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Markham of the Marines #3
Honour Be Damned
Lieutenant George Markham and his Marines must escort a group of French Royalists behind enemy lines on a secret quest. But Markham's mission is put in jeopardy with the unexpected arrival of a figure from his past...
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 21, 2015
This is the final installment in Markham of the Marines trilogy, set against the backdrop of revolutionary France in the 1790s. The historical novel is well written but the historical time line is a bit off in this book. I enjoyed the trilogy, Markham was a Royal Marine whereas, Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe was Army and the author kept pointing out the difference in roles, training and action between the two.
Lieutenant George Markham is still battling anti-Irish and anti-Catholic prejudices so prevalent in the 1700s. The action still takes place in Corsica and aboard ship. Still at loose is arch-villain Citizen Commissioner Fouguert. Markham meets Napoleon in this story. The book is full of hidden agendas, betrayals and schemes. There is ship to ship action and hand to hand combat to keep the reader’s attention. The ultimate betrayal is that of Captain George Germain the young captain of the H.M.S. Syilphide. Markham is stationed on the Syilphide as part of the Marine detachment. Germain unfairly denounces Markham to the Admiralty, leaving him where he began, seriously out of favor. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Gerry O’Brien narrated the book.
Lieutenant George Markham is still battling anti-Irish and anti-Catholic prejudices so prevalent in the 1700s. The action still takes place in Corsica and aboard ship. Still at loose is arch-villain Citizen Commissioner Fouguert. Markham meets Napoleon in this story. The book is full of hidden agendas, betrayals and schemes. There is ship to ship action and hand to hand combat to keep the reader’s attention. The ultimate betrayal is that of Captain George Germain the young captain of the H.M.S. Syilphide. Markham is stationed on the Syilphide as part of the Marine detachment. Germain unfairly denounces Markham to the Admiralty, leaving him where he began, seriously out of favor. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Gerry O’Brien narrated the book.
November 9, 2018
I picked this up at the bookstore because I like the Sharpe's novels and this felt like a nice blend between sea novels and Napoleonic war era soldier stories.
The main character George Markham is a lieutenant in the Royal Marines, and the book starts with a siege in Spain, which ends with a bit of deception. The story goes on to a landing in Italy to pick up a treasure and we're off to the races.
The races here are multiple layers of deception, betrayal, and plots within plots while constantly fleeing an unusually heavy level of French soldier concentrations exactly where the characters need to go. In fact, there are so many complications that plotting this book must have looked like one of those conspiracy theory walls with yarn lines and pictures all over it.
None of the characters are likable. All of them have secret, unhappy agendas. All of them are arrogant, or treacherous, or pointlessly hostile to everyone around them, and so on. Its difficult to read because you just don't care about anyone or what they accomplish. The reader doesn't even care about whether they succeed in their goals or how it turns out beyond curiosity how the characters can possibly get out of this predicament.
In the end, the book was very disappointing, and I understand now why I'd never heard of this series or character.
The main character George Markham is a lieutenant in the Royal Marines, and the book starts with a siege in Spain, which ends with a bit of deception. The story goes on to a landing in Italy to pick up a treasure and we're off to the races.
The races here are multiple layers of deception, betrayal, and plots within plots while constantly fleeing an unusually heavy level of French soldier concentrations exactly where the characters need to go. In fact, there are so many complications that plotting this book must have looked like one of those conspiracy theory walls with yarn lines and pictures all over it.
None of the characters are likable. All of them have secret, unhappy agendas. All of them are arrogant, or treacherous, or pointlessly hostile to everyone around them, and so on. Its difficult to read because you just don't care about anyone or what they accomplish. The reader doesn't even care about whether they succeed in their goals or how it turns out beyond curiosity how the characters can possibly get out of this predicament.
In the end, the book was very disappointing, and I understand now why I'd never heard of this series or character.
July 8, 2019
I read these 3 books as a follow on from the John Pearce series and these I'm afraid left me wanting.
The hero is likeable, courageous and yet never seems to get the credit he is due for his actions, and time and time again he gets knocked back for some offence he committed at the age of 15, and accused of favouritism because of his father's influence.
I feel I want to give him a good shake and tell him to stand up for himself and get the record set straight. In fact m so frustrated with this series that I won't be waiting for the next in the series, far less paying good money to buy it.
Mr Donnachie - stop spreading yourself so thinly- concentrate on the good series you have written and leave Mr Markham where he is, less you are going to make him grow a pair!
The hero is likeable, courageous and yet never seems to get the credit he is due for his actions, and time and time again he gets knocked back for some offence he committed at the age of 15, and accused of favouritism because of his father's influence.
I feel I want to give him a good shake and tell him to stand up for himself and get the record set straight. In fact m so frustrated with this series that I won't be waiting for the next in the series, far less paying good money to buy it.
Mr Donnachie - stop spreading yourself so thinly- concentrate on the good series you have written and leave Mr Markham where he is, less you are going to make him grow a pair!
September 28, 2016
Having read the series in rapid succession they are interesting & engaging. However I can't help but feel throughout the author continually writes any Gentleman & especially Gentleman Officer as suspect of moral if not also action, with the exception of those historical figures who are kept beyond such treatment by public esteem. The reason for this I will not attempt however I would suggest it almost carries a political smell? This constant treatment detracts from the story leaving one with a feeling of 'yet again'
August 19, 2011
Decent story but oh...what happened to the editor?. Typos, sentences that don't make sense and in one instance a line constructed so it states the opposite to the actual situation. Slapdash.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews