A Close Run Thing Allan Mallinson Here's great book he a sharpe type character but a cavalry Officer which is great. Waterloo, 1815 As the war against Bonaparte rages to its bloody end upon the field of Waterloo, a young officer goes about his duty in the ranks of Wellington's army. He is Cornet Matthew Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons - a soldier, gentleman and man or honour, who suddenly finds himself allotted a hero's role ... Momentous times call for momentous acts: as the Napoleonic Wars escalate, Cornet Hervey faces decisions, both military and romantic, which will change the course of his life, and possibly the outcome of Waterloo Hervey series The Hervey novels are almost similar to the Sharpe novels written by Bernard Cornwell in that the heroes of both series of novels are British Army officers. Hervey (a cavalry officer), however, is a "proper" officer, unlike Sharpe (an infantry officer), who was raised from the ranks. Sharpe's campaigning was largely confined to the Napoleonic Wars, with some pre-Napoleonic India experience, whilst Hervey campaigned for many years afterwards in Canada, India, South Africa, Burma and the Balkans. In UK hardback publication order, the Hervey novels are: 1.A Close Run Thing (1999): Cornet Hervey's adventures before and during the Battle of Waterloo. 2.The Nizam's Daughters (2000): Hervey in India, defending the fictional princely state of Chintal (published in the US as Honourable Company). 3.A Regimental Affair (2001): problems in the regiment in England and Canada. 4.A Call to Arms (2002): back in India, an independent excursion on the borders of Burma. 5.The Sabre's Edge (2003): set in the First Burmese War in 1824, and the siege of Bharatpur in 1826. 6.Rumours of War (2004): Hervey in Portugal in 1826, with flashbacks to the Peninsular War before the battle of Corunna in 1809. 7.An Act of Courage (2005): Hervey imprisoned at Badajoz at Christmas 1826, with further flashbacks to the Battle of Talavera in 1809 and the Battle of Badajoz in 1812. 8.Company of Spears (2006): Hervey in the Cape Colony in 1827 fighting the Zulus, immediately before the death of Shaka and the accession of Dingane. 9.Man of War (2007): in 1827, Matthew Hervey is in England; unusually seeing no action. Meanwhile in a parallel story line, his old friend Peto takes part in the Battle of Navarino. 10.Warrior (2008): 1828 - Hervey is tasked with escorting an embassy to Shaka, King of the Zulus, whose motives are under suspicion. 11.On His Majesty's Service (2011): Hervey is sent as an observer to the Russian army during their war with the Ottoman Empire in 1829. Im on the last one.
