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Revolution Quartet #1
Young Bloods
YOUNG BLOODS is the first gripping novel in Simon Scarrow's bestselling Wellington and Napoleon quartet. Perfect for fans of Robert Harris.
Arthur Wesley (the future Duke of Wellington) was born and bred to be a leader. With a firm belief that the nation must be led by a king, the red-coated British officer heads for battle against the French Republic, to restore the fallen monarchy.
Napoleon Bonaparte joins the French military on the eve of the Revolution. He believes leadership is won by merit, not by noble birth. When anarchy explodes in Paris he's thrust into the revolutionary army poised to march against Britain.
As two mighty Empires embark on a bloody duel, Wesley and Bonaparte prepare to face a sworn enemy, unaware that the fate of Europe will one day lie in their hands...
Arthur Wesley (the future Duke of Wellington) was born and bred to be a leader. With a firm belief that the nation must be led by a king, the red-coated British officer heads for battle against the French Republic, to restore the fallen monarchy.
Napoleon Bonaparte joins the French military on the eve of the Revolution. He believes leadership is won by merit, not by noble birth. When anarchy explodes in Paris he's thrust into the revolutionary army poised to march against Britain.
As two mighty Empires embark on a bloody duel, Wesley and Bonaparte prepare to face a sworn enemy, unaware that the fate of Europe will one day lie in their hands...
595 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
251 people are currently reading
3582 people want to read
About the author
Simon Scarrow
171 books2,158 followersSimon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria, and now living in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia, and, after working at the Inland Revenue, went into teaching as a lecturer at City College, Norwich.
He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.
Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.
He is best known for his "Eagle" series. This is Roman empire military fiction, starting with the second invasion of Britain, and continuing with subsequent adventures in every corner of the empire. The stories are told through the eyes of two centurions, Macro and Cato. To date there are eighteen books in the series.
Scarrow has also written a series of four novels on the Napoleonic wars, focusing on the lives of Wellington and Napoleon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
November 8, 2018
Absolutely FANTASTIC, and a seemingly undiscovered gem given the lack of reviews on GR. This meticulously researched novel follows the lives of Napoleon and Wellington through their early years, balancing historical accuracy and the somewhat mundane nature of the true events with rich and vivid storytelling. This is a difficult feat, and one done masterfully, using the alternating points of view to great effect and somehow pulling off the necessary pacing needed to balance the passage of events in these two titans' young lives.
I can't believe I have three more books to go in this brilliant series. Well done.
I can't believe I have three more books to go in this brilliant series. Well done.
February 14, 2023
Such a fantastically brilliant story. Arthur Wesley and the infamous Napoleon are our two POVs and we alternate between their stories, beginning with their births and ending as they enter into their positions in the military as young men. Scarrow really made every single chapter so important to the overall story in terms of character growth and events, which is a hard feat considering lots of this is build up. I loved every page.
January 8, 2022
Read this book in 2006, and its the first volume of the "Wellington & Napoleon" quartet of books.
This book starts off around the year AD 1769, and we encounter the rise from both Arthur Wellesley and Napoleon Bonaparte from young men to military leaders of renown.
While growing up they will become accustomed to warfare, Wellesley, later better known as Wellington, will get blooded in India, Ireland and Flanders, while Napoleon will have to deal with the French Revolution and the war against Prussia, Britain and Holland.
Both has their own amoureus adventures with Wellington in pursuit of Kitty Pakenham, and napoleon for his future bride, Josephine.
What is to follow is an amazing start that will set the scene of two formidable strategists and leaders of men, and what will further happen in their lives and most of all their rise to power within the military world, and all this told by the author in a most captivating fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is a terrific start of this great 4 part series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Young Bloods"!
This book starts off around the year AD 1769, and we encounter the rise from both Arthur Wellesley and Napoleon Bonaparte from young men to military leaders of renown.
While growing up they will become accustomed to warfare, Wellesley, later better known as Wellington, will get blooded in India, Ireland and Flanders, while Napoleon will have to deal with the French Revolution and the war against Prussia, Britain and Holland.
Both has their own amoureus adventures with Wellington in pursuit of Kitty Pakenham, and napoleon for his future bride, Josephine.
What is to follow is an amazing start that will set the scene of two formidable strategists and leaders of men, and what will further happen in their lives and most of all their rise to power within the military world, and all this told by the author in a most captivating fashion.
Highly recommended, for this is a terrific start of this great 4 part series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Brilliant Young Bloods"!
February 20, 2018
I have been fascinated by Napoleon since I was a child. I have read everything I could find about both these men and the Napoleonic War. I found myself more interested in Arthur Wesley’s sister, Anne; she was a fascinating person. So when I discovered Simon Scarrow wrote a historical fiction series about these two men I just had to read it.
The book covers the years 1769 to 1795. Scarrow starts with the early years of both men and it appeared to me that Scarrow was attempting to show similarities between the two men’s characters. The only new item was that Scarrow suggested that Napoleon and Wesley (Duke of Wellington) met as young men at a French Military Academy. I have never heard of this meeting so I do not know if it really happened or is part of the fiction in the story. The story did remind me that Arthur Wesley could have made his fame and fortune with his violin; not many famous generals were excellent musicians. In the last half of the book we have Napoleon at the battle of Toulon; Scarrow has some excellent battle scenes.
Scarrow took on a real challenge, as so much has been written about these two men. I can understand why Scarrow chose to write a historical fiction rather than a biography. The book is well researched and well written. Being fiction it is easy to read. I understand there are four books in this series. I cannot wait to read them all. Jonathan Keeble does a good job narrating the book.
The book covers the years 1769 to 1795. Scarrow starts with the early years of both men and it appeared to me that Scarrow was attempting to show similarities between the two men’s characters. The only new item was that Scarrow suggested that Napoleon and Wesley (Duke of Wellington) met as young men at a French Military Academy. I have never heard of this meeting so I do not know if it really happened or is part of the fiction in the story. The story did remind me that Arthur Wesley could have made his fame and fortune with his violin; not many famous generals were excellent musicians. In the last half of the book we have Napoleon at the battle of Toulon; Scarrow has some excellent battle scenes.
Scarrow took on a real challenge, as so much has been written about these two men. I can understand why Scarrow chose to write a historical fiction rather than a biography. The book is well researched and well written. Being fiction it is easy to read. I understand there are four books in this series. I cannot wait to read them all. Jonathan Keeble does a good job narrating the book.
May 7, 2012
With this latest book Simon embarks on a new series, Book 1 is based around the young lives of 2 of the great generals from European history, Napoleon and Wellington.
The story Switches easily between life in aristocratic Ireland and rural Corsica, showing the differences in character and environment that shaped these two great men.
I myself have not read much about these two men and this period in history, except Bernard Cornwells Sharpe. I have found in the past that this can put some readers off, but I promise you it will not hinder your reading of this book. This is a great read with easy flowing writing, well paced and full of action.
The characterisation is brilliant, by the end of the book you have real feelings for these 2 men, and amazingly you find yourself switching between supporting the French and wanting them to win, to rooting for the English with their destructive musket volleys.
I have read all of Simons books to date and have enjoyed all of them immensely, but this is in my opinion his best work to date, I think its because the book starts with the main characters from birth and allows you to grow with them on their road to fame and glory! I especially like the little true stories that crop up throughout the book (I will leave it to you to discover these for your-self).
If you are a fan of Conn Iggulden, Bernard Cornwell, David Gemmell or William Napier then this is a must buy for you. (And don't forget to try his eagle series as well)
(Parm)
The story Switches easily between life in aristocratic Ireland and rural Corsica, showing the differences in character and environment that shaped these two great men.
I myself have not read much about these two men and this period in history, except Bernard Cornwells Sharpe. I have found in the past that this can put some readers off, but I promise you it will not hinder your reading of this book. This is a great read with easy flowing writing, well paced and full of action.
The characterisation is brilliant, by the end of the book you have real feelings for these 2 men, and amazingly you find yourself switching between supporting the French and wanting them to win, to rooting for the English with their destructive musket volleys.
I have read all of Simons books to date and have enjoyed all of them immensely, but this is in my opinion his best work to date, I think its because the book starts with the main characters from birth and allows you to grow with them on their road to fame and glory! I especially like the little true stories that crop up throughout the book (I will leave it to you to discover these for your-self).
If you are a fan of Conn Iggulden, Bernard Cornwell, David Gemmell or William Napier then this is a must buy for you. (And don't forget to try his eagle series as well)
(Parm)
May 11, 2013
-Extraña revisión en paralelo de dos figuras que no son equivalentes.-
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Narración en paralelo de la niñez y juventud de Napoleón Bonaparte y el Duque de Wellington, las experiencias que supuestamente vivieron y cómo debieron afectarles, un teórico desarrollo de sus personalidades y la descripción de los tiempos que vivieron. Primer libro de la tetralogía Napoleón vs. Wellington.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://www.librosdeolethros.blogspot....
Género. Novela histórica.
Lo que nos cuenta. Narración en paralelo de la niñez y juventud de Napoleón Bonaparte y el Duque de Wellington, las experiencias que supuestamente vivieron y cómo debieron afectarles, un teórico desarrollo de sus personalidades y la descripción de los tiempos que vivieron. Primer libro de la tetralogía Napoleón vs. Wellington.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://www.librosdeolethros.blogspot....
September 12, 2014
Middle of the road affair that starts out well only to turn distinctly grey.
The characters initially seem far more human & realistic than those in the Eagle series if a little short of the depth found in the characters in Sword and Scimitar.
I know that this is intended as the opening book to a series where you're introduced to the characters formative years but there's very little conflict, believable conflict or such to give any real depth to the otherwise engaging characters.
The longer you stick with the book, the more you get a feeling that draws comparisons with generic tame period dramas you get on Sunday evening TV rather than a tale that keeps you rapt from the beginning.
Add in to that the fact that Scarrow, for an academic, makes some disappointingly glaring mistakes such as suggesting that Napoleon was a short man looked down on partly for his height, when there's evidence that he was actually above average height for the time period.
This book starts off relatively promising but soon plateaus off into a bland, languid affair where you seem to spend most of your time wishing something would happen, even if it was just something completely trivial, just to liven the whole dreary affair up.
The characters initially seem far more human & realistic than those in the Eagle series if a little short of the depth found in the characters in Sword and Scimitar.
I know that this is intended as the opening book to a series where you're introduced to the characters formative years but there's very little conflict, believable conflict or such to give any real depth to the otherwise engaging characters.
The longer you stick with the book, the more you get a feeling that draws comparisons with generic tame period dramas you get on Sunday evening TV rather than a tale that keeps you rapt from the beginning.
Add in to that the fact that Scarrow, for an academic, makes some disappointingly glaring mistakes such as suggesting that Napoleon was a short man looked down on partly for his height, when there's evidence that he was actually above average height for the time period.
This book starts off relatively promising but soon plateaus off into a bland, languid affair where you seem to spend most of your time wishing something would happen, even if it was just something completely trivial, just to liven the whole dreary affair up.
May 25, 2021
Loved every second of it.
February 24, 2012
I finished off the last book of four by Simon Scarrow telling the stories of Wellington and Napoleon. These are Young Bloods, The Generals, Fire and Sword and Fields of Death, and I heartily recommend them. As I noted before, the battle scenes and descriptions of the campaigning got a bit wearing and repetitive, mainly in the middle two books, but then how many different ways can you describe cannon balls and canister shot ploughing through files of soldiers? I would imagine that in trying to stick to historical fact Scarrow allowed the dry dead prose of the historian to slip into the books. However, these were four massive 600+ word tomes and I read them all, so the above, whilst it had an effect, did not stop me reading. What I also enjoyed was the acquisition of historical knowledge, about the Napoleonic Wars, about the politics, national manoeuvring and attitudes 9like the low regard for human life), about the way technology was developing (the first use of howitzers, for example) and, as always, this sort of stuff gives an insight into the present day. It is of course the usual insight of ‘technology advances whilst humans are as bad as they’ve always been’ or ‘no, the world is not falling apart – this is just business as usual’.
January 28, 2024
Why so many four- and five-star reviews? This is the Jackie Collins of historical fiction. It’s shallow, silly, and (I believe) invents some details. I’d hate to read subsequent volumes to see how the author treats Napoleon’s romance with Josephine.
July 5, 2022
crikey that took about 15 years to finish. technically i only really started reading it a few days ago, after picking it up just before exam season and then regretting my life choices. anyway, this book reminded me why i have big book fear. like it was very well written but just like 200 pages too long. also don't read it late at night? twas a bit horrifying.
i wasn't sure whether you were supposed to like Napoleon or Wellington tbh - like they seemed like nice guys at the start but i was really put off when Napoleon said that his fate lay in the hands of the soldiers (as in if they executed his plan then he would go far), like babe i'm pretty sure their fate lies in your hands vis-a-vis whether they're going to die or not. but i'm not really a war gal.
might leave it a while before reading the rest of the series.
going back to my hic-fic roots
i wasn't sure whether you were supposed to like Napoleon or Wellington tbh - like they seemed like nice guys at the start but i was really put off when Napoleon said that his fate lay in the hands of the soldiers (as in if they executed his plan then he would go far), like babe i'm pretty sure their fate lies in your hands vis-a-vis whether they're going to die or not. but i'm not really a war gal.
might leave it a while before reading the rest of the series.
going back to my hic-fic roots
January 24, 2023
Der erste von vier Romanen über Napoleon, allerdings nicht nur über ihn, sondern gleichzeitig über Arthur Wellesley, 1. Duke of Wellington. Wer sich ein bisschen mit Geschichte auskennt, weiß warum :) .
Also zunächst einmal das Wichtigste: Schlacht und Blut ist ja nun wirklich der bescheuertste Titel, den je ein in deutscher Sprache erschienenes Buch gehabt hat und jemals haben wird. Im Original heißt es Young Bloods, was durchaus Sinn macht, weil das Heranwachsen unserer beißen heißblütigen Protagonisten geschildert wird. Und das durchaus spannend, interessant und in ansprechender Art und Weise.
Die Idee, Napoleons Leben in Romanform aufzuarbeiten, finde ich interessant und gut umgesetzt. Ob alles so historisch korrekt ist, weiß ich allerdings nicht - es ist mir aber auch nicht extrem wichtig. Das Buch ist abwechslungsreich genug, da wir Napoleon und Arthur als Kinder, Jugendliche und in der Militärakademie kennenlernen, bis sie am Ende - Spoiler, I guess - erste Erfahrungen als Soldaten und Offiziere sammeln.
Ich bin insgesamt sehr zufrieden mit der Lektüre, gleichzeitig aber keineswegs sicher, ob das bei den folgenden drei Bänden so bleiben wird. Wenn es dann in einer Tour von einer Schlacht zur nächsten geht, könnte sich bei mir schnell Langeweile einstellen. Aber warten wir mal ab, der Auftakt war durchaus gelungen.
Also zunächst einmal das Wichtigste: Schlacht und Blut ist ja nun wirklich der bescheuertste Titel, den je ein in deutscher Sprache erschienenes Buch gehabt hat und jemals haben wird. Im Original heißt es Young Bloods, was durchaus Sinn macht, weil das Heranwachsen unserer beißen heißblütigen Protagonisten geschildert wird. Und das durchaus spannend, interessant und in ansprechender Art und Weise.
Die Idee, Napoleons Leben in Romanform aufzuarbeiten, finde ich interessant und gut umgesetzt. Ob alles so historisch korrekt ist, weiß ich allerdings nicht - es ist mir aber auch nicht extrem wichtig. Das Buch ist abwechslungsreich genug, da wir Napoleon und Arthur als Kinder, Jugendliche und in der Militärakademie kennenlernen, bis sie am Ende - Spoiler, I guess - erste Erfahrungen als Soldaten und Offiziere sammeln.
Ich bin insgesamt sehr zufrieden mit der Lektüre, gleichzeitig aber keineswegs sicher, ob das bei den folgenden drei Bänden so bleiben wird. Wenn es dann in einer Tour von einer Schlacht zur nächsten geht, könnte sich bei mir schnell Langeweile einstellen. Aber warten wir mal ab, der Auftakt war durchaus gelungen.
June 1, 2019
Tal como o autor já nos habituou e numa só palavra: SUBLIME. Obrigado, Simon.
April 4, 2017
This Historical Faction is the beginning of lives journeys about two geniuses and heroes, Arthur Wesley (later Duke of Wellington) & Napoleon Bonaparte. Shows their life from very young age. Descendants of England-Ireland and Corsica-France. However from as soon as possible they had traveled to study and get knowledge along with their natural congenital advantages in future careers with military scholarship. And many more adventurous, like siege of Toulon, with brave artillery work. Before they became these legendary leaders in breathtaking times of French Revolution.
June 23, 2015
http://blog.europeana.eu/2015/06/trea...
Left:Napoleon Bonaparte Aristide Louis. Amsterdam Museum, CC BY. Right: Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington. Wellcome Library, London; CC BY
Review is pending....
Left:Napoleon Bonaparte Aristide Louis. Amsterdam Museum, CC BY. Right: Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington. Wellcome Library, London; CC BY
Review is pending....
March 10, 2014
Excellent comparison of the early lives of Napoleon and Wellington. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and look forward to the next in the series. If you're curious about what made these men, you'll appreciate this story.
December 16, 2024
Primer volumen de la tetralogía de Scarrow que nos narra de forma novelada las biografías paralelas de Napoleón y Wellington. Y me ha sorprendido agradablemente.
La verdad es que me costó un poco avanzar al principio, porque la etapa infantil de ambos personajes me pareció bastante flojilla y estereotipada; supongo que en buena parte, consecuencia de no disponer de suficientes hechos históricos en los que basarse. Pero en cuanto ambos alcanzan la madurez, la cosa cambia, y la novela empieza a resultar bastante interesante.
Lo es mucho más, hay que reconocerlo, en el caso de Napoleón. Scarrow ha querido poner a Arthur Wesley (posterior Duque de Wellington) a su mismo nivel, y... la verdad, no hay por dónde cogerlo. Se nota incluso en el texto que dedica a cada uno, donde a ojo casi diría que hay tres capítulos dedicados a Napoleón por cada capítulo dedicado a Wellington. Y es que al menos la parte más juvenil de este último no tenía nada destacable: hijo menor de una familia aristócrata venida a menos, poco válido para los estudios y sin destacar en nada en la vida, apático y vividor, que no vale para otra cosa que para meterse en el ejército o en el clero, que es donde van los desechos humanos de la época... Una joyita, el joven Wesley, que no sé cómo evolucionará en su madurez, pero que sospecho que nunca habría pasado a la historia de no haber sido capaz de vencer en el campo de batalla al gran mito que fue Napoleón.
En fin, el caso es que el libro está escrito de forma ligera y amena, y vamos descubriendo la historia alrededor de estos dos personajes (especialmente, ya digo, en el caso de Napoleón) con amenidad e interés. Los inicios de la Revolución Francesa dan una interesante nota adicional de color e interés a la historia.
El caso es que lo he acabado en un pispás y me he puesto con el segundo sin pensármelo, a pesar de que el hecho de que fuera una tetralogía me parecía bastante exagerado al principio. Y teniendo en cuenta también que nunca había sentido un interés especial por la figura de Napoleón, y no digamos ya la del anodino aristócrata inglés que le acompaña en la historia...
La verdad es que me costó un poco avanzar al principio, porque la etapa infantil de ambos personajes me pareció bastante flojilla y estereotipada; supongo que en buena parte, consecuencia de no disponer de suficientes hechos históricos en los que basarse. Pero en cuanto ambos alcanzan la madurez, la cosa cambia, y la novela empieza a resultar bastante interesante.
Lo es mucho más, hay que reconocerlo, en el caso de Napoleón. Scarrow ha querido poner a Arthur Wesley (posterior Duque de Wellington) a su mismo nivel, y... la verdad, no hay por dónde cogerlo. Se nota incluso en el texto que dedica a cada uno, donde a ojo casi diría que hay tres capítulos dedicados a Napoleón por cada capítulo dedicado a Wellington. Y es que al menos la parte más juvenil de este último no tenía nada destacable: hijo menor de una familia aristócrata venida a menos, poco válido para los estudios y sin destacar en nada en la vida, apático y vividor, que no vale para otra cosa que para meterse en el ejército o en el clero, que es donde van los desechos humanos de la época... Una joyita, el joven Wesley, que no sé cómo evolucionará en su madurez, pero que sospecho que nunca habría pasado a la historia de no haber sido capaz de vencer en el campo de batalla al gran mito que fue Napoleón.
En fin, el caso es que el libro está escrito de forma ligera y amena, y vamos descubriendo la historia alrededor de estos dos personajes (especialmente, ya digo, en el caso de Napoleón) con amenidad e interés. Los inicios de la Revolución Francesa dan una interesante nota adicional de color e interés a la historia.
El caso es que lo he acabado en un pispás y me he puesto con el segundo sin pensármelo, a pesar de que el hecho de que fuera una tetralogía me parecía bastante exagerado al principio. Y teniendo en cuenta también que nunca había sentido un interés especial por la figura de Napoleón, y no digamos ya la del anodino aristócrata inglés que le acompaña en la historia...
March 2, 2024
The first part of a quartet about two fascinating historical figures, Napoleon as well as Arthur, Duke of Wellington, this is another book I've had on my TBR for quite some time. Following its protagonists from birth, Young Bloods covers the period from 1769 to 1794. It starts out quite slow, spending (to my mind) a little too much time on not overly captivating childhood experiences, before finally picking up some momentum once the characters were old enough to actually get up to anything more interesting. By the end, however, it was a solidly entertaining read, and I'll likely be continuing the series at some point.
July 16, 2023
This book charts the early and parallel careers of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte. It manages to weave an interesting historical narrative together with a fictional account of their respective feelings as they moved through the ranks. Very enjoyable. Recommended.
June 19, 2025
Great way to learn history and feel like more of it is being retained lol but overall p dry book big maybe on finishing the series
December 17, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and now I need to know about Napoleon and Arthur 🙂
November 18, 2023
Una época muy interesante, unos personajes de fama mundial y una mano capaz de escribir una buena historia de manera ágil y entretenida. Nada puede salir mal con este libro. Entretención de la buena.
July 13, 2025
Die Geschichte zweier Männer: Nabulione Buonaparte und Arthur Wesley. Der erste Teil berichtet über die Jugend der beiden Männer und findet den Höhepunkt bei der Ermordung des französischen Königs und der französischen Revolution.
Eines der besten und spannendsten Historienromane, die ich bisher gelesen habe. Volle 5 Sterne und eine pure Empfehlung. Der zweite Teil steht schon bereit...
Eines der besten und spannendsten Historienromane, die ich bisher gelesen habe. Volle 5 Sterne und eine pure Empfehlung. Der zweite Teil steht schon bereit...
January 9, 2022
Bernard Cornwell's response is " I really don't need this kind of competition." That just about covers it. Perfect for lovers of Sharpe. I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on the next two in the series.
December 9, 2021
A truly enjoyable romp, your only going to pick up this novel if you have a hankering for the young lives of Wellington and Napoleon if your not interested then don’t bother! Any one who a fan of the Sharpe series will love this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2011
Young Bloods the first book in the revolutions series by Simon Scarrow who is recognised as one of the leading authors of historical fiction for his Legion series set in the Roman Period. Young Bloods book is a departure from the period where Scarrow has made his name in this genre to look at the early life of Arthur Welsey and Napoleon. This genre of fiction is difficult to excel in due to the fact that it is difficult to match the history of the period with the detailed events of a novel, and the fact remains that any author of this genre of fiction is placing words in the mouths of the subjects that they are writing about and conducting this while remaining in line with historical events is a challenge.
This book is well written and is a highly enjoyable read and looks at the origins of two of the most famous figures in European history. The book starts with both characters early childhood and then moves into the beginning of their military careers and follows both Welsey and Napoleon as they start on their military career and begin to gain combat experience.
The book succeeds in getting into the minds of the two characters and provided a depth into their thoughts and feelings and provides Scarrow's view on why the two characters acted in the way that they did. This is a difficult achievement due to the fact that Scarrow has had to put his own interpretation on this, as both individuals are long dead it is of course impossible to obtain their true motives for their actions, but Scarrow is able to fill in the colour and the detail behind the events that are detailed in the history of the period.
Scarrow also provides an excellent authors note at the end of the book which offers the reader with recommendations for further reading on this period if the reader is interested, and I will be checking a few of these books out. Scarrow also states the events that he has invented or omitted to progress the narrative. This satisfies me in allowing me to ascertain which events in the novel are based on real events and which are fabricated.
This book in my view is an excellent example of historical fiction and is recommended reading for anyone interested in an action packed novel as well as any individual who is interested in the French Revolution and the Naopleonic Period in Europe.
This book is well written and is a highly enjoyable read and looks at the origins of two of the most famous figures in European history. The book starts with both characters early childhood and then moves into the beginning of their military careers and follows both Welsey and Napoleon as they start on their military career and begin to gain combat experience.
The book succeeds in getting into the minds of the two characters and provided a depth into their thoughts and feelings and provides Scarrow's view on why the two characters acted in the way that they did. This is a difficult achievement due to the fact that Scarrow has had to put his own interpretation on this, as both individuals are long dead it is of course impossible to obtain their true motives for their actions, but Scarrow is able to fill in the colour and the detail behind the events that are detailed in the history of the period.
Scarrow also provides an excellent authors note at the end of the book which offers the reader with recommendations for further reading on this period if the reader is interested, and I will be checking a few of these books out. Scarrow also states the events that he has invented or omitted to progress the narrative. This satisfies me in allowing me to ascertain which events in the novel are based on real events and which are fabricated.
This book in my view is an excellent example of historical fiction and is recommended reading for anyone interested in an action packed novel as well as any individual who is interested in the French Revolution and the Naopleonic Period in Europe.
July 3, 2019
The book is uninspired and uninspiring, sadly. Its premise is excellent: parallel lives of two prominent military figures, Napoleon and Wellington, who are seemingly destined to clash on the battlefield, and only one would be left standing. It's not just the clash of military leaders, but the battle of worldviews, ideologies, as well.
Unfortunately, the author does not seem to find the right tone for the story - to me, it rang false. Although Scarrow did an excellent job learning everything he could about personal, intimate details of the two men's lives and upbringing and insert them in the narrative, the prose itself is lackluster, the story's style is more that of a high-school essay and less of a novel, full of cliches and trite similes. The dialogues possess none of the wit and sparkle that, I'm sure, real people's conversations must have had. Readable but not more than that.
Another thing - and it is possibly just my own, personal, pet peeve - is that whenever Scarrow writes of people's personal lives, he seems to not be fully comprehending the social aspect of the period. His descriptions of military campaigns are top-notch, those of social interactions a less so. The entiry story of courtship of Wellington and Kitty Pakenham rang false. An unmarried lady scampering about alone, without a chaperone or servant, pretending to be a man's wife, dining out in public at a restaurant with a man who is not her relative or fiance? At the time, she would have been condemned as a harlot. When reading, I had a distinct impression of modern people in fancy dress and powdered wigs. The author though saw nothing wrong about it.
So, the final rating is somewhere in the middle: a good idea spoiled by mediocre execution. Hopefully, other books in the series will be better. I'm not holding my breath though.
Unfortunately, the author does not seem to find the right tone for the story - to me, it rang false. Although Scarrow did an excellent job learning everything he could about personal, intimate details of the two men's lives and upbringing and insert them in the narrative, the prose itself is lackluster, the story's style is more that of a high-school essay and less of a novel, full of cliches and trite similes. The dialogues possess none of the wit and sparkle that, I'm sure, real people's conversations must have had. Readable but not more than that.
Another thing - and it is possibly just my own, personal, pet peeve - is that whenever Scarrow writes of people's personal lives, he seems to not be fully comprehending the social aspect of the period. His descriptions of military campaigns are top-notch, those of social interactions a less so. The entiry story of courtship of Wellington and Kitty Pakenham rang false. An unmarried lady scampering about alone, without a chaperone or servant, pretending to be a man's wife, dining out in public at a restaurant with a man who is not her relative or fiance? At the time, she would have been condemned as a harlot. When reading, I had a distinct impression of modern people in fancy dress and powdered wigs. The author though saw nothing wrong about it.
So, the final rating is somewhere in the middle: a good idea spoiled by mediocre execution. Hopefully, other books in the series will be better. I'm not holding my breath though.
August 25, 2018
I have read several of Simon Scarrow's Eagle series about Rome and liked them, but they were just a warm up for this book. Here we have the story of the births, childhoods, and early careers of Napoleon Bonaparte and Arthur Wesley, Duke of Wellington. This book makes both of these Iconic military leaders come to life and be regular people with worries, fears, and dreams like anyone else. Taking Napoleon's youth, schooling and early career up through the Siege of Toulon and Arthur's youth, schooling, and career through the disastrous Flanders Campaign. Both are treated with equal insight into their hopes and dreams. Both are ambitious men, but where Napoleon is a driven individual, Arthur is more of a wastrel and was noted for his lack of success in school, especially at Eton, and doesn't get serious about his career until he meets Kitty Pakenham and is turned down by her family in his betrothal request due to his lack of prospect. It is also an intriguing study in the contrast of these two. A note on the name Wesley versus Wellesley, the author uses the family name of Arthur's father throughout the text to save on confusion.
All in all, a very good read and historical look at the French Revolution and life in England/Ireland at the time.
All in all, a very good read and historical look at the French Revolution and life in England/Ireland at the time.
May 5, 2012
I really enjoyed this book and kept having to force myself to put it down. I really liked the concept behind the book of intermingling the description of the lives of these 2 military men who are so intertwined in history. The story was very believable and interesting describing as it does the way in which they were both formed by their early lives.
Europe in the late eighteenth century was a tumultuous place, with war and rebellions breaking out on many fronts. Young Arthur Wesley (later Wellington) and Napoleon Bonaparte grow up worlds apart yet immersed from youth in a culture where a military career is a natural choice for men of ambition. While Wellington is blooded in Ireland and Flanders, Napoleon is caught up in the dramas of the French Revolution and war with Prussia, Britain and Holland. None of this is enough to distract Wellington from his pursuit of Kitty Pakenham or Napoleon from his future bride, Josephine, for these men throw themselves into all aspects of life as enthusiastically as they rush to battle.
I am really looking forward to reading others in the series
Europe in the late eighteenth century was a tumultuous place, with war and rebellions breaking out on many fronts. Young Arthur Wesley (later Wellington) and Napoleon Bonaparte grow up worlds apart yet immersed from youth in a culture where a military career is a natural choice for men of ambition. While Wellington is blooded in Ireland and Flanders, Napoleon is caught up in the dramas of the French Revolution and war with Prussia, Britain and Holland. None of this is enough to distract Wellington from his pursuit of Kitty Pakenham or Napoleon from his future bride, Josephine, for these men throw themselves into all aspects of life as enthusiastically as they rush to battle.
I am really looking forward to reading others in the series
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