Fans of Bernard Cornwell’s novels will be surprised by his latest effort, The Fort. The fort in question is Fort George in Massachusetts (later Maine) named for the British king at the time. The British build a crude fort in the summer of 1779 and expected to be dislodged by a larger American force of irregulars. That’s what should have happened. But what did happen at the Battle of Penobscot Bay was the worst American naval disaster until Pearl Harbor. Cornwell tells the story of how the Revolutionary forces led by the cautious General Lovell refused to attack the fort. The even more cautious Commodore Saltonstall, with 40 ships, delays and delays to take out the three ships the British have defending the fort. Paul Revere comes off as a self-centered diva as he “interprets” orders or ignores them completely. Yes, there is some fighting in this book, but it’s a minor part of the politics of warfare. Cornwell’s meticulously researched story shows the idiotic aspects of war. You’ll come away liking characters on both sides of the conflict. GRADE: B+
Have you read Agincourt? I started it, but the first chapter didn’t grab me and I wasn’t in the mood to continue. Still, I remember the story of the battle from a great John Severin story in an EC war comic, and know I’ll return to the book.
Yes, I read AGINCOURT and reviewed in here on my blog, Evan. The battle scenes are horrific. THE FORT has a couple scenes of warfare, but most of the book deals with the dithering of the Revolutionary leaders. It’s a very different Cornwell book.
One could make a case that EVERY aspect of war is idiotic…
Except winning, Rick.
Agincourt was a terrific book. I hadn’t much interest in the medieval period until reading Cornwell and now I relish any historical novel he writes.
I’ve read a couple dozen of Cornwell’s books, Thomas. For such a prolific writer, his quality is very high. You might want to try the Sharpe series. Check out Cornwell’s web site for his preferred order of reading them.