Send Me Safely Back Again

Napoleonic Wars #3

by Adrian Goldsworthy

The third novel in the series sees new challenges for the men of the 106th Foot, as the British army attempts to recover from the disaster of Corunna and establish a foothold in the Peninsula. Featuring the battles of Medellin and Talavera, the 106th will have their mettle severely tested on the battlefield. But if Napoleon is to be ejected from Spain, war must also be waged in more covert ways. For Hanley, the former artist who is a more natural observer than fighter, the opportunity to become an 'exploring officer' leads him into even more dangerous territory, the murky world of politics and partisans. And while Ensign Williams seeks to uncover the identity of the mysterious 'Heroine of Saragossa', a conspiracy of revenge within the regiment itself threatens to destroy him before he's even faced a shot from the French.

Genres: Historical Fiction, War, Fiction, Historical

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

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

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine volume following the officers and men of the 106th

The "Daily Mail" calls this a Jane Austen meets Bernard Cornwell novel which is a better description than any of which I have thought. The writing is of a standard to deserve that description. If you have read all of Cornwell's Richard Sharpe novels and want more, you could do much worse than this well researched, well told series.

This volume follows the adventures of the friends Lt. Williams, Lt Hanley and Captain Pritchard, now joined by their fourth close friend Captain Truscott who has rejoined the army after losing an arm at Vimeiro. The adventures are set in Spain amidst Wellington's (Wellesley at the time) Talavera campaign. Large and small unit combat, romance, spying and more spice up the story.

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review:
I don't think anyone can ever accuse Adrian Goldsworthy of getting his facts wrong, it would take a brave man to even attempt it. Why? Who is Adrian Goldsworthy? (from Author Bio)
Adrian Keith Goldsworthy is a British historian and author who specialises in ancient Roman history. Goldsworthy attended Westbourne School, Penarth. After studying ancient and modern history at St John's College, Oxford, he completed a D.Phil in ancient military history from Oxford University in 1994, and then used his dissertation as the foundation of his first book, The Roman Army at War 100 BC - AD 200. Goldsworthy was a Junior Research Fellow at Cardiff University for two years, and he has taught briefly at King's College London and was an assistant professor on the University of Notre Dame's London programme for six years.

What i have seen written is that the story can be slow or tired, or overly picky on detail. I personally don't get that. I have enjoyed all three books in this series so far. I really enjoy the likable realistic characters, the camaraderie and the pace of the plot. Put all of this in a time period made mainstream by and dramatic by the fantastic Bernard Cornwell and for me you have a winner of a series. (do not read if you intend to just compare to Sharpe, its not sharpe, its its own series and in its own way as fun action packed and can stand with its head held high.
So come follow Hanley again as he takes a turn in a different war a dirtier war.

Highly recommend this series

(Parm)

The third novel in the series sees new challenges for the men of the 106th Foot, as the British army attempts to recover from the disaster of Corunna and establish a foothold in the Peninsula. Featuring the battles of Medellin and Talavera, the 106th will have their mettle severely tested on the battlefield. But if Napoleon is to be ejected from Spain, war must also be waged in more covert ways. For Hanley, the former artist who is a more natural observer than fighter, the opportunity to become an 'exploring officer' leads him into even more dangerous territory, the murky world of politics and partisans. And while Ensign Williams seeks to uncover the identity of the mysterious 'Heroine of Saragossa', a conspiracy of revenge within the regiment itself threatens to destroy him before he's even faced a shot from the French.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues nicely as the 106th gets blooded in the Battle for Talavera. With too few troops to take on the rest of the French, the battered 106th returns home to regroup, recruit, refit, and recover from their various wounds

[David Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good storey, well wriiten, part of a series about the British Army in the Napoleaonic wars. Well fleshed out characters, historically accurate

[Mark Croxford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Napoleonic action

This book is focused more on the action and less on the "Jane Austen" passages of the previous books in the series.

[D.w. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd of Godlsworthy's well done series on the Peninsular War. Here we see contrast to Cornwells Sharp, where Sharp has always had that little unrealistic friendship of Wellington for that hero. Wellington did not like those promoted from the ranks. Here our hero started as a Gentleman Volunteer, which we see play out as he is wise in his understanding of how to lead, and to think strategically. We saw our man do well on the retreat from Corunna, and here, we see a little liberties taken with the defeat at Medellin, but our lads come through with the campaigning, and intrigues that lead up to Talavera.

With not only the main hero, but Goldsworthy's use of others, we get a rounded contribution from the 106th. We do not need just one man to be leader, spy, and lover all at once. Though we should note for Austenphiles that Wickham, and now Colonel Fitzwilliam are making their ways through the story in a path that Jane may not have wanted to see followed.

For those who like the tales of the Napoleonic Era and wish to see more than just the success we know through Sharp, I recommend this series.

[Tapio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part three of the series following several British officers in the Peninsula War. Like the previous parts, the book poses an irritating dilemma. The historical background and setting is just how I like it, there's an interesting story and the characters are not really boring at all. The story is quite gripping and it's quite a pleasant read, but after finishing it just feels, you know, like a nice book. Nothing special, really. And I just can't quite put my finger on why it doesn't feel better.

One possible answer could be the prose, which is awkward at times. It's slightly difficult to follow events, though the effect is only sporadic and the text mostly flows quite smoothly. It's the only reason I can come up with for why it doesn't feel as good as some other historial fiction. Maybe I'm just becoming more gripey, er, critical with age or something. So, four stars for this, if only because it's the most entertaining book in the series so far and I can't come up with a decent excuse for only giving three stars, though that would be my instinctive grade.

[Birgitta Hoffmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the series, takes a quiet a turn from the other two. Instead of details accounts of a specific part of the Peninsular War, we see the four heroes beginning to make their very different way in the army (sorry any more would be spoiling the story).
I liked the description of Talavera, somehow instead of a heroic battle it turned into the lucky shambles that I always thought it might have been. Much to be recommended.

[S Glenn Krochmal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continued thorough military and political novel on the Iberian Peninsular during the Napoleonic wars.