The Tigress of Mysore

Follow Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Hervey through the 19th century as he takes command of the Sixth Light Dragoons, battles to crush the rebellion, and tries to safeguard his country's interests whilst leaving the brutal war as unscathed as possible. With cuts in the army and with his battalion down to a single squadron, can Hervey remain an impartial spectator when the stakes have never been higher?

Set against the evocative backdrop of India in the first half of the 19th century, this novel marks the welcome return of Matthew Hervey and the 6th Light Dragons in their fourteenth adventure in this bestselling series.

A professional solder for thirty-five years, Allan Mallinson began writing while still serving. 
His first book was a history of four regiments of British light dragoons, one of which he commanded. His debut novel was the bestselling A Close Run Thing, the first in an acclaimed series chronicling the life of a fictitious cavalry officer before and after Waterloo (The Tigress of Mysore is the fourteenth in the series). His The Making of the British Army was shortlisted for a number of prizes, while 1914: Fight the Good Fight won the British Army’s ‘Book of the Year’ Award. Its sequel, Too Important for the Generals, is a provocative look at leadership during the Great War, while Fight to the Finish is a comprehensive history of the First World War, month by month. 
Allan Mallinson reviews for the Spectator and the TLS and also writes for The Times. He lives on Salisbury Plain.

'Matthew Hervey is as splendid a hero as ever sprang from an author's pen' The Times 
 
Following the 6th Light Dragoons' successful campaign in the state of Coorg and the deposition of its deranged Rajah, Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Hervey is looking forward to a few months' respite for his regiment, for himself and his family. Indeed, with his reputation restored, he's rarely felt so content. Alas, such tranquillity is not to last. 
 
 India's governor-general believes Hervey is just the man to lead a force against the Thuggee and Dacoity gangs whose increasingly vicious attacks threaten not only the stability of a number of friendly princely states but also, of course, the East India Company's interests in the sub-continent. 
 
 And so Hervey reluctantly leads the Sixth into the field once more. It's a mission that will prove infinitely more complex, brutal and bloody than anyone predicted. For Hervey has taken the first steps on the path towards the conflagration history calls the Indian Mutiny . . . 
 
'Mallinson's series of early 19th-century military adventures are even better than Patrick O'Brian's naval equivalent . . . Faithful period detail. Rattling pace. Loveable characters' A. N. Wilson 
 
'Thrilling . . . richly engaging, old-fashioned storytelling' Daily Mail

The First World War - Month by Month

Fight to the Finish

Based on Allan Mallinson's highly-praised series in The Times that chronicled the progress of the First World War month by month, Fight to the Finish is a unique and definitive single-volume portrait of 'The War to end War'.

‘Mallinson . . . combines the authority of a soldier-turned-military historian with the imaginative touch of the historical novelist.’ Lawrence James, THE TIMES 
 
We remember months, because months have names, because they are linked to the seasons, and because they have their own character. Looking at the First World War month by month reveals its complexity while preserving a sense of time. 
 
From the opening shots to the signing of the armistice, the First World War lasted almost 52 months. It was fought on land, sea and in the air. It became industrial, and unrestricted: poison gas, aerial bombing of cities, and the sinking without warning of merchantmen and passenger ships by submarines. 
 
Casualties, military and civilian, probably exceeded 40 million. Four empires collapsed during the course of the war – the German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Ottoman. 
 
The First World War is almost impossible to comprehend. Day-by-day narratives can be dizzying for the reader wanting to make sense of the conflict as a whole. Freer-flowing accounts, while helping to understand the broader trends and factors, can give less of a sense of the human dimension of time. The month is a more digestible gauge. 
 
Based on the Allan Mallinson’s monthly commentaries in The Times throughout the centenary, Fight to the Finish is a new and original portrait of “The War to End War.”

Excellent . . . [Mallinson] has carried off a seemingly impossible task and rather than dismissing this as yet another title on the conflict it should be considered the primer for anyone new to the era. Thoroughly enjoyable, hugely informative and very easy to read, this comes highly recommended.

Notable for its clarity, and anyone requiring a digestible narrative summary of the fighting . . . would be advised to start here.

PROFESSOR JOHN ROHL, on Allan Mallinson's Great War trilogy

I could not believe that [there was] anything new to say . . . but how wrong I was!

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 13): a high-octane and fast-paced military action adventure guaranteed to have you gripped!

The Passage to India

Marking Allan Mallinson's eagerly-awaited return to fiction, in the thirteenth thrilling adventure featuring Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons, Hervey and his regiment are dispatched to India in order to suppress a bloody uprising...

From THE Sunday Times bestselling author Allan Mallinson, a riveting read with the perfect combination of hero, history and adventure - perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and Bernard Cornwell. 
 
'A very astounding and enjoyable military read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Excellent - full of excitement, adventure and history' -- ***** Reader review 
'Outstanding' -- ***** Reader review 
'Magnificent!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Allan Mallinson is a truly gifted storyteller..."- ***** Reader review 
********************************************************************************* 
1831: riots and rebellions are widespread . . . 
 
In England, the new government is facing protests against the attempts of the Tory-dominated House of Lords to thwart the passing of the Reform Bill. In India, relations are strained between the presidency of Madras and some of the neighbouring princely states. 
 
Having taken command of the action in Bristol to restore order after one of the bloodiest and most destructive riots in the nation's history, Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Hervey is out of favour with the new government. But then his old friend, Sir Eyre Somervile, offers him a lifeline... 
 
Somervile has persuaded the Court of Directors of the East India Company to approve an increase in the Madras military establishment. Hervey and the 6th Light Dragoons are sent to the princely state of Coorg. The Rajah is in revolt against the East India Company's terms and Hervey's regiment is called upon to crush the rebellion. 
 
With the stakes raised by an unexpected visitation from his past, for Hervey the question is whether he and his men will get out of this brutal war unscathed?

Mallinson's series of early 19th-century military adventures are even better than Patrick O'Brian's naval equivalent. In the latest, The Passage to India we find our hero...called back to India. Faithful period detail. Rattling pace. Loveable characters.

Losing and Winning the First World War

Too Important for the Generals

Published as the world marks the centenary of one of the most infamous battles of the First World War, the Somme, this powerfully-argued and polemical new history of the war by one of Britain's most respected military historians explores how the war was fought, how near we came to losing it - and why winning proved so costly and why the Allied generals and politicians failed to find a less bloody strategy for victory.

Allan Mallinson puts his case compellingly in a stimulating overview of the war.  He combines the authority of a soldier-turned-military historian with the imaginative touch of the historical novelist.

Very readable . . . excellently researched . . .a must for anyone interested in military history and the interface of political and military power; the fact that, 100 years on, historians are still in such disagreement demonstrates just how important and absorbing the debate remains.

Provocative . . . succinctly summarises the big battles of the conflict, before discussing the commanders' shortcomings, which is his theme.'

Mallinson . . . argues persuasively that those charged with sending men into battle should have given a better account of themselves. As the nation commemorates one of the darkest chapters in British Army history, it is hard to disagree.

Refreshingly clear . . . this is a well-written, at times provocative, and concise overview of why the war was conducted as it was, and why it probably was too important to be left to the generals.

His bracing polemic . . . vivid, concise . . . he has a keen eye for telling statistics . . . he also sprinkles his grim narrative with colourful eye-witness accounts . . . among the glut of books published to mark the Great War's centenary, this deserves high marks for passion and clarity.

Engaging writing and excellent presentation . . . a tricky yet well-crafted analysis, which adds to the revisionist school of thought with some edgy arguments, this is sure to get you thinking.

An insightful study of generalship on both sides.

‘War is too important to be left to the generals’ snapped future French prime minister Georges Clemenceau on learning of yet another bloody and futile offensive on the Western Front. 
One of the great questions in the ongoing discussions and debate about the First World War is why did winning take so long and exact so appalling a human cost? After all this was a fight that, we were told, would be over by Christmas. 
Now, in his major new history, Allan Mallinson, former professional soldier and author of the acclaimed 1914: Fight the Good Fight, provides answers that are disturbing as well as controversial, and have a contemporary resonance. He disputes the growing consensus among historians that British generals were not to blame for the losses and setbacks in the ‘war to end all wars’ – that, given the magnitude of their task, they did as well anyone could have. He takes issue with the popular view that the ‘amateur’ opinions on strategy of politicians such as Lloyd George and, especially, Winston Churchill, prolonged the war and increased the death toll. On the contrary, he argues, even before the war began Churchill had a far more realistic, intelligent and humane grasp of strategy than any of the admirals or generals, while very few senior officers – including Sir Douglas Haig – were up to the intellectual challenge of waging war on this scale. And he repudiates the received notion that Churchill’s stature as a wartime prime minister after 1940 owes much to the lessons he learned from his First World War ‘mistakes’ – notably the Dardanelles campaign – maintaining that in fact Churchill’s achievement in the Second World War owes much to the thwarting of his better strategic judgement by the ‘professionals’ in the First – and his determination that this would not be repeated. 
 
Mallinson argues that from day one of the war Britain was wrong-footed by absurdly faulty French military doctrine and paid, as a result, an unnecessarily high price in casualties. He shows that Lloyd George understood only too well the catastrophically dysfunctional condition of military policy-making and struggled against the weight of military opposition to fix it. And he asserts that both the British and the French failed to appreciate what the Americans’ contribution to victory could be – and, after the war, to acknowledge fully what it had actually been.

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 12): immerse yourself in this brilliantly crafted military masterpiece

Words of Command

Lieutenant-Colonel Matthew Hervey returns to take command of the 6th Light Dragoons in his 12th enthralling adventure.

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!

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.

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.

Britain, the Army and the Coming of the First World War

1914: Fight the Good Fight

Now in paperback, this fascinating and revelatory new history of the origins of the First World War, of those first few crucial weeks of fighting, and of how Britain and its army fared has won the 2014 British Army Military Book of the Year.

Mallinson uncovers a litany of rivalry and miscalculation. With the Great War's centenary commemorations on the horizon, he has produced a must-read for anyone who wants to know how Britain practically stumbled into one of the bloodiest conflicts in history.

Formidable and page-turning . . . Mallinson's clinical examination of the 'what ifs' is as compelling as his account of the death of a small but professional army, sacrificed to the incuriosity of our politicians and disinclination of military leaders to countenance any challenge to what they believed were best laid plans.

Compelling and rigorously researched...paints a vivid picture. . . this is not dry military history. He tells the story through many eyes of those on the frontline, from general to Tommy. It's recounted through regimental histories and underpinned with his deep understanding of tactics . . . offers unique insights on the planning, 'politicking' and fighting.

In the deluge of books to mark the centenary of the start of the Great War, it is refreshing to find one written by a former soldier who is also an accomplished military historian . . . a vivid picture . . . with his soldier's grasp of tactics and strategy, Mallinson describes with clarity and authority the opening weeks of the war.

Mallinson writes with an exciting pen and a cool head and he understands war.

Prof. Michael Clarke, Director General of the Royal United Services Institute

This is one of the few new books on the war to be written by a former soldier, and it benefits greatly from the author's tactical knowledge, strategic expertise and understanding of how an army really functions.

‘No part of the Great War compares in interest with its opening’, wrote Churchill. ‘The measured, silent drawing together of gigantic forces, the uncertainty of their movements and positions, the number of unknown and unknowable facts made the first collision a drama never surpassed…in fact the War was decided in the first twenty days of fighting, and all that happened afterwards consisted in battles which, however formidable and devastating, were but desperate and vain appeals against the decision of fate.’ 
 
On of Britain's foremost military historians and defence experts tackles the origins - and the opening first few weeks of fighting - of what would become known as 'the war to end all wars'. Intensely researched and convincingly argued, Allan Mallinson explores and explains the grand strategic shift that occurred in the century before the war, the British Army’s regeneration after its drubbings in its fight against the Boer in South Africa, its almost calamitous experience of the first twenty days’ fighting in Flanders to the point at which the British Expeditionary Force - the 'Old Contemptibles' - took up the spade in the middle of September 1914: for it was then that the war changed from one of rapid and brutal movement into the more familiar vision of trench warfare on Western Front. In this vivid, compelling new history, Malliinson brings his experience as a professional soldier to bear on the circumstances, events, actions and individuals and speculates – tantalizingly – on what might have been...

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 11): A tense, fast-paced unputdownable military page-turner from bestselling author Allan Mallinson

On His Majesty's Service

In the Eastern Balkans, Matthew Hervey faces bloody war with the Turks in the eleventh novel in Allan Mallinson's acclaimed and bestselling series.

Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, another captivating Matthew Hervey adventure from the pen of THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson. 
 
"Allan Mallinson...has done for the British Army what C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian did for the Royal Navy, and his novels are every bit as addictive...Splendid, irresistible stuff" -- ALLAN MASSIE, SPECTATOR 
"A fascinating, lively romp" - THE TIMES 
"With each successive novel, Mallinson grows in stature as an author; one looks forward eagerly to the next instalment of Hervey's life." -- LONDON EVENING STANDARD 
"Another great book from a brilliant author" -- ***** Reader review 
"Magnificent!" -- ***** Reader review 
"This is a must series to follow" -- ***** Reader review 
 
****************************************************************** 
 
January 1829: George IV is on the throne, Wellington is England's prime-minister, and the population has been enjoying long-term peace. But this happy state of affairs means cuts in the army, and Hervey is told that his regiment, the Sixth, are to be reduced to a single squadron. 
 
With his long-term plans in disarray, he undertakes instead a six-month assignment as an observer with the Russian army. Soon Hervey, his friend Edward Fairbrother and his faithful groom, Private Johnson, are sailing north to St Petersburg, and from there to the Eastern Balkans, and the ferocious war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. 
 
Hervey is meant to be an impartial spectator, but soon the circumstances - and his own nature - propel him into a more active role. In the climactic Battle of Kulewtscha, Hervey and Fairbrother find themselves in the thick of the action. 
 
For Matthew Hervey, the stakes have never been higher - or more personal.

What is left to be said about Allan Mallinson? Only this perhaps: he has done for the British army what C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian did for the royal navy, and his novels are every bit as addictive as theirs... On His Majesty's Service is the tenth of his Matthew Hervey novels... Splendid, irresistible stuff, and not for addicts only

Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, another captivating Matthew Hervey adventure from the pen of THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson. 
 
"Allan Mallinson...has done for the British Army what C. S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian did for the Royal Navy, and his novels are every bit as addictive...Splendid, irresistible stuff" -- ALLAN MASSIE, SPECTATOR 
"A fascinating, lively romp" - THE TIMES 
"With each successive novel, Mallinson grows in stature as an author; one looks forward eagerly to the next instalment of Hervey's life." -- LONDON EVENING STANDARD 
"Another great book from a brilliant author" -- ***** Reader review 
"Magnificent!" -- ***** Reader review 
"This is a must series to follow" -- ***** Reader review 
 
****************************************************************** 
 
January 1829: George IV is on the throne, Wellington is England's prime-minister, and the population has been enjoying long-term peace. But this happy state of affairs means cuts in the army, and Hervey is told that his regiment, the Sixth, are to be reduced to a single squadron. 
 
With his long-term plans in disarray, he undertakes instead a six-month assignment as an observer with the Russian army. Soon Hervey, his friend Edward Fairbrother and his faithful groom, Private Johnson, are sailing north to St Petersburg, and from there to the Eastern Balkans, and the ferocious war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. 
 
Hervey is meant to be an impartial spectator, but soon the circumstances - and his own nature - propel him into a more active role. In the climactic Battle of Kulewtscha, Hervey and Fairbrother find themselves in the thick of the action. 
 
For Matthew Hervey, the stakes have never been higher - or more personal.

The Making Of The British Army

The definitive story of the British Army from a former soldier and commander, now one of the UK's bestselling historical novelists.

Fascinating... clear and concise... important. It is hard to see this book being bettered in the near future

This is no mere paperback edition of Mallinson's acclaimed 2009 hardback. He presents a revised and updated version that no self-respecting defense commentator can risk being without

Mallinson is surely right to stress the one enduring quality of the British Army: 'operational resilience'

Edgehill, 1642: Surveying the disastrous scene in the aftermath of the first battle of the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell realizes that war can no longer be made in the old, feudal way: there has to be system and discipline, and therefore - eventually - a standing professional army. 
 
From the 'New Model Army' of Cromwell's distant vision, former soldier Allan Mallinson shows us the people and events that have shaped the army we know today. How Marlborough's momentous victory at Blenheim is linked to Wellington's at Waterloo; how the desperate fight at Rorke's Drift in 1879 underpinned the heroism of the airborne forces at Arnhem in 1944; and why Montgomery's momentous victory at El Alamein mattered long after the Second World War was over. 
 
From the Army's origins at the battle of Edgehill to our current conflict in Afghanistan, this is history at its most relevant - and most dramatic.

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 10): A gripping and action-packed military page-turner from bestselling author Allan Mallinson

Warrior

In South Africa, Matthew Hervey clashes with the Warrior King of the Zulu.

Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, another breath-taking Matthew Hervey adventure from the pen of THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson. 
 
"Captain Matthew Hervey is as splendid a hero as ever sprang from an author's pen" -- THE TIMES 
"Hervey's thrilling battles against the vivid backdrop of the developing British Empire make for richly engaging storytelling" -- DAILY MAIL 
"Highly addictive" -- ***** Reader review 
"This series just gets better and better" -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************************************** 
1828: Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons is urgently summoned to the Cape Colony when he learns that the Zulu warrior King Shaka is about to wage war. 
 
Soon Hervey, his old friend Eyre Somervile and their escort of dragoons and mounted rifles are riding north. When they arrive at Shaka's kraal, it quickly becomes apparent that he has slaughtered thousands of his subjects - warriors and women alike. 
 
When Shaka is killed by his own people, and the region plunged into civil war, Hervey and his men find themselves in the midst of terrible danger. 
 
Yet worse is to come. Separated from his troop, Hervey must lead Shaka's queen across a hostile land where sanctuary has never seemed further away ...

Puts the reader firmly in the middle of the most blood-boltered of battles...historical fiction readers of robust tastes need look no further.

Immaculately researched, with every detail of the cavalry spectacularly drawn, this is the work of an intensely accomplished historical novelist.  Hervey's thrilling battles  make for richly engaging old-fashioned storytelling.

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 9): A thrilling and action-packed military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson that will make you feel you are in the midst of the battle

Man Of War

War at sea: Matthew Hervey is set to re-join his regiment in England, while his close friend Captain Peto is at sea preparing his mighty line-of-battle ship for war with the Turks.

Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, another engrossing Matthew Hervey adventure from the pen of THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson. 
 
"Hervey's thrilling battles against the vivid backdrop of the developing British Empire make for richly engaging storytelling" -- DAILY MAIL 
"Captain Matthew Hervey is as splendid a hero as ever sprang from an author's pen" -- THE TIMES 
"The heir to Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester" -- OBSERVER 
"Absolutely brilliant" -- ***** Reader review 
"An absolute delight" -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************** 
1827: Britain and the Mediterranean 
 
Captain Sir Laughton Peto, recently engaged to Matthew Hervey's sister, is sailing his mighty line-of-battle ship towards Navarino Bay, and war with the Turks. 
 
Six months on, and Matthew Hervey is in London recovering from another bout of malaria and the wound from his battle with the Zulu. All is set for his marriage to the eminently suitable Lady Lankester, and his return to active duty at the Cape. 
But trouble lies ahead as familial commitments clash with affairs of the heart and Hervey finds himself embroiled in a military inquiry that could result in public humiliation. As the cataclysmic battle of Navarino Bay looms ever closer for Peto and his crew, Hervey faces a crisis that could change both his life and his military career... 
 
Man of War is the ninth book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in Warrior. Have you read his previous adventures A Close Run Thing, The Nizam's Daughters, A Regimental Affair, A Call to Arms, The Sabre's Edge, Rumours of War, An Act of Courage and A Company of Spears?

Rich in illuminating detail ... from the trivial to the arcane. The sea battle of Navarino is as thrilling as any fought on land by Hervey and the manoeuvres into which Hervey is accidentally drawn are as exciting as any battle.

[A] splendid literary cavalry charge. This book finds Brigadier Mallinson at the top of his game. Pitch-perfect dialogue, deeply researched historical references ... well-drawn and moving.

The climactic battle is as tense, exciting, vivid and gory as we've come to expect for this master of military fiction

Those who consider that the 20 novels making up Patrick O'Brian's magisterial Aubrey-Maturin series could never be too many will take heart from the fact that Man of War is only the ninth volume in Mallinson's wonderfully realised account of the Napoleonic era and its aftermath, with at least another dozen to follow, it is hoped. Combining an eye for vivid detail with a scholarly accuracy as to military and naval history expected from a former cavalry officer, Mallinson brings his chosen period to life with effortless flair.

Mallinson's crisp, authoritative storytelling is as excellent as ever

Perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, another engrossing Matthew Hervey adventure from the pen of THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson. 
 
"Hervey's thrilling battles against the vivid backdrop of the developing British Empire make for richly engaging storytelling" -- DAILY MAIL 
"Captain Matthew Hervey is as splendid a hero as ever sprang from an author's pen" -- THE TIMES 
"The heir to Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester" -- OBSERVER 
"Absolutely brilliant" -- ***** Reader review 
"An absolute delight" -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************** 
1827: Britain and the Mediterranean 
 
 Captain Sir Laughton Peto, recently engaged to Matthew Hervey's sister, is sailing his mighty line-of-battle ship towards Navarino Bay, and war with the Turks. 
 
 Six months on, and Matthew Hervey is in London recovering from another bout of malaria and the wound from his battle with the Zulu. All is set for his marriage to the eminently suitable Lady Lankester, and his return to active duty at the Cape. 
But trouble lies ahead as familial commitments clash with affairs of the heart and Hervey finds himself embroiled in a military inquiry that could result in public humiliation. As the cataclysmic battle of Navarino Bay looms ever closer for Peto and his crew, Hervey faces a crisis that could change both his life and his military career... 
 
Man of War is the ninth book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in Warrior. Have you read his previous adventures A Close Run Thing, The Nizam's Daughters, A Regimental Affair, A Call to Arms, The Sabre's Edge, Rumours of War, An Act of Courage and A Company of Spears?

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 7): A compelling and unputdownable military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson

An Act Of Courage

At the bloody siege of Badajoz, Matthew Hervey must overthrow the French - or die in the attempt.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson brings us another compelling and deeply atmospheric adventure featuring Matthew Hervey. If you like Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, you will love this! 
 
"Most impressive...Mallinson reinforces his position as a master of narrative military history" -- THE TIMES 
 
"As good on the details of the workings of a cavalry regiment in 1820 as ever Patrick O'Brian was on the workings of an 1820 warship" -- SPECTATOR 
 
"What a pleasure...concentrating on the battle of Talavera and the investment of Badajoz, both sparklingly described, he plays to his undoubted strengths" - OBSERVER 
 
"The atmosphere and authenticity continues to work its spell all the way through." -- ***** Reader review 
 
"Highly enjoyable novel. Great story. Thoroughly recommend for lovers of adventure novels." -- ***** Reader review 
 
"A truly outstanding read" -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************* 
 
Badajoz: Christmas 1826 
 
Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons is a prisoner of the Spanish, incarcerated in the infamous fortress of Badajoz. 
 
As he plans his escape, his thoughts return to the year 1812 when he was a cornet in Wellington's Peninsular Army. He and the Sixth had survived Corunna to endure three more years of brutal fighting that would culminate in one of the most vital and vicious confrontations of the campaign - the siege of Badajoz. 
 
While Hervey paces his prison cell, and re-lives the bloodshed of battles past, friends from unexpected quarters rush to his aid... 
 
An Act of Courage is the seventh book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in Company of Spears. Have you read his previous adventures A Close Run Thing, The Nizam's Daughters, A Regimental Affair, A Call to Arms, The Sabre's Edge and Rumours of War?

'Irresistible...Mallinson reinforces his position as a master of narrative military history'

'He is back...writing once more with fluidity and power. By concentrating on the battle of Talavera and the investment of Badajoz, both sparklingly described, he plays to his undoubted strengths...rich in detail and impeccable wit'

'Mallinson's descriptions of what it's like to be on a campaign are as compelling, vivid and plausible as in any war novel I've ever read'

'The author's knowledge of warfare endows this novel, the seventh in a series, with strategic intelligence and superb craftsmanship.'

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson brings us another compelling and deeply atmospheric adventure featuring Matthew Hervey. If you like Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, you will love this! 
 
"Most impressive...Mallinson reinforces his position as a master of narrative military history" -- THE TIMES 
 
"As good on the details of the workings of a cavalry regiment in 1820 as ever Patrick O'Brian was on the workings of an 1820 warship" -- SPECTATOR 
 
"What a pleasure...concentrating on the battle of Talavera and the investment of Badajoz, both sparklingly described, he plays to his undoubted strengths" - OBSERVER 
 
"The atmosphere and authenticity continues to work its spell all the way through." -- ***** Reader review 
 
"Highly enjoyable novel. Great story. Thoroughly recommend for lovers of adventure novels." -- ***** Reader review 
 
"A truly outstanding read" -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************* 
 
Badajoz: Christmas 1826 
 
Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons is a prisoner of the Spanish, incarcerated in the infamous fortress of Badajoz. 
 
As he plans his escape, his thoughts return to the year 1812 when he was a cornet in Wellington's Peninsular Army. He and the Sixth had survived Corunna to endure three more years of brutal fighting that would culminate in one of the most vital and vicious confrontations of the campaign - the siege of Badajoz. 
 
While Hervey paces his prison cell, and re-lives the bloodshed of battles past, friends from unexpected quarters rush to his aid... 
 
An Act of Courage is the seventh book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in Company of Spears. Have you read his previous adventures A Close Run Thing, The Nizam's Daughters, A Regimental Affair, A Call to Arms, The Sabre's Edge and Rumours of War?

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 6): An action-packed and captivating military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson

Rumours Of War

Matthew Hervey is pursued by the French across the Spanish Peninsula.

I enjoyed the adventure enormously...Mallinson's descriptions of what it's like to be on campaign are as compelling, vivid and plausible as in any war novel I've ever read

With this intelligent but pacy book, Brigadier Mallinson stays well on course to be regarded as the landlubbers' Patrick O'Brian'

Mallinson's shrewd handling of the issues of discipline and tactics, the responsibilities of junior and senior command, and the self-esteem of the cavalry, reflect both his own professional experience and excellent historical judgement'

Mallinson writes in beautiful almost Jane Austen-like English and his command of history, military detail, horse-mastership ... polymathic.

Portugal 1826 
 
Newly returned from India, Matthew Hervey joins a party of officers sent to lend support to the Portugese regent. But the Peninsula is a place redolent with memories. For it was here as a seventeen-year-old cornet that Hervey had his first taste of military action. The French had forced the British army into ignominious retreat until, under the leadership of Sir John Moore, they made a defiant stand at Corunna. 
 
As he prepares for battle once more, Hervey finds himself confronting ghosts from his past ... 
 
'Captain Matthew Hervey is as splendid a hero as ever sprang from an 
author's pen.' The Times

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 5):A gripping, action-packed military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson

The Sabre's Edge

Matthew Hervey lays siege to the grim fortress of Bhurtpore

The Sunday Times bestselling author Allan Mallinson, brings us another enthralling Matthew Hervey adventure. If you like Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, you will love this! 
 
"What a hero! What an author! What a book! A joy for the lover of adventure and military buff alike" -- LYN MACDONALD, THE TIMES 
"Splendid...the tale is as historically stimulating as it is stirringly exciting" -- ANDREW ROBERTS, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 
"Impeccably researched and rooted in both time and place" -- ***** Reader review 
"A thrilling tale" -- ***** Reader review 
"Allan Malinson tells an absorbing tale and gives a wonderful insight into life at that time." -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************** 
 
India, 1824: Matthew Hervey and the 6th Light Dragoons are stationed in India, where conflagration looks set to flair. 
 
The usurper prince, Durjan Sal, has taken refuge in the infamous fortress of Bhurtpore. A deep ditch, which can be flooded at a moment's notice, runs round it - and as its notorious Tower of Victory - built with the skulls of defeated men - bears witness, it has withstood all attacks made on it. 
 
Until now. Hot and dangerous work lies ahead for Matthew Hervey and his courageous troop who know their fortunes will be decided by the sabre's edge. 
 
A Sabre's Edge is the fifth book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in Rumours of War. Have you read his previous adventures A Close Run Thing, The Nizam's Daughters, A Regimental Affair and A Call to Arms?

'Splendid...the tale is as historically stimulating as it is stirringly exciting'

'What a hero! What an author! What a book! A joy for the lover of adventure and military buff alike'

We have joined for action and to see the world and that is what we get...a novel for our time, perhaps?

Hervey is the thinking man's Sharpe. Mallinson is the true heir to Patrick O'Brian

'Mallinson's descriptions of regimental life and of the campaigns themselves ... crackle with detail and atmosphere ... Makes for an engrossing read, full of blood and valour.'

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 4)

A Call To Arms

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

An action-packed and stirring Matthew Hervey adventure - perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and C S Forester. 
 
'A thoroughly satisfying and entertaining read’ THE TIMES 
 
'Picks up a pace that mirrors a cavalry charge’ OBSERVER 
 
********************************************************************** 
 
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 soldiers cannot know is that in India they will face a trial for which they are woefully under 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... 
 
Praise for Allan Mallinson: 
‘After just half-a-dozen pages I was hooked’ ***** 
‘An excellent book, when you start reading you cannot put it down. Allan Mallinson at his best!!!’ ***** 
‘Essential reading for military buffs’ ***** 
‘If you enjoy historical fiction of the Napoleonic era . . . try this book, you won't be disappointed’ ***** 
‘Excellent historical fiction . . . Malinson is a remarkable storyteller!’ *****

'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'

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.

A riveting tale of heroism, derring do and enormous resource in the face of overwhelming adversity ... Another prime example of the unputdownable historical novel

'Oozing action, A Call to Arms is a military tale of epic proportions that will leave fans counting the days to the next adventure'

'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'

A professional solder for thirty-five years, Allan Mallinson began writing while still serving. 
His first book was a history of four regiments of British light dragoons, one of which he commanded. His debut novel was the bestselling A Close Run Thing, the first in an acclaimed series chronicling the life of a fictitious cavalry officer before and after Waterloo (The Tigress of Mysore is the fourteenth in the series). His The Making of the British Army was shortlisted for a number of prizes, while 1914: Fight the Good Fight won the British Army’s ‘Book of the Year’ Award. Its sequel, Too Important for the Generals, is a provocative look at leadership during the Great War, while Fight to the Finish is a comprehensive history of the First World War, month by month. 
Allan Mallinson reviews for the Spectator and the TLS and also writes for The Times. He lives on Salisbury Plain.

An action-packed and stirring Matthew Hervey adventure - perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and C S Forester. 
 
'A thoroughly satisfying and entertaining read’ THE TIMES 
 
'Picks up a pace that mirrors a cavalry charge’ OBSERVER 
 
********************************************************************** 
 
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 soldiers cannot know is that in India they will face a trial for which they are woefully under 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... 
 
Praise for Allan Mallinson: 
‘After just half-a-dozen pages I was hooked’ ***** 
‘An excellent book, when you start reading you cannot put it down. Allan Mallinson at his best!!!’ ***** 
‘Essential reading for military buffs’ ***** 
‘If you enjoy historical fiction of the Napoleonic era . . . try this book, you won't be disappointed’ ***** 
‘Excellent historical fiction . . . Malinson is a remarkable storyteller!’ *****

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 3): A gripping and action-packed military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson

A Regimental Affair

Matthew Hervey faces renegades at home and in North America.

Another riveting Matthew Hervey adventure from the Sunday Times bestselling author Allan Mallinson, combining hero, history and drama to perfection. If you like Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, this will not disappoint! 
 
"Assured and capable...a fine read" - The Times 
"Matthew Hervey has now joined Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe and Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey" - Birmingham Post 
"Delighted, as simple as that." - ***** Reader review 
"Absolutely excellent - cannot recommend this series of books enough to anyone who likes historical fiction." - ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************************** 
 
Canada 1817: Captain Matthew Hervey is suffering the effects of unrest within his beloved regiment, the 6th Light Dragoons. 
 
Their new commanding officer - wealthy, arrogant and cruel - has taken an immediate dislike to him. Somehow, Hervey must earn promotion while retaining his integrity and the loyalty of his men. 
 
Then the regiment is sent to Canada where, in the aftermath of war with the United States, Hervey faces danger on two fronts. Murderous native tribes are on the move. 
 
While, closer to home, he and his commanding officer have embarked on a collision course - the consequences of which will be devastating... 
 
Have you read A Close Run Thing and The Nizam's Daughters - the first two Matthew Hervey adventures? A Regimental Affair is the third book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in A Call to Arms.

'Assured and capable...a fine read - charming, intelligent and occasionally witty'

'Many fascinating strands woven into this beautifully written saga endorse the author's mastery of narrative. Sympathy, style and control mark the polished horseman; these talents are surely applicable to this talented writer'

'A riveting tale...Matthew Hervey has now joined Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe and Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey'

'The novel's re-creation of the period ... should keep fans of the regency military-romance genre happy'

'Confirms his undoubted talents and marks him out as the heir to Patrick O'Brian and C.S.Forester'

A rip-roaring and riveting military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson.

The Nizam's Daughters (The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 2)

Sent on a secret mission to India, Matthew Hervey soon finds himself fighting to prevent bloody civil war

Another riveting Matthew Hervey adventure from the Sunday Times bestselling author Allan Mallinson, combining hero, history and drama to perfection. If you like Patrick O'Brian and Sharpe, you'll love this! 
 
"A marvellous read, paced like a well-balanced symphony ... This is more than a ripping yarn..." - The Times 
"This is an engaging work...The attention to detail is admirable" -- Daily Express 
"I strongly recommend this book (and the series) to any lover of this genre. FIVE STARS" - ***** Reader review. 
 
************************************************************************* 
 
1816: Fresh from the field at Waterloo, and leaving behind his fiancée Lady Henrietta Lindsey, Matthew Hervey is dispatched to India on a secret mission. 
 
The state of Chintal is threatened by both intrigue from within and military might from without. Hervey finds he is once more destined for the battlefield. 
 
In a land at once alien, exotic and beguiling, Matthew Hervey's mettle will be tested to the limit... 
 
Have you read A Close Run Thing - the first Matthew Hervey adventure? The Nizam's Daughters is the second book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in A Regimental Affair.

A marvellous read, paced like a well-balanced symphony ... This is more than a ripping yarn...I look forward enormously to hearing more of Hervey's exploits; he is as fascinating on horseback as Jack Aubrey is on the quarterdeck.

'This is an engaging work...The attention to detail is admirable'

Allan Mallinson's grasp of the technical side of his subject is effortless and impressive...The portrayal of the men of all ranks is excellent ...This promises to be an extremely enjoyable series

Treads a middle course between the subtleties of O'Brian and the simplicities of Cornwell...An exciting, fast-moving story, full of bloody hacking with sabre and tulwar.

'O'Brian's equal in accurate knowledge of the equipment, methods, weapons and conditions of serve of the fighting men of whom he writes...An imaginative feat of high order, owning as much to thorough scholarship as it does to compassion and sensibility... Brilliantly conveyed'

'An epic adventure...a book with a texture as rich as cut velvet, and a storyline as detailed as a Bruges tapestry. Patrick O'Brian may no longer be with us. But Mallinson has obviously taken up the historical baton'

'Allan Mallinson...has already achieved a considerable priase for his brand of derring-do in his first novel, A Close Run Thing...a début of real excitement and verve. With The Nizam's Daughters, the author has overcome the second hurdle with equal aplomb...Mallinson is a genuine storyteller'

Another riveting Matthew Hervey adventure from the Sunday Times bestselling author Allan Mallinson, combining hero, history and drama to perfection. If you like Patrick O'Brian and Sharpe, you'll love this! 
 
"A marvellous read, paced like a well-balanced symphony ... This is more than a ripping yarn..." - The Times 
"This is an engaging work...The attention to detail is admirable" -- Daily Express 
"I strongly recommend this book (and the series) to any lover of this genre. FIVE STARS" - ***** Reader review. 
 
************************************************************************* 
 
1816: Fresh from the field at Waterloo, and leaving behind his fiancée Lady Henrietta Lindsey, Matthew Hervey is dispatched to India on a secret mission. 
 
The state of Chintal is threatened by both intrigue from within and military might from without. Hervey finds he is once more destined for the battlefield. 
 
In a land at once alien, exotic and beguiling, Matthew Hervey's mettle will be tested to the limit... 
 
Have you read A Close Run Thing - the first Matthew Hervey adventure? The Nizam's Daughters is the second book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in A Regimental Affair.

A high-octane and fast-paced military action adventure guaranteed to have you gripped!

A Close Run Thing (The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 1)

An heroic tale from the Battle of Waterloo and the final days of the Napoleonic Wars that introduces an unforgettable new fictional hero in Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons...

From the Sunday Times bestselling author Allan Mallinson, a riveting read with the perfect combination of hero, history and adventure - perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and Bernard Cornwell. 
 
"Convincingly drawn, perfectly paced and expertly written...A Joy to read" - Antony Beevor. 
"I can't wait to read the next in the series..." - ***** Reader review. 
"A captivating read..."- ***** Reader review. 
"Allan Mallinson is a truly gifted storyteller..."- ***** Reader review. 
 
************************************************************************* 
 
Waterloo 1815. The war against Napoleon Bonaparte is raging to its bloody end at Waterloo. 
 
A young officer - Cornet Matthew Hervey - going about his duty suddenly finds himself at the crux of events. 
The decisions he has to make - both military and romantic - will change the course of his life, and possible have far reaching political consequences... 
 
A Close Run Thing is the first book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in The Nizam's Daughters.

'Now at last a highly literate, deeply read cavalry officer of high rank shows one the nature of horse-borne warfare in those times: and Colonel Mallinson's A Close Run Thing is very much to be welcomed.'

'As astonishingly impressive debut...Convincingly drawn, perfectly paced and expertly written...A joy to read'

'The scope of A Close Run Thing is quite breathtaking...A sustained piece of bravura writing'

'The account of the Battle of Waterloo is an imaginative feat of high order, owing as much as to thorough scholarship as it does to compassion and sensibility. Brilliantly conveyed.'

'Allan Mallinson's grasp of the technical side of his subject is effortless and impressive...The portrayal of the men of all ranks is excellent.

'Treads a middle course between the subtleties of O'Brian and the simplicities of Cornwell...An exciting, fast-moving story, full of bloody hacking with sabre and tulwar, which can at the same time be reflective and thoughtful about its setting and situation'

'Rarely does one read the same book twice in one week. Mallinson writes with style, verve and the lucidity one would expect from a talented officer of l'arme blanche...His breadth of knowledge is deeply impressive even if it is modestly entwined in the fabric of this epic narrative. Kick on, Captain Hervey, we cannot wait for more'

'Splendid news...Captain Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons and ADC to the Duke of Wellington is back in the saddle...A marvellous read, paced like a well-balanced symphony.  This is more than a ripping yarn...I look forward enormously to hearing more of Hervey's exploits; he is as fascinating on horseback as Jack Aubrey is on the quarterdeck'

(The Matthew Hervey Adventures: 8): A gripping and heart-stopping military adventure from bestselling author Allan Mallinson that will keep you on the edge of your seat

Company Of Spears

On the plains of South Africa, Matthew Hervey and the Light Dragoons confront the savage Zulus.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Allan Mallinson brings us another adrenalin-fuelled, absorbing adventure featuring Matthew Hervey. If you like Patrick O'Brian, Bernard Cornwell and CS Forester, you will love this! 
 
"Captain Matthew Hervey is as splendid a hero as ever sprang from an author's pen" -- THE TIMES 
"A damn fine, rip-roaring read" -- LITERARY REVIEW 
"The heir to Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester" -- OBSERVER 
"Outstanding storytelling!" -- ***** Reader review 
"Fab read" -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************* 
1827: Matthew Hervey is on the look-out for a new posting. 
 
He soon finds one in the Cape Colonies, where there is need of a man to re-organise the local forces, and in particular to form a new company of horse. 
 
Accompanied by a captain from the disbanded Royal African Corps, Hervey heads out into the great South African plains and towards the territory of the Zulu and their legendary leader, King Shaka. But it is not till he nears the Umtata River that his fiercest battle really begins. 
 
For the Zulus fight like no army he has encountered before. As Hervey and his troops are plunged into battle, death is only a heartbeat away... 
 
Company of Spears is the eighth book in Allan Mallinson's Matthew Hervey series. His adventures continue in Man of War. Have you read his previous adventures A Close Run Thing, The Nizam's Daughters, A Regimental Affair, A Call to Arms, The Sabre's Edge, Rumours of War and An Act of Courage?

Now at last a highly literate, deeply read cavalry officer shows one the nature of horse-borne warfare.

Mallinson's descriptions of what it's like to be on campaign are as compelling, vivid and plausible as in any war novel I've ever read.

[Mallinson is] the heir to Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester

In Hervey, Mallinson has a character worthy of comparison with Forester's young Hornblower ... And as always there is a splendid backdrop of action.

Allan Mallinson

His prose is light and engaging; this is a detailed factual account but it is as pleasurable and easy to read as any well written novel. The maps are excellent, the pace is a brisk canter . . . there are some utterly joyfully arid asides and footnotes that made me laugh aloud . . . this book is simply superb. Buy it. Read it.

It is such a relief to read something by a professional who really knows his stuff.

Six Campaigns from Hastings to Helmand

One of our most distinguished military historians tells the story of six defining battles . . . 
 
Every battle is different. Each takes place in a different context - the war, the campaign, the weapons. However, battles across the centuries, whether fought with sticks and stones or advanced technology, have much in common. Fighting is, after all, an intensely human affair; human nature doesn't change. So why were battles fought as they were? What gave them their shape? Why did they go as they did: victory for one side, defeat for the other? 
 
In exploring six significant feats of arms - the war and campaign in which they each occurred, and the factors that determined their precise form and course - The Shape of Battle answers these fundamental questions about the waging of war. 
 
Hastings (1066) - everyone knows the date, but not, perhaps, the remarkable strategic background. 
Towton (1461) - the bloodiest battle to be fought on English soil. 
Waterloo (1815) - more written about in English than any other but rarely in its true context as the culminating battle in the longest war in 'modern' times. 
D-Day (1944) - a battle within a larger operation ('Overlord'), and the longest-planned and most complex offensive battle in history. 
Imjin River (1951) - this little known battle of the Korean War was the British Army's last large-scale defensive battle. 
Operation Panther's Claw (2009) - a battle that has yet to receive the official distinction of being one: an offensive conducted over six weeks with all the trappings of 21st-century warfare yet whose shape and face at times resembled the Middle Ages. 
 
 The Shape of Battle is not a polemic, it doesn't try to argue a case. It lets the narratives - the battles - speak for themselves.

Allan Mallinson

Praise for The Shape of Battle

There is no finer military historian.

His prose is light and engaging; this is a detailed factual account but it is as pleasurable and easy to read as any well written novel. The maps are excellent, the pace is a brisk canter . . . there are some utterl ...

Mallinson writes with an exciting pen and a cool head and he understands war.

There is no finer military historian.

His prose is light and engaging; this is a detailed factual account but it is as pleasurable and easy to read as any well written novel. The maps are excellent, the pace is a brisk canter . . . there are some utterl ...

Mallinson writes with an exciting pen and a cool head and he understands war.

There is no finer military historian.

His prose is light and engaging; this is a detailed factual account but it is as pleasurable and easy to read as any well written novel. The maps are excellent, the pace is a brisk canter . . . there are some utterl ...

Mallinson writes with an exciting pen and a cool head and he understands war.

Books by Allan Mallinson

Series by Allan Mallinson

Matthew Hervey

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