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Starbuck Chronicles #3
Bandera de batalla (III): Crónicas de Starbuck
La batalla épica por el control de la capital confederada continúa durante el caluroso verano de 1862. Tras haber destacado en Cedar Moutain, la carrera de capitán confederado Nate Starbuck, yanqui norteño que lucha por la causa rebelde de sur, se ve amenazada una vez más. Consciente de que tiene que sobrevivir y ganar la batalla, no sólo debe liderar a su harapienta compañía en la amarga lucha contra el formidale ejército del norte, sino también contra sus propios superiores, a quienes no les gustaría nada más que verlo muerto. Porque la sospecha y la hostilidad de su comandante de brigada, el general Washington Faulconer, es más evidente que nunca. El resultado de la contienda, la sangrienta y espantosa segunda batalla de Manassas, va a cambiar drásticamente la fortuna de ambos hombres... Evocador e históricamente preciso, Bernard Cornwell continúa con Bandera de batalla la impresionante serie de aventuras de Natan Starbuck en algunos de los campos de batalla más decisivos de la guerra civil estadounidense. Los títulos anteriores de la serie son Rebelde y Copperhead.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
298 people are currently reading
1911 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Cornwell
536 books19.1k followersCornwell 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.
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.
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May 19, 2020
Book 3 of the Nat Starbuck series first published 1995.
These books chronicle the life and times of Nathaniel Starbuck during the American Civil War. Nat is a young man who hales from the north but finds himself fighting for the south. Nat’s father is a renowned preacher and abolitionist and man who hates his son as a Godless turncoat. A large part of why Nat is fighting for the south was a need to escape his fathers pontificating, overbearing attitude to life.
Nat now finds himself an officer in the Confederate Army and is about to be thrown into the blood bath that was Bull Run.
On just about every front Nat finds himself up shit creek without a paddle. Hated by the north and viewed with suspicion by his adopted southern comrades. Nat has to battle to prove he is committed to the south and, given half a chance, prove he is a good officer able to turn his men into a company that will be feared by the north.
This is history at its brutal worst with a good dose of fiction to keep you on your toes just in case the gore of the battlefield is not enough.
As usual Bernard Cornwell manages to illuminate and entertain.
A recommended 4 star read for anyone, even remotely, interested in the history of the American Civil War.
These books chronicle the life and times of Nathaniel Starbuck during the American Civil War. Nat is a young man who hales from the north but finds himself fighting for the south. Nat’s father is a renowned preacher and abolitionist and man who hates his son as a Godless turncoat. A large part of why Nat is fighting for the south was a need to escape his fathers pontificating, overbearing attitude to life.
Nat now finds himself an officer in the Confederate Army and is about to be thrown into the blood bath that was Bull Run.
On just about every front Nat finds himself up shit creek without a paddle. Hated by the north and viewed with suspicion by his adopted southern comrades. Nat has to battle to prove he is committed to the south and, given half a chance, prove he is a good officer able to turn his men into a company that will be feared by the north.
This is history at its brutal worst with a good dose of fiction to keep you on your toes just in case the gore of the battlefield is not enough.
As usual Bernard Cornwell manages to illuminate and entertain.
A recommended 4 star read for anyone, even remotely, interested in the history of the American Civil War.
October 6, 2021
Read this book in 2005, and its the 3rd episode of the Nathaniel Starbuck chronicles, from the author, Bernard Cornwell.
Again the historical details are superbly interwoven within this great gripping story about the American Civil War, which is now set during the Summer of the year Ad 1862.
This tale is mainly about the determination for the control of the Confederate Capitol, Richmond, whether from the view from the South in defending it against the North, or whether from the North's point of view into capturing it from the South.
Our main protagonist, a Yankee in the service for the Southern cause, must not only fight the formidable forces of the North but also from his own Southern superiors who want him more dead than alive in their midst.
The conclusion of this marvellous book will be fought at the great Battle of Manassas, where many soldiers from both sides will lose their lives, brothers and friends, and after this ferocious battle for freedom and for each righteous beliefs, Nathaniel Starbuck will need to think how to proceed further in this torn land of North versus South.
Highly recommended, for this is an amazing third part of this ever getting better series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Most Spectacular Battle Flag"!
Again the historical details are superbly interwoven within this great gripping story about the American Civil War, which is now set during the Summer of the year Ad 1862.
This tale is mainly about the determination for the control of the Confederate Capitol, Richmond, whether from the view from the South in defending it against the North, or whether from the North's point of view into capturing it from the South.
Our main protagonist, a Yankee in the service for the Southern cause, must not only fight the formidable forces of the North but also from his own Southern superiors who want him more dead than alive in their midst.
The conclusion of this marvellous book will be fought at the great Battle of Manassas, where many soldiers from both sides will lose their lives, brothers and friends, and after this ferocious battle for freedom and for each righteous beliefs, Nathaniel Starbuck will need to think how to proceed further in this torn land of North versus South.
Highly recommended, for this is an amazing third part of this ever getting better series, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Most Spectacular Battle Flag"!
August 1, 2018
The best one in the series so far. The plot moved at a brisk pace, and the battle scenes were well depicted. We've finally moved away from setting the stage and getting to know the characters and can get the story of the US Civil War moving along.
May 10, 2016
A great account of this fictional history story of Stonewall Jackson's victories. Based on true events the day to day events wrote in makes a very good read
April 22, 2021
Battle flag Bernard Cornwell, Summer 1862 details fictional Captain Nathaniel Starbuck his battles and skirmishes during the campaign of second Manassas, theres alot going on follows on from Copperhead this is gritty and has a segment of confused night attacks and then all the rest, imagine that "what the hell is going on who just shot at me" especially in these darkness scraps. Starbuck father is in Union army and seems bit of a crazy guy, Starbuck is from the north, and why is Starbuck fighting for the Southern Confederates seems he followed a girl, that somehow just kind of doesn't sound right, must be follow up stories expanding this disaster train, but what do I know, probably plenty of soldiers that did it. Well Cornwell breathes life into dusty old war stories wouldn't imagine it's that far of the mark of what happened, but at the end of the book he says what he missed out. Just as good as Sharpes rifles series but still prefer Napoleonic like "mostly" any other day over American Civil war, got the book for 2 dollars from hospice shop so I didn't steal it.
August 2, 2020
I thought this was the best Starbuck novel since the first one. Starbuck is on the rise again, and he’s rising within the legion this time, which makes this much more of a military adventure than the last one. An interesting battle (Second Mannassas) and some unexpected character moments means that we get more than the usual level of entertainment. We also get some deeply personal interactions between Starbuck and his father, of all people, down to help with the great Union victory.
It’s also got an interesting joint viewpoint with Adam Faulconer now openly on the Union side. I feel like any novel set in the Civil War benefits from having a dual viewpoint like this, even if one is decidedly secondary in nature. It helps that the comparison is vastly different in terms of personal journey as well as ideology. As Starbuck discovers his calling and natural leadership ability, Adam discovers the limits of idealism and his inability to stir up the right results. Such contrasts are good and keep the story fresh.
It’s also got an interesting joint viewpoint with Adam Faulconer now openly on the Union side. I feel like any novel set in the Civil War benefits from having a dual viewpoint like this, even if one is decidedly secondary in nature. It helps that the comparison is vastly different in terms of personal journey as well as ideology. As Starbuck discovers his calling and natural leadership ability, Adam discovers the limits of idealism and his inability to stir up the right results. Such contrasts are good and keep the story fresh.
July 18, 2018
This 3rd novel in his Civil War series is a great read! The confusion of war, the petty egos of commanding officers, the mean & backstabbing jealousies of the men in ranks is well portrayed on both sides of the war. Both Nate and Adam are battered and torn after the Battle of Manassas!
March 24, 2023
Bandera de batalla, tercer volumen de las Crónicas de Starbuck, sigue las peripecias del nordista convertido en rebelde allí donde acabaron en Copperhead. Nate Starbuck seguirá necesitando demostrar más que nadie, su valor, su entrega y su compromiso hacia los colores confederados, donde todo y lo demostrado, muchos siguen poniendo en duda su compromiso por el hecho de ser un hijo de Boston.
Si en el segundo volumen se quería reflejar como funcionaba el espionaje en ambos bandos, como había traidores por todas partes, así como se urdían artimañas para engañar al rival, en Bandera de Batalla el tema subyacente será el de aquellos que participan en la guerra pero intentan no entrar en batalla y no participar en el conflicto ya sea por cobardía o por intentar sacar algún provecho de ella mientras los otros luchan, son heridos o mueren.
A diferencia de las dos anteriores entregas, en ésta la acción sucede durante pocos días y sólo centrada en el campo de batalla. Solo veremos batallas y largas y duras marchas. Por el bando rebelde el foco seguirá puesto en el protagonista y miembros de la Legión Faulconer, y en el bando del norte utilizará tanto personajes de ficción, unos sudistas pasados al bando del norte, como también de los mandos militares, personajes históricos donde el autor vuelve a centrarse en la ineficacia, indolencia, ego y la falta de modestia que causaron que la guerra durara durante años y hubiera tantos cambios de líderes militares.
Pero entre todos estos personajes sobresale el padre del protagonista, que hasta el momento sólo lo habíamos podido conocer a través de los comentarios de su hijo y una pequeña aparición en Boston. Furibundo pastor abolicionista que de su boca solo salen sentencias terroríficas ( y que se merecen un apartado especial en la sección de citas), que vive contrariado por la pasividad de los mandos nordistas y que en la mayoría de ocasiones demuestra bien poca piedad cristiana con tal de que se consigan los objetivos que él persigue, abolir la esclavitud como estamento, pero sin ningún compromiso por lo que sucede después con los esclavos. Seguramente es el mejor personaje de los tres libros, de esos personajes que incluso merecerían un libro propio y que en este caso consigue aguantar la narrativa de esta tercera parte.
Porque si algo falla en esta tercera partes es el hecho que muchos de los secundarios hasta ahora conocidos y que daban juego a la historia desaparecen, como es el hecho de toda las tramas que se habían vivido en la capital rebelde. El contraste entre la vida en la milicia y la vida en la ciudad era un contrapunto excelente que daba aire a la historia. En este volumen, a parte del mencionado pastor, aparecen menos secundarios, sus historias siempre están rodeando el campo de batalla, a parte de las historias que ya vienen de la propia trama, que convierte esta lectura en algo más pesada, no tan fluida y a veces un poco repetitiva.
Las batallas, excelentemente narradas, no ofrecen otra posibilidad de que extensos campos, granjas alejadas unas de otras, así como densos bosques que dificultan la batalla, lo que en algunos momentos convierte la narrativa en repetitiva. El hecho que desaparezca la trama de Richmond le hace perder frescura, así como el cíclico enfrentamiento del protagonista con aquellos que duda de él.
Una buena historia, pero que dentro de una saga produce el efecto de que esta va perdiendo fuerza, por la perdida de “decorados”, por el poco progreso de la historia y por el hecho de no aprovechar la durada del conflicto para progresar más rápido en el tiempo y buscar nuevos contextos para hacer crecer la trama.
Si en el segundo volumen se quería reflejar como funcionaba el espionaje en ambos bandos, como había traidores por todas partes, así como se urdían artimañas para engañar al rival, en Bandera de Batalla el tema subyacente será el de aquellos que participan en la guerra pero intentan no entrar en batalla y no participar en el conflicto ya sea por cobardía o por intentar sacar algún provecho de ella mientras los otros luchan, son heridos o mueren.
A diferencia de las dos anteriores entregas, en ésta la acción sucede durante pocos días y sólo centrada en el campo de batalla. Solo veremos batallas y largas y duras marchas. Por el bando rebelde el foco seguirá puesto en el protagonista y miembros de la Legión Faulconer, y en el bando del norte utilizará tanto personajes de ficción, unos sudistas pasados al bando del norte, como también de los mandos militares, personajes históricos donde el autor vuelve a centrarse en la ineficacia, indolencia, ego y la falta de modestia que causaron que la guerra durara durante años y hubiera tantos cambios de líderes militares.
Pero entre todos estos personajes sobresale el padre del protagonista, que hasta el momento sólo lo habíamos podido conocer a través de los comentarios de su hijo y una pequeña aparición en Boston. Furibundo pastor abolicionista que de su boca solo salen sentencias terroríficas ( y que se merecen un apartado especial en la sección de citas), que vive contrariado por la pasividad de los mandos nordistas y que en la mayoría de ocasiones demuestra bien poca piedad cristiana con tal de que se consigan los objetivos que él persigue, abolir la esclavitud como estamento, pero sin ningún compromiso por lo que sucede después con los esclavos. Seguramente es el mejor personaje de los tres libros, de esos personajes que incluso merecerían un libro propio y que en este caso consigue aguantar la narrativa de esta tercera parte.
Porque si algo falla en esta tercera partes es el hecho que muchos de los secundarios hasta ahora conocidos y que daban juego a la historia desaparecen, como es el hecho de toda las tramas que se habían vivido en la capital rebelde. El contraste entre la vida en la milicia y la vida en la ciudad era un contrapunto excelente que daba aire a la historia. En este volumen, a parte del mencionado pastor, aparecen menos secundarios, sus historias siempre están rodeando el campo de batalla, a parte de las historias que ya vienen de la propia trama, que convierte esta lectura en algo más pesada, no tan fluida y a veces un poco repetitiva.
Las batallas, excelentemente narradas, no ofrecen otra posibilidad de que extensos campos, granjas alejadas unas de otras, así como densos bosques que dificultan la batalla, lo que en algunos momentos convierte la narrativa en repetitiva. El hecho que desaparezca la trama de Richmond le hace perder frescura, así como el cíclico enfrentamiento del protagonista con aquellos que duda de él.
Una buena historia, pero que dentro de una saga produce el efecto de que esta va perdiendo fuerza, por la perdida de “decorados”, por el poco progreso de la historia y por el hecho de no aprovechar la durada del conflicto para progresar más rápido en el tiempo y buscar nuevos contextos para hacer crecer la trama.
October 6, 2021
This Novel is a continuation of the "Starbuck Chronicles." Now a Colonel, Nate Starbuck is the main protagonist. It is in the summer of 1862 at the second battle at Manassas, Virginia. Northerners refer this battle as "Bull Run." The Novel takes the reader through this historical battle with some colorful characters some real and some fiction. Bernard Cornwell, who is English, as has masterfully command of the language. For example, this is a paragraph Nate Starbuck has with his man servant, Lucifer, who is Black. Blacks are expressly forbidden to carry weapons. Nate has discovered that Lucifer does, in fact, carry a pistol, that Lucifer refers to as a utensil. Nate challenges Lucifer on this score of defiance. Lucifer, who cooks Nate's food replies: "It is not a gun; it is a utensil for killing the food you want me to cook for you, and if I can't have a utensil I can't get meat; and I can't cook the meat I can't get; and you can't eat the meat I can't cook; and then you'll starve and I will be so hungry I won't have the strength to bury you."
July 21, 2023
Another enjoyable addition to The Starbuck Chronicles, although I enjoyed this book less than the previous two. It was just missing something that made the first two books incredible examples of Civil War fiction. That being said, this was still a good book with a solid story and I am interested in the character development that has taken place. Looking forward to the next book.
May 18, 2024
Continuação desta excelente saga.
Cornwell consegue descrever um ambiente de batalha duma forma incrível e sem ser repetitivo ou excessivo.
A trama da história e os seus personagens, consegue manter um interesse contínuo na leitura.
Apesar de ser um livro de guerra, Cornwell consegue mostrar a constante necessidade das tomadas de decisão que num ambiente completamente anormal, todo o ser humano tem de ter.
Uma leitura que vou continuar no quarto e último volume.
Cornwell consegue descrever um ambiente de batalha duma forma incrível e sem ser repetitivo ou excessivo.
A trama da história e os seus personagens, consegue manter um interesse contínuo na leitura.
Apesar de ser um livro de guerra, Cornwell consegue mostrar a constante necessidade das tomadas de decisão que num ambiente completamente anormal, todo o ser humano tem de ter.
Uma leitura que vou continuar no quarto e último volume.
June 7, 2021
Overall, a great installment in this series, which culminated in the second battle of Bull Run. The action sequences, of course, are where Cornwell flourishes most, and they did not disappoint. But I wish that there had been more of the smaller personal moments in this one like the last scene in the book, as those moments elevate the narrative to higher levels. 3.5/5
February 25, 2016
The third installment of the Nate Starbuck Civil War story centers around the battles in the year 1862. Nate is a Major that is loved by some of his men and hated by others. Not to mention a few of Nate's superior officers who would like Nate to go away. Again, through Nate's and other character's eyes we get a glimpse into the grisly battle scenes and intrigue between leaders of the Civil War military. Ambition helps generals win battles and also cause them to make disastrous tactical mistakes.
Religion and morality are major part of the story as well. We get to know Nate's father in this installment. The Reverend Starbuck has raised funds to support a group Southern soldiers who are fighting for the North. The Reverend visits the soldiers and battle front to see how his constituents' money is being spent. The Rev. Starbuck is quite a bloodthirsty character for a man of cloth!
Another great read of historical fiction!
Religion and morality are major part of the story as well. We get to know Nate's father in this installment. The Reverend Starbuck has raised funds to support a group Southern soldiers who are fighting for the North. The Reverend visits the soldiers and battle front to see how his constituents' money is being spent. The Rev. Starbuck is quite a bloodthirsty character for a man of cloth!
Another great read of historical fiction!
June 18, 2020
Who would have thought that I could enjoy this novel so much? Is it because I'm a civil war nut? Yes, but I'm not so much into the guts and glory of it all. I'm more interested in the characters and how they overcome insurmountable odds. Or am I? Among these pages, battle after battle is portrayed with heart-thumping, almost sickening, ultra-realistic prose. Is it because famous historical characters are imaginatively created on the page? Yes, of course. If you don't get a little teary-eyed at the way Stonewall Jackson affects the hearts and minds of his men are you even human? Maybe it's because Nathaniel Starbuck is such a likeable character, despite his faults, and there are many. Ah. Now, I think I'm getting closer to the truth. I can't get enough of Nate Starbuck. 'Nough said.
March 13, 2020
Quite well written series about the American Civil War. This is book 3 of 4, and it kept me intrigued all the way through. I'm no history buff so I can't comment on how many liberties he's taken with the telling, but it's obvious the author has some strong southern biases:
- all characters from the north are more one dimensional than those from the south, and
- all northern leadership is portrayed as completely inept
But if you happen to have been raised in Hazzard County, you'll probably give it 5 stars.
- all characters from the north are more one dimensional than those from the south, and
- all northern leadership is portrayed as completely inept
But if you happen to have been raised in Hazzard County, you'll probably give it 5 stars.
May 1, 2021
Bernard Cornwell is always dependably good. The series is hitting its stride at this point and, if you're as unfamiliar with the period as I was the first time around, there are still surprises in the big story to puzzle over as well as in Starbuck's. It's a shame various circumstances have meant the series was abandoned where it was. I've had to risk rather less easily digestible prose elsewhere to complete my education.
May 30, 2019
I have enjoyed this series but as I am an established Cornwell fan am a bit biased. This book was much like the previous 2 in the series as it took too long to get moving. Other than pace, I continue to enjoy the story and am intrigued as to how Mr. Cornwell is going to bring it to a satisfying end.
November 3, 2020
I can't help but compare everything written by Cornwell to the Sharpe series. This series is entertaining enough, but is not as good as Sharpe. These novels do send me to Google to help me remember the outcome of the major battles that Cornwell includes in each novel. He is meticulous in his research in order to make these works of fiction as believable as possible.
June 20, 2018
Great Civil War historical fiction from the perspective of a Yankee fighting for the CSA. Cornwell embeds hundreds of small, nuanced details of life and war. Rollicking, intense read - third in a series.
June 23, 2018
Cornwell is fantastic. I was lucky enough to visit the Shiloh battlefield recently. This book puts you there. Amazing.
May 14, 2019
Great read about the Second Manassas. Starbuck is a fun, educational read and rivals Michael Shaara.
August 5, 2019
I like Bernard Cornwell books. This was an entertaining read and series. I am looking forward to reading his Renaissance-era books.
November 12, 2020
Felt more of a slog and was quite predictable.
March 31, 2022
I liked Cornwell's Sharpe and Grail Quest series and that's why I started this one. Spoilers ahead: The setting of this series is the American Civil War and follows a Northerner who fights for the South due to his friendship with a Southerner and that he's also estranged from his family.
The things that Cornwell do are great job of is all here: the setting, the history and the action scenes. He usually inserts his characters into history so we can follow along from a boots on the ground point of view. He also does a great job of writing a sympathetic character and supporting cast that I love to follow.
The things I don't like are elements of conflicts and villains who put the protagonist into a bad situation which the then has to crawl out of.
Another thing I noticed like that from the Sailing series is that the plot line usually not what I think it would be.
I'm halfway through the 3rd book in the series now and I decided not to finish it. I decided to do this because Cornwell has inserted 2 other point of view narrations into this book. I dislike that because it's like reading 3 different books. I follow one story and next chapter I have to switch mental gears and follow another story. And I have to read two more plot lines before getting into the one I like. I also dislike the addition of another villain because I never liked them in the first place.
It's just more characters and plots to confuse an originally fairly linear story. I found myself fast reading and then skipping one of the plot lines because I wasn't vested in it and also because it tries to advance the historical narrative through dialog, which is the most painful and unnatural way to do it, i.e. people speaking to each other to describe a historical event.
Overall I've found Cornwell to be one of the most versatile and best authors I've found but I'm going to give him a break and read something else.
The things that Cornwell do are great job of is all here: the setting, the history and the action scenes. He usually inserts his characters into history so we can follow along from a boots on the ground point of view. He also does a great job of writing a sympathetic character and supporting cast that I love to follow.
The things I don't like are elements of conflicts and villains who put the protagonist into a bad situation which the then has to crawl out of.
Another thing I noticed like that from the Sailing series is that the plot line usually not what I think it would be.
I'm halfway through the 3rd book in the series now and I decided not to finish it. I decided to do this because Cornwell has inserted 2 other point of view narrations into this book. I dislike that because it's like reading 3 different books. I follow one story and next chapter I have to switch mental gears and follow another story. And I have to read two more plot lines before getting into the one I like. I also dislike the addition of another villain because I never liked them in the first place.
It's just more characters and plots to confuse an originally fairly linear story. I found myself fast reading and then skipping one of the plot lines because I wasn't vested in it and also because it tries to advance the historical narrative through dialog, which is the most painful and unnatural way to do it, i.e. people speaking to each other to describe a historical event.
Overall I've found Cornwell to be one of the most versatile and best authors I've found but I'm going to give him a break and read something else.
November 8, 2023
Bernard Cornwell has made a very good living portraying warfare—in Napoleonic days as well as the American Civil War and other wars. I usually eat up his fictional accounts of highlights of those wars and I admit I’ve been reading a lot of Shaara on the Civil War and others on the World Wars, but this effort, for me at least, fell short of his usual excellence. It is the story of two men, both fighting for the “wrong side” in the war: Nate Starbuck from Boston fighting for the gray and Adam Faulconer from Virginia fighting for the blue. Starbuck gets most of the ink though Faulconer gets attention because his father sponsored the brigade that fights in his name. As the elder Faulconer is obsessed with the contraband of war, particularly the opposition’s battle flags, so is Starbuck’s father obsessed with religion. He is at the front, lecturing, hectoring and sermonizing the Northern troops, though why he is allowed to wander through any group of soldiers at all is beyond explanation. The action meanders its way north, to reach Manassas, Virginia, site of the First Battle of Bull Run, just in time for the Second Battle of Bull Run. There are lots of spurts of blood, open jugulars, missing heads, hissing of minìe balls and rapes of women (as well as burning) and lots of treachery and sloth, but maybe I was just tired of blood and guts and this one left me cold. It felt as if I was being manipulated to be horrified at the events I was reading about but I had read worse recently. At any rate, this one left me eager for something new—without bodies or cannon or mayhem. So I turned back to Anthony Horwitz and a good murder mystery…!!
September 26, 2017
This book is the third of four that follows Nathaniel Starbuck during the early part of the War between the States. This story includes the presence of Starbuck's father, the fiery abolitionist preacher from Boston. The anticipated encounter between Nate and his estranged father plays a crucial part in this book. This book continues to explore the conflict in the minds of many who fought in the war. As any fan of the author would expect, the battles are presented in a way that allows the reader to experience war with all of the senses. While the reader would not need to have read the two previous books on the series it would be best appreciated if it were read in order. This provides a great look at the Civil War from many sides. The events that make up the general outline of the book actually took place as the author explains in the historical notes at the end.
July 11, 2020
Early invasion attempts by the Union to take Richmond. Again, Union generals incompetence, caution, arrogance and troops not severe or desperate enough, and tactical blunders results in Confederacy surviving. union with cornucopia of good munitions, troops, supplies, trains, all not use well or coordinated. The suffering and sacrifices and fierce fighting of the Confederates is well described, as is the horrific blood bath of the battles. oh my!Very disappointing., Also, the great tale continues.
It’s a battle that Captain Nate Starbuck, a Yankee fighting for the Southern cause, has to survive and win. He must lead his ragged company in a bitter struggle, not only against the formidable Northern army, but against his own superiors who would like nothing better than to see Nate Starbuck dead
It’s a battle that Captain Nate Starbuck, a Yankee fighting for the Southern cause, has to survive and win. He must lead his ragged company in a bitter struggle, not only against the formidable Northern army, but against his own superiors who would like nothing better than to see Nate Starbuck dead
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 28, 2024The 3rd of the 4 Starbuck Chronicles sees the war swing back north to the various rivers, fords (inc. Bull Run) and bluffs that cut through the Virginian heartlands between Richmond and Washington. In a fantastic flanking move, ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s and then Lee’s armies harry and then defeat Pope’s army facing the wrong way before McClelland’s forces can join him. This leads to the 2nd battle of Manassas, and returns Starbuck to the beginning. However, in the meantime he has become a proper soldier and leader of men, also finding time for improbable reunions with friend-turned-traitor Adam Faulkoner and his estranged father … a preacher-tourist visiting the battlesites from Boston!
With the Confederacy in the ascendancy, the final book moves into Union territory for the first time with the Battle of Antietam. I’m missing the series already :(
With the Confederacy in the ascendancy, the final book moves into Union territory for the first time with the Battle of Antietam. I’m missing the series already :(
April 19, 2025
It has all the elements of a Cornwell novel and follows Nathaniel Starbuck who, though a son of a preacher of the North, joins up to battle for the South.
You have historically accurate battles - even though Starbuck himself is the author's invention - and you have treachery, rebellion, bad guys (on both sides). You meet Stonewall Jackson (briefly) and General Lee (briefly).
There is action and the battle is being told in an exhilarating fashion, where the army is rescued when all hope seems lost.
But, somehow this seems a bit tame compared to the earlier books in this series and many books in others.
Cannot put my finger to it, but the 'can't put the book down' feeling is less intense here.
More details on the story and detailed review here.
-- Krishna
You have historically accurate battles - even though Starbuck himself is the author's invention - and you have treachery, rebellion, bad guys (on both sides). You meet Stonewall Jackson (briefly) and General Lee (briefly).
There is action and the battle is being told in an exhilarating fashion, where the army is rescued when all hope seems lost.
But, somehow this seems a bit tame compared to the earlier books in this series and many books in others.
Cannot put my finger to it, but the 'can't put the book down' feeling is less intense here.
More details on the story and detailed review here.
-- Krishna
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