The Company of Spears

By: Allan Mallinson

Narrated by: Eric Graham

Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Things are looking up for Major Matthew Hervey: news of a handsome legacy should allow him to purchase command of his beloved regiment, the 6th Light Dragoons. He is resolved to marry, and, rather to his surprise, the object of his affections, the widow of the late Sir Ivo Lankester, has readily consented. But he hasn't reckoned with the opportunism of a fellow officer with ready cash in hand.

©2006 Alan Mallinson (P)2006 W F Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"A damn fine, rip-roaring listen." (Literary Review)
"Mallinson's descriptions of what it's like to be on campaign are...compelling, vivid, and plausible." (Daily Telegraph)

a real British Officer

this is a well researched book about a typical British Cavalry officer, and Calvary Regiment in the early 1800s....I have enjoyed all Mallinsons books.

Interesting

This is the eighth book in the Matthew Hervey series. I have read a few of the books in the series but not in order. In this novel Hervey is home from India and the Napoleonic Wars. He is stationed in England attempting to purchase his Lt. Colonel’s rank. The British are reducing the size of the military for the first time in many years. Mallinson allows the reader to see the interaction between Matthew and his family. After a few local protection engagements, Hervey is being sent off to South Africa to the Zulu War.

The book is well written and meticulously researched. Mallinson does an excellent job keeping everything within the period, all details are correctly portrayed. I loved the details about the cavalry horses and the information about horse diseases by the regimental veterinarian. The description of the Zulu warriors is fantastic. I can remember the movie I saw years ago called Zulu and some of the tactics in the movie Mallinson describes in the book. I can hardly wait to read the next book in the series. Mallinson is a great historical storyteller.

The book is almost fourteen hours. Eric Graham does a good job narrating the book.

Just not worth it.

I usually enjoy historical fiction but this was a very poor use of listener credit. Leave this one alone and move on to something else.

Long and Boring

If you cut out about 2/3 of the book, it would get a higher rating. The last couple I have read do not compare to the first 3 of this series. I wish I had stopped with the third. There is a really long build up to the two action sequences, and then suddenly a jump of several weeks. This will be my last of the series to read.