Publisher Description

India 1819 - Matthew Hervey is charged with raising a new troop, and organising transport for India - for he, his men and their horses are to set sail with immediate effect. What Hervey and his greenhorn soldiers cannot know is that in India they will face a trial for which they are ill prepared. A large number of Burmese war-boats are assembled near Chittagong, and the only way to thwart their advance involves a hazardous march through the jungle. Soon Hervey and his troop are in the midst of hot and bloody action once again..."The book picks up a pace that mirrors a cavalry charge ...Hervey continues to grow in stature, while Mallinson himself continues to delight." - "Observer".

Notes

The fourth Matthew Hervey novel in this increasingly successful military history series in the tradition of Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brian. Here, Hervey is recalled to take up arms against Burmese rebels massing on the frontier of India. "This series grows in stature with each book" Evening Standard.

Author Biography

At seventeen, Allan Mallinson gave up the promise of an exhibition at Brasenose College, Oxford to go instead to theological college. After three years he decided to take a break in training with a short-service commission in the army. He served with the infantry worldwide, and then, on deciding to make the army a career, transferred to the cavalry. He began writing while still serving - first, a history of the antecedent regiments of that which he commanded, and then the Matthew Hervey series of novels chronicling the life of a fictitious cavalry officer before and after Waterloo. He left the army in 2004 as a brigadier to write full time, including defence comment for the Daily Telegraph and then The Times. In 2009 his The Making of the British Army, a survey of the army's history and development since 1660, was shortlisted for several prizes and chosen by Jeremy Paxman for the Observer's 'Books of the Year'. An updated edition, with a commentary on the Strategic Defence and Security Review, was published in 2011. His centenary history, 1914: Fight the Good Fight - Britain, the Army and the Coming of the First World War was shortlisted for the Westminster Medal and won the Army Book of the Year Award 2013. Its sequel, Too Important for the Generals, examines the failure of Allied generals and politicians to find a less bloody strategy for victory in the First World War and will be published in June 2016. Allan Mallinson lives with his wife, Sue, a dressage trainer, on Salisbury Plain.

Table of Contents

The last two years have not been good ones for Matthew Hervey. His beloved wife Henrietta is dead and, believing that he can no longer remain in a regiment where men like Lord Towcester can rise to command, he has turned his back on the 6th Light Dragoons. He is left kicking his heels in a corrupt and unruly England far removed from its once glorious past. 1819 sees Hervey in Rome with his sister Elizabeth, where a chance meeting with one of England's most controversial men of letters leads him to rethink his future. Joined by his old friend Captain Peto, Hervey realizes just how much he has missed the excitement of military action and the camaraderie of the Sixth. Soon he is en route for Hounslow via Whitehall, where he hurriedly purchases a new commission and is refitted for the uniform of his former regiment. There he finds things much changed for the better. Though depleted in numbers, they are now under the assured leadership of Sir Ivo Lankester, brother of Edward Lankester, hero of Waterloo. Hervey's first task is to raise a new troop and then to organize transport, for his men and horses are to set sall for India with immediate effect. What Hervey and his greenhorn soldiers cannot know is that in India they will face a trial for which they are sorely ill-prepared. For a large number of Burmese warboats are being assembled near the headwaters of the river leading to Chittagong, and the only way to thwart their advance involves an arduous and hazardous march through the jungle. Hervey and his troop find themselves in the midst of hot and bloody action once more.

Review

"'Wonderfully vivid... the real delight of Mallinson's books is their authenticity... His portrayal of his characters, as well as his vignettes of historical personages...show a rare and thoughtful understanding of the huan condition and the mind of the soldier. It all makes for a thoroughly satisfying and entertaining read'" The Times "Thrilling... In addition to his exceptional knowledge of history, Allan Mallinson shows his deep awareness of human feelings and failings. This is an exceptional book." Country Life "A riveting tale of heroism, derring do and enormous resource in the face of overwhelming adversity ... Another prime example of the unputdownable historical novel" The Times "'Oozing action, A Call to Arms is a military tale of epic proportions that will leave fans counting the days to the next adventure'" Ireland on Sunday "'With each book, Hervey himself is becoming a more complex and interesting characters...Mallinson writes of his inner questionings with subtlety and sympathy. This series grows in stature with each book'" Evening Standard

Promotional

Matthew Hervey races to confront Burmese rebels massing in the jungle.

Kirkus UK Review

This fourth book continues the exploits of Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons in the early 19th century. Mallinson has created an attractive and interesting character, and painstakingly researched historical events to create an authentic feel to the writings. At the start of this novel Hervey is out of uniform and visiting Rome, where he meets the poet Shelley (whom he saves from a post office brawl), and they strike up a brief friendship. Later Hervey rejoins his old regiment and they are sent to India and then deep into the jungle on a mission to thwart an attack on Chittagong by the Burmese. Mallinson has lost none of his vigour for writing intense prose; whereas lesser authors might go off the boil slightly four novels into a series, Mallinson patently agonizes over his descriptions, gets the balance right on just how much cavalry information to slip in, and masterfully dovetails historical events to create an excellent balance. (Kirkus UK)

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