Words of Command

Matthew Hervey #12

by Allan Mallinson

Once again, THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson captivates readers with an eminently readable piece of historical fiction. If you're a fan of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, you'll love this.'The Matthew Hervey books have a way of getting under your skin...reveals a man who is very much of his time -and one to have beside you when riding into action.' - DAILY MAIL'One for the fans, who will not be disappointed by Mallinson's winning combination of scrupulous research and derring-do...with the French in front and the Russians behind, Hervey's your man.' - THE TIMES'Leaves the reader slavering for the next instalment.' -- ***** Reader review'This is historical fiction at its very best.' -- ***** Reader review'Such a pleasure to read a well written, well edited, well researched, readable piece of historical fiction.' -- ***** Reader review******************************************************************January 1830, and one of the hardest winters in memory...The prime minister, the Iron Duke, is resisting growing calls for parliamentary reform, provoking scenes of violent unrest in the countryside.Against this inflammable backdrop Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Hervey, recently returned from an assignment in the Balkans, takes command of his regiment, the 6th Light Dragoons. His fears that things might be a little dull are quickly dispelled by the everyday business of vexatious officers, NCOs promotions and incendiarists on the doorstep of the King himself.But it's when the Sixth are sent to Brussels for the fifteenth anniversary celebrations of the battle of Waterloo and find themselves caught up in the Belgian uprising against Dutch rule that the excitement really starts.Will Hervey be able to keep out of the fighting - a war that would lead, nearly a century later, to Britain's involvement in an altogether different war - while safeguarding his country's interests? Not likely!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

403 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 12, 2015

About the author

Brigadier Allan Lawrence Mallinson is an English author and was an officer in the British Army.

Mallinson is best known for writing a series of novels chronicling the (fictional) life of Matthew Hervey, an officer serving in the (fictional) British 6th Light Dragoons from the late Napoleonic Wars through subsequent colonial conflicts in India, North America and south Africa.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This hugely fascinating book is the 12th instalment of the wonderful Matthew Hervey series.
As ever the book is filled with beautifully explained military details as well as wonderfully documented historical details and a picture-map, see inside cover about the new Barracks on Hounslow Heath in 1803.
The storytelling is as always very immaculate, mainly due to the fact of the author's military background and his capability to deliver us a story which is full with military prowess and vigour.
The tale is set in the year AD 1830 and again this tale is brought to us in a most remarkable fahion.
The story is about Matthew Hervey and his Regiment, the 6th Light Dragoons, who are sent to quell the violent unrest when they are starting to break out in the countryside and later they have to deal with the problems which are mounting on the doorstep of the King himself.
Also but again some time later Hervey and his men have to deal with the trouble that starts to develop in an Belgian uprising against Dutch rule during the celebrations of the 15th Anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, where they have to try to stay out of this conflict with all their might while safeguarding their country's interests.
Very much recommended, for this is a most remarkable and fascinating book, and therefore it deserves all these "Words of Praise"!

[Colin Mitchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Latest in the Matthew Hervey series about his life in the 6th Light Dragoons. He has now become the commanding officer but is beset with matrimonial issues and the influences of his lover Kat. Life in England was mundane broken only by the increasing issues nationally regarding reforms and the plight of the workers. The first two-thirds of the book was quite hard going as there was little action for the regiment and the writing is overly oppressed with biblical and poetic references not to mention the Latin quotations. In the last third, the pace increases with action in and around Brussels as revolutionary zeal takes hold. The series is beginning to creak.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last book in the Matthew Hervey series. I'm guessing Mallinson didn't think of this as the finale because there are too many loose ends left, but to the best of my knowledge no more have been written. This book touches lots of bases, but in the end it's just a compilation of various minor events. Maybe Mallinson just ran out of steam and ideas. Summing up Hervey the man, he was a great soldier--brave, dedicated, and resourceful. As a human being, he was surprisingly deficient. His treatment of his family, particularly his daughter, was deplorable; his interactions with women after the death of his beloved wife were inexplicably senseless. Too bad. Guess we'll never know how it all would have come out.

[David Findlay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a Christmas present - it took me this long to get going on it - that should tell you something.
Maybe if I had come to this series earlier I might have cared more about the characters, but I just didn't. The main character bored me silly and the people surrounding him - from the h-dropping but so clever lance corporal to the token black person with the 'wisdom' of the plantation - offended me.
Lovers of the diminutae of 19th century British Army life will love it, but I just felt it was Sharp for the nobs.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

(10) c2015. I had been wanting to read one of Mr Mallinson's books in the Hervey series for some time. It probably wasn't the best one to pick up but it did illustrate that you do not have to have read the previous 11 books to make sense of this one. It is all very Bulldog British and Jane Austen english - which feels slightly pretentious but the underlying story was ok - not that there was any major reason for the novel (IMO) other than to heap a few more rewards onto the main character and to complicate the love life. Cautiously recommended to the normal crew.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is great and includes numerous Jane Austen allusions which is delightful, but the audio book producers changed narrators from the guy that narrated the first eleven books. The new guy just is not as good.

[Dean David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Chris Purser · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be quite a slow read with very little action but it did cover what an officer in the army does from day to day.

[Michelle Ohara]

!

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way it weaves in things that were happening at the time, a Jane Austen Novel, Belgium and the colours of the uniform. I had read this in isolation but will go to Hervey 1

[Johnsteph51 Yahoocouk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written but hard work and a slow read it gives a good and precise description of life in the army during the period but lacks the action of previous Matthew Hervey stories

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I served with the regiment that Allen Mallinson command so I may be biased in my views.
The book is not an easy read but it justifies perseverance and reveals to the reader the world of the early 19th century military.
The author uses the language of that period which definitely at to the "atmosphere" of the read but it is not easy and takes time to adapt to.
This is a history book but fiction at the same time.
It is evident that the author has done extensive research and really knows his subject plus he can write a great story full of wonderful characters in an equally good story.
I hope there are more books to come.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

While there wasn’t a huge amount of action, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The process of commanding a regiment of dragoons, and the responsibilities of it’s colonel which very interesting. I found myself turning the pages to learn what would happen next.

Interlaced with the soldiering, are machinations of his marriage, sister, parents, daughter, and other female acquaintances. In many ways it is a shame that the author doesn’t spend some more time moving these forward.

Overall a good read, which I enjoyed immensely.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

By this stage in the series, the hero, Matthew Hervey, has done a lot of growing up. At last he fulfills his dream of becoming Lt. Colonel of his beloved regiment, the 6th Light Dragoons, which, perhaps needless to say, he has achieved on merit. In these books virtue is usually rewarded, but more often that not there is a serious delay along the way.

Of course, all is not plain sailing. His regiment has an assortment of issues to set right, and his second marriage is a mess. His wife's behaviour seems to baffle him. (I venture to say that all but the most straightforward women are too much for him to deal with.) Where I would ask what the **** was wrong, Hervey goes for withdrawal, leaving her alone in the country. Wrong tactics Colonel, you won't win a victory that way!

The novel ends with Hervey doing his country yet another service. If you had the misfortune to be in a trench, Hervey is just the man you would want next to you. Not only cool headed, but with great courage, not least when it comes to making difficult decisions.

Readers from nations with a less reserved nature than the English may find Hervey a little stiff at times. I don't think that's a fault of the writing, it's more likely an accurate representation of what an officer of this era would be like in real life.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed every one of the Matthew Hervey novels by Allan Mallinson and this latest episode, which brings Hervey into command of his regiment, lifts the series to a new level, in my opinion. The dialogue and descriptive prose place you right there in the room and on the battlefield. I now number Allan Mallinson among my favourite authors of historical military fiction and eagerly await the next chapter in the career of Colonel Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light dragoons. Excellent!

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two quibbles: first a problem common with most of the Hervey novels is that occasionally they appear contrived; Hervey just happens to be somewhere when this happens and then someone happens to watch it. There are just one too many coincidences to be entirely convincing. Secondly, occasionally it edges towards the tedious with overlong dialogue about nothing in particular. That said, this is worth reading. Mallinson doesn't need great clashes of arms to produce tense situations.

[Aaron Bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love the Hervey series, I must say I was a bit disappointed in this one. There wasn't the usual amount of action for which Mallinson fantastically writes, and none of the back stories progressed at all. I'll continue to read the series as it comes out, but I hope the next one "kicks the can a little further down the road" with regard to his personal life. This one was a bit flat for me.