were in command. The battle shown on the cover is a rather famous depiction of the battle of Princeton. There are enough paintings of Saratoga that there is no excuse for this oversight.

It seems Jamie Skyoles could be a possible Sharpe character set in the Rev War. The author has obvisouly read the Sharpe series by Cornwell and has adapted many of that style here. We have Skyoles, who seems to be able to do everything. He is a scout, a captain in the 24th Foot, a German translator, a rogue, and a lover of women!

The author never makes Skyole's position clear to us. This enables his character to be able to do a bit of anything. Quite unlikely in reality, but amusing here. We have the standard nasty commanding officer, a beautiful lady of superior social standing that our hero seeks to love, and the usual assortment of characters that we have come to associate with this genre of miliary/historical fiction. The plot swiches back - in - forth in the usual cliff-hanger way, keeping the general interest of the reader as tension mounts and resolves in the end. The method is effective, but is starting to be over-used a bit.

The author made extensive use of Richard Ketchum's non-fiction work on Saratoga for historical references, and quotes quite freely from it. He provides a general outline of the campaign and battles with Skyoles moving about it all. We get some interesting character development of general Burgoyne and his staff, and the growing animosity between Skyoles and his commanding officer. Frankly I think our protagonist should have been satisfied with Maria Quinn for a mistress. She seems buxom and available. Miss Rainham is out of our heros league and seems not worth all the trouble he must go through for her. But thats all part of the plot and the adventure Skyoles must endure. Very Sharpe like in that respect.

American readers may be put off with the idea of a British officer being as good a skirmesher as the rebels. Skyoles represents the adaptability of the British army to fight according to the environment. The British were able to do this quite well. Where they were compromised was with inadequate generalship and bad bureaucratic meddlings from London. The author shows this with the storyline of the book. This would cost them the war in the end.

I liked this noval over all, but I dont know if I want a whole series on Skoyles in the Revolution! We seem to have enough of these already. The book is interesting with some of the character development of historical personages, both British and American. The description of battles is cursory at best. Here the author differs from Cornwell and others in not providing strong battle pieces. Not a bad read for historical fiction set in the Rev War. Jeff Shara probably does it better though. If Burgoyne had only listened to Skyoles he could have won at Saratoga!