Redcoat

by Bernard Cornwell

It is autumn 1777, and the cradle of liberty, Philadelphia, has fallen to the British. Yet the true battle has only just begun.

On both sides, loyalties are tested and families torn asunder. The young Redcoat Sam Gilpin has seen his brother die. Now he must choose between duty to a distant king and the call of his own conscience. And for the men and women of the prosperous Becket family, the Revolution brings bitter conflict between those loyal to the crown and those with dreams of liberty.

Soon, across the fields of ice and blood in a place called Valley Forge, history will be rewritten, changing the lives and fortunes of these men and women forever.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, American Revolution, Historical, 18th Century, Military Fiction, American Revolutionary War

485 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Cornwell was born in London in 1944. His father was a Canadian airman, and his mother, who was English, a member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. He was adopted and brought up in Essex by the Wiggins family, who were members of the Peculiar People, a strict Protestant sect who banned frivolity of all kinds and even medicine. After he left them, he changed his name to his birth mother's maiden name, Cornwell.

Cornwell was sent away to Monkton Combe School, attended the University of London, and after graduating, worked as a teacher. He attempted to enlist in the British armed services at least three times but was rejected on the grounds of myopia.

He then joined BBC's Nationwide and was promoted to become head of current affairs at BBC Northern Ireland. He then joined Thames Television as editor of Thames News. He relocated to the United States in 1980 after marrying an American. Unable to get a green card, he started writing novels, as this did not require a work permit.

As a child, Cornwell loved the novels of C.S. Forester, chronicling the adventures of fictional British naval officer Horatio Hornblower during the Napoleonic Wars, and was surprised to find there were no such novels following Lord Wellington's campaign on land. Motivated by the need to support himself in the U.S. through writing, Cornwell decided to write such a series. He named his chief protagonist Richard Sharpe, a rifleman involved in most major battles of the Peninsular War.

Cornwell wanted to start the series with the Siege of Badajoz but decided instead to start with a couple of "warm-up" novels. These were Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold, both published in 1981. Sharpe's Eagle was picked up by a publisher, and Cornwell got a three-book deal. He went on to tell the story of Badajoz in his third Sharpe novel, Sharpe's Company, published in 1982.

Cornwell and wife Judy co-wrote a series of novels, published under the pseudonym "Susannah Kells". These were A Crowning Mercy, published in 1983, Fallen Angels in 1984, and Coat of Arms (aka The Aristocrats) in 1986. (Cornwell's strict Protestant upbringing informed the background of A Crowning Mercy, which took place during the English Civil War.) In 1987, he also published Redcoat, an American Revolutionary War novel set in Philadelphia during its 1777 occupation by the British.

After publishing eight books in his ongoing Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached by a production company interested in adapting them for television. The producers asked him to write a prequel to give them a starting point to the series. They also requested that the story feature a large role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain. The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, published in 1987, and a series of Sharpe television films staring Sean Bean.

A series of contemporary thrillers with sailing as a background and common themes followed: Wildtrack published in 1988, Sea Lord (aka Killer's Wake) in 1989, Crackdown in 1990, Stormchild in 1991, and Scoundrel, a political thriller, in 1992.

In June 2006, Cornwell was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 80th Birthday Honours List.

Cornwell's latest work, Azincourt, was released in the UK in October 2008. The protagonist is an archer who participates in the Battle of Agincourt, another devastating defeat suffered by the French in the Hundred Years War. However, Cornwell has stated that it will not be about Thomas of Hookton from The Grail Quest or any of his relatives.

Reviews

[Maria Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es lo primero que leo de este escritor y me ha gustado mucho; ahora, qué manera de sufrir!

[Corey Woodcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction set during the Revolutionary War in the US with an English soldier as the main character. Excited to check out more by the author!

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Bernard Cornwell book and I was very pleased. I feel he has lived up to my expectations. I thought this book started a little slow but it picked up towards the end. I found myself confused as to which side I really wanted to win. You get to know both sides of the war and how much camaraderie existed between the two sides. Philadelphia was a very divided city and its British occupation could not have been easy. I found characters like Martha very interesting. She was a die-hard patriot and didn't care to hide that from the British officers including the Commander-in-Chief of the British. She knew the Americans would have victory throughout the war. I don't know if I would have had the same tenacity as her given the situation.

One of the most common critiques I have read of Cornwell is his brutality. There are some difficult scenes to read but the hardest part from me was the fact that no character is safe from death. This was a war and in war anyone can die at any time. There were no exceptions made and there were some deaths that caught be by surprise.

I really enjoyed how the characters changed and developed throughout the story. People at the beginning who charm and beguile you will surprise you in the end. At one point it is said war changes you and that is really big theme within this book. War changes you unless you are involved for the right reasons. It is not about gaining honor or glory but for what is right and good. As soon as you lose the real motives behind your actions you can and probably will lose yourself. I guess the real lesson here is to always have the best intentions and don't let false motives cloud your judgement.

This is really good read. The characters are very enjoyable though not compelling. I never felt a huge connection to the characters but I still enjoyed their story. I kept trying to figure out which redcoat the book is named after. you don't find out until the very end but I was very pleased with the character. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a different prospective and learning about an interesting and pivotal time period.

[Jeff Senior · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read lots of Bernard Cornwell books and they're all historical novels based on true events but with a fictional story woven into them. The Sharpe series is largely based around Wellington's various campaigns while The Last Kingdom series covers the Viking invasion of England at the time of King Arthur.
Redcoat deals with the American Revolution against the English occupation, specifically at the time of the capture of Philadelphia. It has the usual theme of heroic characters pitched against seemingly insurmountable odds with great brutality, awful villains and plenty of twists and turns.
Cornwall has a tremendous flair for making his heroes really likeable so we always want them to win and their enemies to come to an awful end, which they invariably do. This is another great read that rattles along at a tremendous pace and comes to a very satisfactory conclusion. Highly recommended.

[Karen Gennari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, I have to emphasize Cornwell's unrivaled mastery of researching and chronicling historical events, whether it be the 14th century or the 19th. He did not disappoint with Redcoat.

For those who prefer the "history" in "historical ficton," you get plenty of it with vivid details of the Revolutionary War and its players, both real and fictitious. Some readers lament that this novel lacks Cornwell's trademark epic battle scenes, espousing every gory detail. Some lament that it is uncharacteristically (for Cornwell) a romance novel. One of the main reasons I liked this Cornwell novel so much was that it was balanced compared to some of his others—not thick with the nauseating barbarity of war but certainly not a soppy love story, either.

I applaud Cornwell's character development here, allowing us to see the war from the perspective of both Americans and British. Redcoat is an entertaining, action-packed narrative and an excellent history lesson.

[John Galt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've become accustomed to a little more action in my books. Redcoat had its flashes of battle--and they were great. It also gave a wonderful sense of humanity to historical figures-John Andre and Charles Lee my favorites, but...I didn't find too much more to it that held my attention. To put it bluntly it was only average, and I won't be giving it a re-read in the future.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this was written before the Sharpe series began, a lot of the themes and characters that would show up there made an appearance here first. The enlisted man plucked from the ranks to become an officer, the horrid sergeant at odds with the hero. Heroes and villains on both sides of the conflict, and of course the fantastic detailed battle scenes that Cornwell excels at.

If you're a fan, this is certainly worth a read, and if you're new to Cornwell's works, you could do worse than start here.

[wayne mcauliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

All his stuff is good.Here`s another one

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking place in Philadelphia during the American Revolution, one of the protagonists, Sam Gilpin, begins the story as a loyal British soldier. Sam questions his loyalty when he befriends a Rebel prisoner, Jonathon Becket then sees his twin brother killed. Jonathon's widowed sister, Martha, a strong-willed Rebel, becomes central to the story of romance, betrayal, and the question " What does Independence really mean?"

Known for his fierce writing of battles, this was a totally new take on Cornwell, at least in my opinion. It was a little slow in the beginning, but it picked up, and I became committed to the characters on both sides of the conflict.

I have been binging on The Sharpe series and thought trying another book of Cromwell's was a good idea. I am glad I did, and I will pick up more. His writing and research remain great, and it was nice to see a softer side of Cromwell. Don't think there is not blood and war here. It is just a bit softer

[Kedavra Mandylion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very fond of this book: it's been a comfort in these last months, when I have been a bit stressed.
The research is first class and there is so much to learn here on how to write detailed battle scenes and fist fights too. Characters are simple but you start to care for them anyway and I was shocked when one of them dies unexpectedly.
The writing is old fashioned, with a lot of telling instead of showing and dramatic short sentences but I liked that; actually it was refreshing.
I love how the historical characters are portrayed. I don't know how Cornwell did it but he got Howe, Andre and Charles Lee right, exactly as I was expecting them.
Some moments are splattery, others are fun, but the battle scenes are what really stood out. The level of historical accuracy amazed me and inspired me to research more.
Fantastic read, I will read Cornwell's other novel set in the Revolutionary War period soon.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't paid much attention to the Philadelphia side of the British occupation. Good reflection of what was happening while Washington and the troops were freezing at Valley Forge.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting with viewpoints from the English!

[Laura Coll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una novela que no tiene muy claro de qué quiere hablar. La Guerra de la Independencia de Estados Unidos está de fondo y solo conocemos el punto de vista de los británicos. La estancia de las tropas británicas en Filadelfia se trata superficialmente, pues aunque se retrata fielmente la actitud pasiva y despreocupada de los británicos, no se habla de las consecuencias de la inactividad militar ni de las enfermedades que sufrieron muchos de los hombres. Los personajes no son interesantes, pues no presentan en realidad un arco de evolución, no se profundiza en ellos ni tienen serios problemas.

Reseña completa:
https://paseandoentrepaginas.blogspot...

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Philadelphia, 1777, the American War of Independence is in full swing. Private Sam Gilpin is plucked from the ranks to become the servant of one of general Howe’s staff officers, leading him into a world of contrasts, lavish social engagements, bitter conflict and betrayal.

If you’ve read Cornwell’s later Sharpe novels you’ll recognise much of the playbook here, foppish officers, cruel sergeants and brutal action.

The pace is a bit variable, sometimes moving swiftly and at others dragging. This also suffers from the curse of many older novels scanned from print to crate an ebook, with too many uncorrected OCR errors.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit that I was hoping for a more "military" novel. The war is mainly seen through discussions between officers, which, let's face it, is much less epic. Instead, the plot revolves around politics, loyalties and a touch of romance.
It is well written, although conventional in its plot, with many interesting historical details and endearing- though stereotypical-characters, but it lacks a certain grandeur to raise it above 3 stars.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a long time to set up and get going, but several good scenes. And a proliferation of exclamation points, for some reason? Interesting take on Philadelphia society during the occupation though. Not my favorite of Cornwell but worth a read.

[Christopher Pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been a huge fan of tricorne hats, but this was a pretty good portrayal of the shifting loyalties on both sides during the Revolutionary War. A little bit long in the middle.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redcoat (1987), an early Bernard Cornwell historical novel, is his ninth book; as of 2019 he has published over 60 historical novels. His mix of excellently-researched history and rip-roaring soap opera has made him among the most widely read and prolific authors. His range, from the Saxon Tale of the 10th century to the Sharpe Saga of the Napoleonic Wars, as well as many other stand-alone novels, draws fans in who, having read some offerings, are ready for more. It's interesting to read this early Cornwell and see how much he has grown over time.

Redcoat is about the British effort to quell the revolution in America, seen largely from a British viewpoint. It begins on September 17, 1777—the day the Second Continental Congress passes the Articles of Confederation in Philadelphia and flees the city along with many pro-American patriots as rumors of the British Army's approach spread.

On the military front, Major-General William Howe, the British Commander-in-Chief for North America, is progressing well in his contest with Washington. Washington has won engagements with other British generals, but Howe has always defeated him. He has driven Washington from New York after the Battle of Long Island (August 27, 1776), forcing him to cross the Hudson River into New Jersey. On December 26, 1776 Washington won the Battle of Trenton, but then on September 11, 1777 he lost at the Battle of Brandywine Creek (September 11, 1777). This left Philadelphia open to the British Army, which will arrive on September 26. By that time many Patriots will have fled the city and the Loyalists will cheer the British arrival. Washington's reputation as a military leader plunges but his standing with the Congress protects him from the "Conway Cabal," an attempt led by Brigadier General Thomas Conway to replace Washington with General Horatio Gates.

Redcoat opens with British Army privates Nate and Sam Gilpin engaged in a local battle after raiding an American encampment. The two are physical twins but have different allegiances: Sam is a Loyalist but Nate's sympathies are with the rebels. Nate wants to desert and join Washington's forces, a thought made compelling by his attachment to a young woman named Maggie "Scammel," who is sympathetic to the Americans but who happens to be the mistress of their harshly efficient Sergeant Michael Scammel, under whom both Sam and Nate serve. Sam wants to prevent Nate's desertion—deserters are given 1,000 lashes, a sentence of death that will leave their corpses reduced to strips of hanging flesh, but Maggie wants to be rid of Sgt. Scammel.

The scene shifts to the family of Abel Becket in Philadelphia. The rebels have blocked the Delaware River and stopped Philadelphia's normal trade by sea, so Becket's trade of late has been with the American rebels even though, like the majority of Philadelphians, Becket is a Loyalist at heart. His young nephew, Jonathan Becket, a Patriot at heart, is a bright and energetic near-cripple with a club foot who will inherit a portion of the business when he turns 21, the remainder at Abel's death. Jonathan now works under Ezra Woollard, the operation's foreman. Both Jonathan and Woollard are enamored of Caroline Fisher, an American sympathizer: Woollard has asked her to marry him and been refused; Jonathan hopes to rise to a position where he can ask her.

To his uncle's horror, Jonathan joins the Continental Army after Caroline promises to wait for him. He will meet the Redcoats Sam and Nate Gilpin at the Battle of Germantown, a British victory in dense fog that Cornwell describes in his typically thorough way. Sam has become aide-de-camp to British Captain Christopher Vane, Sir William Howe's aide-de-camp. Captain Vane will become the evil in the British soul as he wiggles his way to power.

At the end of the battle Nate deserts the British Army to be with Maggie, a decision that leads to his death at the hands of Sergeant Scammel. In the same battle Jonathan Becket is badly wounded with a musket ball in the leg. The scene turns to British-occupied Philadelphia. Jonathan has been returned to Philadelphia as a British prisoner. He is teetering on the edge of death after removal of a severely gangrenous leg, and has been released from the prison hospital to be tended by his sister, Martha Crowl. Martha is a wealthy widow and an outspoken Patriot. She has a sense of humor, describing her deceased husband as,

A man considerate enough to die early so that Martha, at twenty-six, was a widow of fortune.

Jonathan's health has slowly improved under Martha's care, but Uncle Abel has forced Martha to release Jonathan into his care, not out of concern about Jonathan's health, just the opposite: if Jonathan dies before his 21st birthday the portion of the Becket business that he would inherit at reaching majority remains under Abel's control. If Jonathan is under Abel's eagle eye, the odds in favor of Jonathan's death can be increased.

This family feud in Philadelphia is overshadowed by a failed British attempt in the Battle of Red banks to capture two rebel forts (Mercer and Mifflin) in the Delaware River that prevent British ships from traveling up the river. This dismal failure is the result of Howe's loose lips: he told several people, including his mistress—the vivacious American, Mrs. Elizabeth Loring—when the attack would occur. So now there is a mole in Sir William Howe's office, and it is Sir William Howe.

Eventually the two forts are captured and British traffic on the river resumes, allowing the arrival of necessary supplies and reinforcement of British troops. Still, war news doesn't comfort Sir William Howe. In spite of victories in his theater, Boston he had abandoned Boston and his control of New York City is weakened by the need diverted troops to the Philadelphia and New Jersey campaigns. The latest blow is that after General John Burgoyne's attack from Quebec and capture of Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain, on October 17, 1777 Burgoyne was soundly defeated at Saratoga; almost 6,000 British soldiers—20 percent of British troops in North America—were captured. This major setback encouraged the French to enter the war on America's side.

Howe is well aware that this is an unwinnable war—Britain will provide only 30,000 troops for the North American campaign. He estimates that if he had 100,000 he might be able to contain the rebels, but never to defeat them. The only outcome is a long and painful stalemate that the King and Parliament will eventually abandon. Howe resigns his position, the resignation is accepted, and Major General Henry Clinton is designated to replace him.

Meanwhile, a subterranean story of love and loss i Philadelphia emerges. Martha Cowl nurses brother Jonathan back to health, though he does lose his right leg, but in doing so she ignites the anger of Uncle Abel and the vengeance of Captain Christopher Vane, whose romantic intentions she rejects. Sam Gilpin falls in love with Caroline Fisher, a woman whose trade is caring supplies and messages across the Delaware River; Caroline was pledged to Jonathan Becket, but that obstacle will be removed. Captain Vane teams up with the always-vicious Sergeant Scammel to punish Sam Gilpin and Martha Cowl. In short, the characters declare war on each other just as England and America had done. The good guys will win in both cases.

This is not the best of Cornwell's diverse offerings. It's strength is in the historical setting and the knowledge Cornwell passes on about the American Revolution. The contribution to soap opera is, well, meh.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This early stand-alone novel from Bernard Cornwell has been criticised by his fans for two things. The first is the swearing, with plentiful use of the ‘f’ word found nowhere else in Cornwell’s writing. As Cornwell says, this is real life and the word WAS said, so I don’t see the problem!

The second problem with this book is a more serious one and it involves the lack of a decent character whom you can cheer on. Sam Gilpin is a clear Sharpe derivative, a country boy enlisted up to the army, but he’s not a particularly sympathetic character by any means. The romance between him and a female character is realistically handled but doesn’t help him to gain our respect in any way; he’s just a self-motivated youngster with passion on his mind.

The real hero of the book seems to be Christopher Vane, introduced as a brave, loyal man but he undergoes a character arc that turns him into a ruthless villain by the novel’s close. The problem is, Vane is actually right in most of the things he says and does, and I do realise that Cornwell was showing how power corrupts. But you still end up rooting for this guy and it’s a shame he turned into a stock villain by the book’s closing pages.

In all other respects, this is as well-handled as any other book by the author. The big picture, while complex, is explained in eminently understandable terms, and the small picture – all the book’s characters interacting – is portrayed particularly efficiently. Cornwell paints an intriguing portrait of a city under siege from the British, and the good news is that things aren’t shown in purely black-and-white terms; for instance, there are friends and foes on both sides of the US/English divide. All in all this is a strong, well-written and perfectly readable book that really helps to explain the lives and politics behind the American War of Independence.

[Nicki Elson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction is how I prefer to get my history, and Cornwell does a great job of working in the minute details of the time and place to make that piece of history come alive for me.

Did you know that it was considered a luxury to have dentures that were crafted from teeth yanked from the heads of soldiers who died on the battlefield? Cornwell's detailing gets delightfully nasty like that without going overboard, just enough to make me cringe and put me in the rawness of the period. He also tosses in sublte touches of humor and romace without getting the least bit gushy about it.

This paticular story has lots of main players, and their stories are nicely woven together. There's one in particular that has me intrigued---he's bad, but he's also got potential for greatness. That kind of depth of character is what keeps me turning the pages of any book.

One thing that chuffs me about Cornwell's stories---I've noted it in other books I've read by him as well---is that the female love interests can't just be plain or regular pretty, they're all bestowed with astounding physical beauty that nears perfection. Martha would've made a kickass heroine no matter what she looked like.

[Viva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead:

Despite being a big fan of Cornwell's books, this is a dnf for me. That's because it contains a few of my pet peeves. One of them is elements of conflict/villains: Cornwell likes to provide a big hole for his characters to dig out of or dastardly enemies for his characters to defeat. As I feel for the protagonist, I hate the feeling of getting framed or being beaten up metaphorically and literally. More than that, it makes the plot predictable and cookie cutter. Great writers like CS Forester are able to write great stories without these plot devices.

Lots of POV. I hate switching points of view from one to another, and to another. That's because I'm vested in one story line, then the book switches to another, then to another. It's like reading several books at once. And in this case there are at least 3: the Gilpins, Vane and the Beckets. I already know something bad is going happen to Nate Gilpin and Jonathon Becket before they succeed because that's the way Cornwell writes. Or one of them gets killed.

I already didn't like Jonathon's antagonists and when there was a never ending chapter on them scheming, I decided to dnf.

[John Reas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Cornwell for years, and this fictional account of the events occurring during the British occupation of the city of Philadelphia in 1777 during the American Revolution didn't let me down. It's fast paced, and interspersed with the historical events that transpired that over that winter that I wasn't aware of, such as the extent that the British Commander-in-Chief,William Howe,tried to bring a lasting peace to the colonies while fighting a rebellion, with a love triangle involving a private in the British army, a Patriot woman and a Philadelphian merchant.
The story begins as the British defeat Washington at Germantown prior to entering the city, and ends with Howe transferring command to Clinton the following spring. Well written and researched, this is pleasant reading for the historical enthusiast.

[Gerald Matzke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Bernard Cornwall was a bit different from many of his novels that take place during a war. This is his first to take place during the American Revolution. Rather than depicting great battles, this story explores the complicated relationships that resulted from the British capturing Philadelphia. It’s over-arching theme is how love can be the ultimate motivation in ones decision making. That element of war was not part of our history classes.
If the measure of a good novel is how it draws the reader to want to find out what happens next, this book deserves five stars. There are many surprises and that makes you want to read on to see how the main character is able to persevere. That is typical of Cornwell’s novels. I look forward to the next one on my list.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific historical fiction from one of the masters of the genre. Cornwell blends humor, passion, and fear with this tale of the Revolutionary war. As it takes place in Philadelphia, many of the areas were very familiar to me. one thing I like about Cornwell is that often, he shows me the opposite side of what my usual perspective is on a number of different historical scenes. from Agincourt to Manassas, to Germantown, he shows me the British, or Condfederate, or French perspective. Fascinating stuff. Great characters and a thrilling ending. In Sargent Scammell, he has created a fearsome character as Obediah Hakeswill. and that's saying something! My only misgiving is that I want a sequel.

[sarg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished "Redcoat" by Benard Cornwell gave it 5stars. I like Cornwell's writing and he is true to history. This is during 1777 while the British controlled the Rebels Capitol of Philadelphia. If you liked "Turn" the series on AMC about the American spies during the revolutionary war, you will like this book.

[Patty Abrams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned more about the war and enjoyed the characters.

[Clay Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best historical fiction books about the American Revolution.

[Chris Haught · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. Please don't hide me.

[Peter Dickinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have read other Cornwell books you will know that he likes to write about roguish heroes, dynamic damsels, irredeemable villains, thrilling adventures full of zero sum games, and brutal historic battles. And you will know he is good at what he sets out to do. Redcoat differs from the usual Cornwell recipe. The book is set during the American war of independence and focuses on the siege of Philadelphia. The rebel forces under the leadership of Mister Washington exist only as shapes in the mists that have trapped and isolated the British by checking every manoeuvre they make out of the city. The book focuses on the British occupiers/liberators of the city and the Philadelphian residents; both loyal and rebel. The protagonist (Sam Gilpin) is not the primary focus of the story; the book is told through numerous voices. He also is not the primary agent of change or the force that drives the narrative along. Rather, Sam reacts to what is going on about him and although noble, despite an act of appalling cowardice at the beginning of the story, is therefore not a typical hero at all. I enjoyed that aspect of the book. Sam felt like a real Redcoat rather than an action-avatar. However, the strongest characters in the story are female and Redcoat is worth reading just for the rebel-supporting Martha alone. The book ends quite quickly and one of the secondary characters is disposed off a little too conveniently in order to set up the ending which was disappointing as he was a good character and seemed to be just getting started when he dies. Overall, Redcoat is worth reading for the drama between the differing ideologies of the rebels and the loyalists and the descriptions of the British behaviour during war when a good party seemed to be more important than feeding the city or winning battles. And being that it is a Cornwell book, I have no doubt that these events are historically accurate.

[Coffeecups · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.65 stars
I really did enjoy my time with this. I thought the last quarter of the story was a bit... drawn out and the wording grew increasingly repetitive. I don't think we needed as much time spent in the moments-long fight between Sam and Scammel in the church! Even though it was important to the action, it felt so wordy and needlessly descriptive of the blow-by-blow-ridiculous fighting. (I say ridiculous because it does seem extremely unlikely for Sam to have really made it out alive and as able-bodied as he was from the encounter. Not a fan of the love triangle, nor of the cliché of "love will set you free"/"fight for your love"/"love finds a way". Caroline and Martha felt rather out-of-place to me: their characters were So Important and quickly beloved yet felt so very thin as characters go. I know part of that has to do with how women were viewed at the time yet I can't help but be frustrated at how they stick out to me as being so dear to the action when there's not much to support it (in my view, not I'm not taking argument on it. There's lots I feel about it but just can't word out into a review). I thought overall the writing quality decreased as the book wore on, which is a real hit to my rating. I quite enjoy American Revolutionary/Founding era work, I've not often ventured into the historical fiction side of it though I think this was a fine start that ended up being too populist for me. I didn't want a cliché love story, I wanted... something more meaty and less fantastical. My mistake! I don't think this will deter me from picking up at least one more Cornwell piece in the future, though it has informed me of things to be wary of in his writing.