Bibliography

Date first published	6 July 1987
ISBN Number	978 0 140 17722 0
Page Count	404 p/b
h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback

Storyline

The British have occupied Philadelphia, throwing together loyalist and patriot, soldier and civilian, man and woman, dividing families and breeding treachery and betrayal.

For private Sam Gilpin, seduced into wearing a red coat by a dare, it is a time of horror and struggle. For he must steer a course through war's terrible rapids. There's ruthless Captain Kit Vane and beautiful Martha Crowl, passionate patriot Caroline and her idealistic lover Jonathan, not to mention unscrupulous Ezra Woollard and brutal Sergeant Scammell.

Private Gilpin will learn the bitter lessons of love and loss - and the true meaning of loyalty to one's home and to one's self.

Review

Well the book blurb, certainly tries to hype up the story. Unfortunately the story doesn't really live up to expectations. I was quite surprised when collating the book stats, that it had been written way back in 1987, when he was only just getting going, so it has to be taken in context. The story whilst OK does not really lift off, and get going, there is only a couple of brief fights, an attack Paoli's Tavern, and the battle for the river forts. The first is a night attack, and is an easy victory as the Americans were taken by surprise, and routed before they had even woken up. The attack on the forts, is only lightly covered and the hero Gilpin is not really involved.

Reading the book, I had several moments of de ja vu. Especially the defensive battle of Philadelphia, where Washington nearly wins, Jonathan's visit to the warehouse, and the final showdown at Caroline's house. I am sure I have not read the book -it's not amongst my collection, but I have read those scenes before somewhere (either that or I'm going mad!).

I have to admit that I did have problems concentrating on the book, and it did not grip me as many of his books have. I think that it is in part because not a lot happens. Yes there is the spying, the passing of messages, but the main hero Gilpin is very much on the edge of things. He does become involved in the welfare of Jonathan, but again it is only in passing.

Much of the book is spent on the British enjoying the sights of the city, grand parties, with little thought of actually going out and fighting, which seems to be down to General Howe who firmly believed the cause was lost!

The book lacks a tempo, many of his stories based around battles or troops tend to follow the formula - battle - breather, more action - breather - climax. This story seems to just meander on. part of the focus is on whether Sam will abandon the Red Coat, but it is not a strong driver to the story, you get the feeling if Vane had not caught up with him in the stable and he had been not been forced kill Scammell, that he would have returned to England with Howe and worked as a groom. If you think that perhaps Cornwell is out of his depth, have a look at Gallows Thief, which again is not his usual fare, but has a tempo that makes the story bounce along, with out the need for large set battles.

Sam's final jump is forced upon him, and I'm not actually sparked the final confrontation, apart from being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It builds to a brief fight at the farmhouse, and then finishes with Sam walking into an American sunset. Very unusual for Cornwell to be so sentimental, although it might suit the American market.

I think that I would describe the book as interesting, not one of his best by a long chalk, but not so bad that it rates a two. If you want to start off on a Cornwell, I doubt I would recommend this as it is just not a strong enough story, and is quite dull in places. If you are interested in the period and American Civil War then this might interest you, but it will not give you any real insight into the siege or the period.

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