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The Generals (Revolution 2)

Author: Simon Scarrow
Publisher: Headline Review
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

8 reviews
Sales Rank: 2924

Media: Paperback
Pages: 640
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1.7

ISBN: 0755324366
EAN: 9780755324361
ASIN: 0755324366

Publication Date: January 24, 2008
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•	Hardcover - The Generals (Revolution)
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Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

The Revolution continues June 6, 2008
This engaging and brilliant follow-up to Young Bloods continues almost immediately where the previous book ended. Both Napoleon Bonaparte and Arthur Wellesley are enjoying promotion in their respective armies, but when they return from their duties, life back in their homelands of France and Ireland have changed and they have to adapt to the various changes which they find difficult to do at first. But then they're able to manage.

Back in their armies and fighting their respective battles, these two brilliant generals find themselves leading almost identical lives as they hear how, in their other worlds, their loved ones are behaving and how they react when their armies are under attack or attacking the enemies they face. We also learn how great these generals become and make names for themselves. Wellesley making a name for himself to impress his loved one's brother, and Napolean hoping to be the very best.

Although Simon Scarrow weaves some delicately nuanced and believable characters into an historical context and places them with real figures from history, he makes the story move along at an agreeable pace. Yes there are some parts of the book that are historically inaccurate but don't let that distract from the fact that The Generals is an exciting follow-up to Young Bloods. There are some thrilling and terrific action sequences throughout the book as well. Exciting stuff. Roll on the next two books.

4 out of 5 stars

Patience December 3, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Young Bloods was superb by any standard. Meticulous development of the subjects, the time in which they lived and the characters who, knowingly or unwittingly, shaped the men who would stand head and shoulders above their fellows.

In The Generals it is almost as though the thorough groundwork of the first book is subordinate to pushing the storyline along.

Even if it means extending the series I would prefer to be given the theory as to how the dilitant at Dublin Castle managed to develop into the strategic genius of Assaye and the calculating genius of the peninsula war . Equally I would like to appreciate how Napoleon managed to achieve the charisma that made soldiers believe that every soldier carried a Marchall's baton in his knapsack whilst indulging in flagrant nepotism. Yes the events are important in terms of the development of both these men but the real interest is in their development and maturity.

Young Bloods showed what Simon Scarrow is capable of but The Generals smacks a little of "and with one bound they were free". Not to say it was a bad book but it represents the difference between five stars and four (maybe four and a bit). Please keep breathing life into these characters and continue provide the insight into what turned mortals into giants.

For prospective readers, you don't need fantasy to recognise larger than life heroes - just read this series and you will understand that genius lives amongst us and just needs to be realised.

Apart from Marco and Cato (may they live forever) what comes next after Wellington and Napoleon? Marlborough? Nelson? With the research applied and the insight which Simon Scarrow is capable of achieving who knows who else will be brought to life by his deft touch.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!!! September 27, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Much better than the first one, which wasn't in itself too bad at all. Brilliant in terms of political background rather than military bloodletting [though there's plenty of that!]. Rise of Napoleon set against turmoil in Paris shows him in a light I hadn't before realised. Hugely engaging book. I enjoy Scarrow's writing - I feel he's getting better all the time.

4 out of 5 stars

Simon's star continues to shine September 18, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

The continuation of Simon Scarrow's Revolution series and one that see's the world of Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington unfold toward their climatic struggle where Europe never knew which way the tale was going to end. Whilst we may consider this a historical fiction in todays modern world the outcome was a lot tougher to call at the time and as such Simon has done wonderfully well by bringing the tale of the two greatest generals of their generation to the fore. Following them from boyhood up to and possibly after their Waterloo we have a tale that to many would have appeared too ambitious a project for many. Famed for his Macro and Cato novels we see the talents that have made him a fan favourite explore a world not to far gone and whilst there will be errors the tales and personalities of these generals speaks volumes to the reader.

Whilst not sticking to one side or the other of the conflict its going to be interesting to see on who's side the author eventually comes down on. Whilst not a book to read without having read the first part it will definitely while away many an hour to keep you as a reader happy.

4 out of 5 stars

Maintains The Standard June 13, 2007
34 out of 36 found this review helpful

The Generals, the second volume of Simon Scarrow's series on the lives of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Athur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington, picks up where volume one, Young Bloods, left off. Napoleon is a young officer in revolutionary France. Wellesley has returned from campaigning in the Low Countries and is stationed back in Dublin. Neither man is satisfied with his position in life and both are seeking advancement; although for differing motives.

From there The Generals follows both men's paths as they begin to advance their careers. Napoleon's takes him first to Italy, then on to Egypt before a triumphant return to France the assumption of dictatorial powers as First Consul. Wellesley's take him to India, where he is destined to remain for most of the book, converting the East India Company's slim holdings into the largest territory in the British Empire.

As a result The Generals covers some of the most fascinating moments in both men's lives in the period leading up to the commencement of the Iberian campaign. It deals with how both men won their reputations as military strategists and the events that shaped their future attitudes to war and politics.

It does all this very well, covering the most important events in sufficient detail but without forgetting that this is history as enjoyable fiction and getting bogged down in minutae. Purist historians will quibble over some minor factual liberties, which Scarrow owns up to in his afterword, and the glossing over of many of the wider political events of time (everything being seen directly from the perspective of one man or the other) but unless you're planning to sit an exam on the subject of either man's life The Generals is a well written, accessible, exciting study of both men's acheivements and personalities that holds the reader's attention.

Of course by trying to cram in years of world changing history Scarrow is forced to skip over some detail. This gives the narrative an episodic feel as it jumps from one 'big' event to another; a sensation that is increased by the need to constantly move from Napoleon to Wellesley and back. Scarrow is to be congratulated on the fact that the need for these constant shifts of perspective and time do not damage the overall flow of the narrative or the enjoyment of it.

What do however, succeed in doing is highlighting the disparity in the level of each man's acheivements. Whilst Wellesley is no slouch, his successes are limited to the military theatre of India, whilst Napoleon must deal with both military, domestic and diplomatic challenges as he assumes greater powers. This gives the book a slightly lopsided feel. When focusing on Napoleon their is a far greater number and wider scope of events to cover, but in order to do each one must be skated over quickly. With Wellesley events are primarily military in nature (although some diplomatic issues are addressed) so battles can be covered in more detail but are not necessarily of as broad interest.

Further imbalance in the narrative is caused by the author having to address Napoleon's private life in some detail, something he doesn't have to do after the first few chapters with the batchelor Wellesley. Moreover, whilst Bonaparte's stormy marriage to Josephine is important to the story of his life, it also requires greater finesse than scenes of political intrigue or military combat. Unfortunately, crammed into a crowded narrative, Scarrow cannot afford it the attention it deserves and as a result it has something of the feeling of a soap opera, with Josephine little more than a characture.

Minor quibbles over narrative balance, pacing and characterisation aside however, The Generals is up to the standard of Young Bloods, and in terms of excitement surpasses it. Its never going to be praised for its depth of characterisation, subtext or historical accuracy, but if you want a broad insight in the lives of two of history's greatest military minds it can be highly recommended.