Man of Honour

Jack Steel #1

by Iain Gale

'Man of Honour' is the first in a stunning new series from respected military historian, Iain Gale, perfect for all fans of Sharpe. Meet Lieutenant Jack Steel -- gentleman, soldier, hero. Upper Bavaria, 1704. The British army, victorious, unbeaten since the Peninsula war, stands proudly to attention, ready to fight for honour and glory. Their enemy is Louis XIV of France, a megalomaniac intent on possessing all Europe. Among this proud group of men stands Lieutenant Jack Steel, admired by his men, the finest infantry in Queen Anne's army. Much praised for his courage, his strength, and his loyalty, Steel has come to the attention of his Commander in Chief, the Duke of Marlborough. Tasked with rescuing a letter whose controversial contents could destroy Marlborough, Steel leads his men through the battle of Blenheim, risking death and destruction in the fight for another man's honour. And along the way he is constantly threatened from within by the mellifluous Major Jennings, intent on destroying Steel and all he stands for. The first in a stunning new series featuring Jack Steel, Man of Honour is historical adventure perfect for all fans of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, War, Military Fiction, British Literature

330 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Iain Gale has always had a passion for military history. He is the Editor of the National Trust for Scotland magazine and Art critic for Scotland on Sunday. He lives outside Edinburgh with his wife and children. His first novel, Four Days in June, is a stand-alone military adventure set on the battlefields of Waterloo.

He is also the writer of eleven non-fiction books.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in 2007, and its the 1st volume of the "Jack Steel" trilogy, from the author, Iain Gale.

This tale is set in the year AD 1704, in Upper Bavaria, with the British redcoats triumphant after their last battle, but now ready to fight for honour and glory and standing to attention to confront their enemy, King Louis XIV of France, who wants possess all of Europe.

Among this group of proud men stands Lieutenant Jack Steel, one man within the finest infantry of Queen Anne's army.

This same Jack Steel, due to his courage, strength and loyalty, has come to the attention of his Commander in Chief, the Duke of Marlborough.

The main battle in this wonderful historical adventure is the famous Battle of Blenheim, and right amongst this ferocious battle, accompanied with chaos and destruction, Jack steel must somehow rescue a letter, whose controversial contents could destroy Marlborough, in his attempt to do so his will be thwarted by his enemy from within, Major Jennings.

What is to follow is a gripping historical adventure, in which Jack Steel will encounter not only the Battle of Blenheim but also animosity from within, and in this warlike environment he must somehow seem to survive and live for another day to face another battle at another time.

Highly recommended, for this is a tremendous 1st Jack Steel encounter of this entertaining trilogy, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Fantastic Jack Steel Opener"!

[Mark Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Jack Steel. This was a good introduction to the battle hardened Lieutenant in an interesting period of history fighting for the Duke of Marlborough in the build up to the battle of Blenheim. Excellent battle scenes with some intrigue as the hero goes to retrieve damaging documents ahead of traitors and the French. It is a good Sunday afternoon read and really enjoyed it.

[Jeff Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regular readers of my reviews will know that I am a huge fan of historical fiction, but that I usually gravitate towards Roman and Saxon period history, so this made a complete change for me. It is to my great shame that I know next to nothing about the 17th and 18th centuries and this was one of the reasons I picked this book up, a taster if you like to see if it might interest me.

I have not read any of Iain Gale's books before and am not even sure if this was his debut novel but regardless I have to say that I absolutely loved it. The main character, Lieutenant Jack Steel is the Richard Sharpe of the period with his own trusty sidekick sergeant by the name of Jacob Slaughter.

Filled with plenty of graphic battles but with a strong story line and good, well-developed supporting characters, Gale really brings the period to life and I can't wait to get hold of the next in the series.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jack Steel is a lieutenant in Marlborough’s army at the time of the climactic battle of Blenheim in 1704 in this military adventure displaying both the good and the clichéd of this genre. The action is well-described (visceral and immediate) but the seemingly obligatory sworn enemy, Major Jennings, who rapes a woman Steel rescues when he is on a secret mission to recover some incriminating papers for the Duke, is a little too dastardly. It’s just too black and white for me (I like my heroes and villains to have shades of grey) even if an absorbing read with some interesting history

[Sean Kane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for fans of Sharpe, it hits most of the notes that one would expect from a similar story. A few historical incongruities but nothing I couldn't go over. Nothing groundbreaking but a good yarn of a story.

Weird editorial style, the characters would be yelling out something but the dialogue would only have a period. ' "Fix bayonets. Charge."' - kind of takes me out of the story.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author uses terms that I guess if you are into the genre you might understand, other authors would have fleshed these out more. Not a great read, it did not keep me enthralled ....

I wont be buying any other books in the series !

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Steel is another underdog in the mould of Sharpe. Great story.

[Alex Marriott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good Sharpe-esque novel that only let itself down for me due to the lengthy battle talk towards the end. Looking forward to the next in the series!

[Mark Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book lots of action and excitement to be had. Could barely put it down

[M ROFFEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it great read in the style of Sharpe but in an era not well known to me I will be reading the rest of the series

[Steve Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe transported back to the start of the 18th century. A good novel set against a true historic background of the Battle of Blenheim.

[Finn West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, gripping action packed novel from start to finish.

[D.w. · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are better and there are worse tales in the genre of men's fiction. This is better than average and worth a read for those interested in a backdrop of the Blenheim campaign. I have encountered relatively few fictional accounts of this, and while the main part of the book is not concerned with the battle, and when not concerned the elements that comprise History are thin, it does come through in the end to meet and complete our knowledge of the famous battle

In some places the hero is made to be as Cornwell's Sharpe, some would have it, but I don't think so. Though from a class that might never find a commission in the Guards purchased for him, as the author makes out, once he is an officer, in the most prestigious regiment, then many others would accept him as such. Unlike Sharpe, he never had served as one of the men, though before donning the uniform he would have been.

However our hero learns his trade well. Learned to command, and that separates the men from the boys as it were, and the officers from the rank and file. Given a mission that is rather nebulous, a plot device I think that could have been stronger, or ignored completely, the middle of the tale, of traveling about the countryside further firms up our understanding of our hero and his capabilities, but occasionally elements are inserted into the story that are tangent to the tale, trying to infuse the idea that conflict is drama, forgetting that this is a tale centered around war and that is more than enough conflict to create drama.

The series, in my estimation after the first book, is that it should be read and i have ordered the 2nd book. Should it be reread, I am not sure. It does not captivate me like a Hornblower and demand I read and reread it. But it was interesting. After all, what else is available fictionally about Marlborough?

[Torben · Rating 2 out of 5]

Als "neuer Sharpe" angekündigt und 100 Jahre vor den Storys des Helden der Cornwell-Romane spielend, war die Verlockung groß. Leider kann das Buch die Vorschußlorbeeren nicht einhalten. Irgendwie sind mir sowohl die Figuren als auch die Historie egal. Man erfährt wenig von dem einen als auch von dem anderen. Außerdem ist die Schreibe nicht gerade virtous und es gibt einige inhaltliche Fehler, wie kann der Held mit zwei schweren Verletzungen am Oberarm noch in beiden Händen etwas halten und perfekt kämpfen? Aber unverletztlich wird Jack Steel ja auch beschrieben... Nach Sharpe, Flashman, Old Shatterhand und allen anderen ist sogar mir Jack Steel zu sehr der Überheld. Erstaunlich wie er im richtigen Moment immer das Richtige macht oder zur richtigen Zeit auftaucht. Habe die Reservierung des zweiten Bandes zurückgezogen. Dafür war mir dieses Buch zu unspannend, zu uninspiriert, zu sehr schlechte NAchmache. Schade, dachte, ich lerne etwas über die Zeit des Spanischen Erbfolgekrieges und des Vorgängers von Wellington, Marlborough.

[Miles Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always had a strong academic interest in the Duke of Marlborough and the development of the British Army between 1685 and 1715. After all, Marlborough's first battle in 1685 was one of the last gasps of the Civil War pike and shot era. By 1713 the pike was gone and the musket and socket bayonet were the weapons of the British redcoat. Plus, when Marlborough's military career began a red coat on a European battlefield didn't mean much - by the end of his career it meant a great deal. So I was quite excited at the thought of a novel set during this period and generally I wasn't disappointed. Yes, the book suffers from being rather too close to the Sharpe novels at times and Bernard Cornwell fans like me may not like just how close. That said, Gale's period knowledge is excellent and his writing style exciting and well paced. Definitely worth a try.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lieutenant Jack Steel is a born soldier. In the days surrounding the Battle of Blenheim, Steel is tasked with rescuing a letter whose controversial contents could destroy the Duke of Marlborough. Despite the odds and the malevolent Major Jennings, Steel completes the task with verve.

It is inevitable that charcters and a story such as this are compared to Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe. I'm a big fan of Sharpe and Steel just can't stand up to the comparison. I am not against a good formula for a book but this just felt ripped off from Cornwell's series but without the grit and daring. A good attempt but it failed for me.

[Jones Chu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fast and well paced war fiction written by Iain Gale. Unlike many stories, the beginning of the story began with an accurate depiction of the battle field and quickly take the reader into action. The fictional character Steel, is plainly illustrated, and lacks his personal background. However this does not affect the storys overall fluency and entertaining element. All of the plot were well written with some changes to salt some dramatic effect, though this may be entertaining, it certainly made the book less genuine to history fanboys or military historians of whom enjoyed reading novels about war.

[Sorrento · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it because my father thought it was a good book. Well, to be honest as a fan of Bernard Cornwell and his Sharpe series this book was a huge disappointment. It did not come up to the level of Sharpe at all.
The characters seemed flat and the description over all was not very detailed. In addition the author seemed to enjoy the description of pieces of brain and bones all over his characters because this formulation appeared the most in the book and I'm sorry but a good book is not made of the description of blood and bones and gore only.

[Stephen Fleet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book.
Yes it's a similar style to Sharpe and similar format of his travels but Lt Jack Steel is an altogether different hero.
Set during Marlborough's campaign in Bavaria jack is a forward thinking officer of Grenadiers adapting to the developing "new" style of fighting where he teaches his men to think and fight independently but also with honor.
The battle sequence describing the battle of Blenheim is bloody brilliant.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but it really seems like Sharpe/Cornwall lite. The renegade officer with the loyal servant, sent on secret behind the line missions yet always on hand and in the decisive area of the major battles. This has become the basic template for lots of historical war fiction. Still have not found the replacement for Patrick O'Brian or C.S. Forester.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book for getting me interested in a period of European History I was not too familiar with. Jack Steel is a great character and is the focus of the story. Most of the story deals with Steel and his ideas of how an officer should lead- from the front not the rear. If you have read the Sharpe's books give Steel a go.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read and a fine introduction to the series recounting a fascinating part of European history that has since been eclipsed by the Napoleonic Wars. The only negative, for me, was the main character's names "Jack Steel" and "Sergeant Slaughter" which grated all the way through.

[Jamie Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read the Sharpe series of books, I was worried this might be to similar, and a bit boring, but am happy to have been proved wrong. It offers a completely new setting and an eventful period of history that has been well-researched and flows in nicely with the fiction side of the novel.

[Roy Gore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, Sharpe fans will find similarities to this book, however it is good regardless. Set during a time I know very little about which is refreshing to see an author write about an historical event that's often overlooked. Would make a lovely TV programme or film!

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good straight forward read standard stuff good soldier versus bad soldier. Battles scenes well done.

[stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

HURRAH A new military history writer, Bernard Cornwell look out.This one is about the Blenheim Campaign Well written

[Garry Le Maistre]

If you like historical fact mixed in with fiction you will enjoy this book. This was my first book by Iain Gale and I was impressed.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dire Sharpe rip-off.

[Ross Tennant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish people would stop referring to Sharpe .a really good book in a fascinating time in british history

[Ian Willey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it quite a lot but only gets three stars as it seems to draw too much inspiration from the Sharpe books. Happy to read the next two I own