Attack on the Redan

Sergeant Jack Crossman #5

by Garry Kilworth

Sergeant 'Fancy Jack' Crossman and his final battle in the Crimean War The year is 1855 and the port of Sebastopol is still being besieged by the allies but defended vigorously by the Russians. This is of no consequence to Jack Crossman and his hardy band of brothers as they constantly breach the defences and enter the city to carry out some discreet British business. Russian sharpshooters mysteriously disappear as Crossman and his men strive to make a dent in Russian morale. But these foxhunts serve merely as a warmup to the British attack on the Redan, a fortification guarding Sebastopol. The British attack, when it does come, is ill planned and ill advised and ends in total disaster and Crossman is forced to bear witness to the wholesale massacre of his fellow soldiers - and only survives himself at great personal loss.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical

282 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2003

About the author

Garry Douglas Kilworth is a historical novelist who also published sci-fi, fantasy, and juvenile fiction.

Kilworth is a graduate of King's College London. He was previously a science fiction author, having published one hundred twenty short stories and seventy novels.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book in 2005, and its the 5th volume of the delightful "Fancy Jack" Crossman series.

Its now AD 1855, and the port of Sebastopol is under siege by the British and its allies, with the Russians putting up a vigorous defence.

Jack Crossman and his men are sent once again on a "Fox Hunt" to infiltrate and destroy Russian sharpshooters, and when those Russians are mysteriously gone, the attack on the Redan can begin.

When that attack comes, its ill advised and poorly executed, ending thus in total disaster, and Jack Crossman witnessing this destruction and killing of his fellow soldiers.

After some months British are succeeding by foiling a massive Russian attack, before later on the final assault on the Redan is repulsed, and Sebastopol is abandoned and left to the British and its allies.

With the Crimean now over, we will see Jack Crossman next in India, and over there he will get into more cases of espionage and sabotage, and so make a name for himself.

Very much recommended, for this is another exciting addition to this delightful series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Very Engrossing Redan Attack"!

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than the previous novel.

I really enjoy the story of Fancy Jack Crossman. The historical-based stories in the Crimea war, are so interesting. The characters are great in the story, Wynter, Peterson and Major Lovelace.
This felt like one story not a mix of short stories like last time. I look forward to reading the next adventures of Fancy Jack in India.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the same as the previous novel - all substance but no plot. It seems to be just a rambling of a persons life during wartime. Interesting on the war but not for a novel. Could have been a lot better

[Stephen Fleet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and entertaining read the large print version of it so didn’t need my glasses. Lol.

[Mark Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in the series with some major plot twists plus it's the last in the crimea

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good book in line with the previous stories in the series, but occasionally, for me, it felt like a collection of short stories sooner than a complete novel.

[Sho · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up on tales of the Peninsular War and the Crimean War - coming from a military family, and having a dad in the Household Cavalry will do that to a person - and have always loved reading about those things.

So Jack Crossman is a kind of Anti-Richard-Sharpe in that he is the (illegitimate) son of a Scottish baronet who joined the army as a private although in the books he's already a sergeant. He's a snob, which is great because it means he's a non-perfect main protagonist, which I love.

There is the usual to and fro of Crossman's life, the same characters from previous books are around and there are some bloody battles. And a camel.

Thoroughly enjoyable read, although to be honest except for Jack most of the characters are pretty two dimensional.