All in Scarlet Uniform

Napoleonic Wars #4

by Adrian Goldsworthy

The year is 1809, and the recruiting sergeants are hard at work, as the British army gathers strength for the next phase of the campaign against Bonaparte on the Spanish Peninsula. Captain Billy Pringle of the 106th Foot, however, has a somewhat more urgent reason to leave the country: having become embroiled in an ill-advised duel with a lieutenant in the 14th Light Dragoons, a posting to Spain would avoid any awkwardness for the regiment. Along with his friend Lieutenant Williams—whose sister Kitty was the cause of the duel—and the doughty veteran Sergeant Dobson, Pringle takes on the task of training Spanish troops to stand alongside their British allies. But what seems at first like easy duty soon turns into a desperate fight for survival as they find themselves besieged in the strategic fortress of Cuidad Rodrigo. For Bonaparte, taking the fortress will be the first step towards pushing the British back to the sea, and the task is entrusted to one of his most daring and successful generals, Marshal Ney. And Ney in his turn has found the perfect officer to lead the assault, a man not only desperate for advancement but also thirsting for revenge—a man whom Williams knows only too well.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, War, Military Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 8, 2013

About the author

Adrian Goldsworthy, born in 1969, is the author of numerous acclaimed books, including biographies of Julius Caesar and Augustus. He lectures widely and consults on historical documentaries for the History Channel, National Geographic, and the BBC. He lives in the UK.

Reviews

[David Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of a series on the Peninsula Campaign in the Napoleonic Wars, written from the British perspective. Well written, the story sticks pretty closely to the historical record. Relistic and engauging characters, which make you care about their fates, fortunes, triumphs and reverses. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the whole series.

[John Zeivel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the book. I have read all of Cornwell's 'Sharpe' stories, and I find myself comparing the two. Both are accurate in historical detail, and both authors have a gift with prose. Cornwell can be a bit 'grittier', but both authors put you in a place and time that you can somehow feel how it must have been.

[Gareth Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goldsworthy manages to make a running defeat and a protracted bloodbath into a captivating tale of survival in face of the odds, for some, at least. Unflinchingly well observed detail of warfare in the early nineteenth century alleviated by some good sub-plots and engaging characters. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big tough Englishmen beating up dastardly Frogs. I can't recall the details. Black powder. Class distinctions. Descriptions of bloody encounters with musket and bayonet. That type of thing. If that's what you're looking for, a must read. Goldsworthy captures the action and psychology of the times he is exploring.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of intrigue, mayhem, and casualties as the men of the 106th served as spies, couriers, adcs, and periodically engages in warfare during this year of getting ready in Portugal. Lots of battles ahead, stay tuned.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book. Well written but I found myself constantly comparing it to the 'Sharpe books. Still worth a read though.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action really picked up. Really a 4.5⭐

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

When i started out with Adrian Goldsworthy,i thought he was a brave man to walk in the footsteps of Sharpe and although our hero was different to Sharpe i had wonder how he would cope with the expectation`s that that brings.Now after three books we have a really good series that is growing book by book.We now have a ensemble that allows each player to step into the spot light and drive the story on.At first i thought Lieutenant Hamish Williams would be the main man,he was nearish to Sharpe in that he had served in the ranks and was commissision as ensign following the Battle of Vilmeiro,but now he must contend with Lieutenant William Hanley,his fluency in Spanish has him involved in Intelligence work,and Captain Billy Pringle,plump,easy-going and over fond of drink and woman,but has won promotion and found himself easing into his role as a leader.These three characters take it in turns to step into centre stage and develop a page turner that has you exhausted by the last page of the book.Adrian Goldsworthy,with his extensive knowledge of the period has you right in the thick of the action of Spain in 1810 and is producing a series,that for me is giving Sharpe a run for his money.

[D.w. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goldsworthy is willing to show the losing side of Wellington's campaigns as well, those this he places at the foot of Black Bob Craufurd. Our heroes through device find themselves once again at the front of things, this time McAndrews joins them and we see Austen's Colonel Fitzwilliam make an appearance.

Goldsworthy has quite a clear road of events to weave into the telling and by the end, no doubt, we will know much more about the Peninsular war than Cornwell and Sharpe have ever shown us. There the campaigns and battles were secondary while here it is an intricately woven thing, these great historic events which we face with our heroes.

Easily a half a dozen more books await us and one can only hope that by the end our heroes will have found some joy amidst this terrible battles that this war had.

[S Glenn Krochmal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow at the start and would have been easier if the characters were reintroduced. But toward the middle, the story picked up and the book is an excellent representation history of its time period. The death on the battle field is handled better than most authors of this genre.
Representation and acceptance of the French military competence is unusual and exceptionally accomplished in Mr. Goldsworthy writing. He does not display the usual British bias.

Read it!!!

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

While enjoyable this book seemed more disjointed. The flow from character to character was not smooth. It is still a good read but it left something to be desired. Hopefully the next one picks up again as the series has been excellent.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Vaguely interesting if you're interested in military historical detail, particularly from that era, otherwise pretty dull.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read the first two of this series and enjoyed them. Somehow I must have missed the third. This one is written in a similar vein to the first two and is an entertaining read. The author's description of the battle scenes are pretty realistic and the reader is left with a feeling the killed are better off than the wounded. Occasionally the switching between characters story lines can be confusing but otherwise I'm looking forward to the next adventure.