Starbuck Chronicles

[traveller]

I am wondering if anyone had read the "Starbuck Chronicles" by Bernard Cornwell. I am presently reading volume 4. I am finding his writing very entertaining to say the least.

Traveller

 

[rallyround]

Oh, I read those ages ago. I think I was about 10 at the time. Or at least it seems like ages ago... LOL. Well, from what I remember of them, I also thought they were somewhat entertaining. I read them when I still didn't know that much about the war. Hmm, thinking about all this, maybe I should go check them out from the library again and refresh my memory. From your post, Rick, it's hard for me to tell whether or not entertaining is a good or bad thing to you. Anyway, I hope you enjoy whatever it is you decide to read.

 

[illreb]

I have them but never got around to reading them,I couldn't really get into fiction (until Killer Angels that is, read it 3 times)Maybe I should dust them off and take another look

 

[traveller]

Keith: I would definately dust them off. I have read so much non fiction already that it seems so repetative. It was a nice change to read some fiction, although the story follows history very accurately. I actually found myself laughing out loud more than once.

Aimiee: Now that you know more about the war I think you will find them very entertaining. I suggest reading them again.

Traveller

 

[unionblue]

Never heard of them. What are they about?

Unionblue

 

[traveller]

Neil:
The "Starbuck Chronicles" fiction by Bernard Cornwell is a series about a Northerner living in the South at the outbreak of the war. He fights for the South in a Legion from Virginia. It gives a very detailed and authentic description of the early years of the war, and the challenges he faces. I read and enjoyed all four books in the series. I found them much better reading than Cold Mountain, although I've read that twice. Cornwell is a very descriptive writer who interjects a lot of humor in his work. He has also written a series of novels about British war with France in the Early 1800's. I'm sure you would enjoy reading them. Rebel, Copperhead, Battle Flag, and The Bloody Ground are the four titles of the Civil War Series.

Traveller

 

[unionblue]

Rick,

Is this the same guy who wrote the series of books about 'Sharpe's Rifles?'

Unionblue

 

[traveller]

Neil:
Sharpes Rifles is the third in the Sharpes series written by Cornwell. It deals with the French invasion of Galicia in 1809. There are in total fifteen Sharpes novels beginning with the Siege of Seringapatam in 1799 and continuing past the Waterloo Campaign of 1815. I have only read a couple of them so far.

Traveller

 

[unionblue]

Rick,

I have seen the television series based on the Sharpe series and found them to be excellent entertainment. I saw a few of them on the History Channel where Cornwell was interviewed about the series inbetween segments. Very informative and interesting.

Thanks for the info and your time. I will look into to both series of books.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[Susquehanna River Rat]

Yes, an old post but I just recently found out about this series. I really got addicted to Bernard Cornwells "Saxon Chronicles" and knowing a bit about Vikings (Northmen) I think he did an awesome job on the reality of it.
Now that I found out about the "Starbuck Chronicles", I am definately going to read them, too.
....after the new Saxon Chronicle" book of course....

Thanks for the info here ya'll................

 

[Lt R. Blackwell 4th Texas]

Cornwell is one of my favorites, along with Ken Follett. I thoroughly enjoyed the Sharpe series and the Saxon Chronicles. His battle scenes are terrific. And generally accurate - you can tell he does a ton of research.

I also liked the first of the Ralph Peters series and plan to read more.

 

[FarawayFriend]

Same here! I really like Bernard Cornwell and have read all of Sharpe and the Artus trilogy and have some more in my "to read"- batch. And I think I will add the Starbuck volumes to my list.

 

[thomas aagaard]

I have "only" read his 5 books covering the 100year war and his Saxon Chronicles.
But I haven't noticed anything where I think "that is not correct".

One of the things I like about him, is that he really do his research. So you can generally trust the small details he describe.
The fact that he have a "historical notes" chapter at the end of his books is great. So if he changed things he is actually honest about it. Some of my books about the 100year war and about longbows, is actually books I got because he mention them as his main literature. (one of them I actually used when I wrote my BA in medieval archaeology)

 

[theoldman]

I am a big Cornwell fan. The "Starbuck" series is good but it should be noted that it is not finished. If you go to his official web site he mentions that here:

"I suppose that the most frequently asked question I get is "when will the next Starbuck book be published?" and it's my fault that I get asked it so often. The problem began when the Sharpe TV series was made and it seemed sensible (no, it WAS sensible) to write more Sharpe books – so I took Sharpe back to India and began what is really a whole new Sharpe series. And the trouble was that the Sharpe books are just a bit too much like the Starbuck books and I did not want to be writing two of those a year, and so I sent Nathaniel Starbuck on an extended vacation. I fear he is still enjoying that. So will there be more Starbuck books? I hope so, but I don't really know when (watch this space)."

 

[Nytram01]

They're decent books but ultimately dissapointing because he abandonned the series. He hasn't release one since 1996. They exist in the same universe as the Sharpe series the proof of which is the presence of Sharpe's son, a French Colonel on an observation mission, and I enjoyed them when I read them years ago. From what I recall they're very much follow the typical Cornwell formula of fictional male protagonist gets involved in a war and plays a central but role in events, has a few significant enemies he has to defeat, makes some interesting friends and always ends up in the arms of a beautiful girl or two along the way - and, if its anything like the Sharpe series, any younger officer who gets close to the main protagonist always dies. Anyway, I read them once and enjoyed them, I might dust them off one of my bookshelves and read them again and enjoy them, and I'd read any new ones in the series and probably enjoy them as well, but whether they could be considered amungst the best of the fiction based around the Civil War I could not judge.

 

[Delhi Rangers]

I am wondering if anyone had read the "Starbuck Chronicles" by Bernard Cornwell. I am presently reading volume 4. I am finding his writing very entertaining to say the least.

Traveller

I have read the entire set 2-3 times. Loved them. I thought that his description of the battles of Sharpsburg and 2nd Bull Run were really good.

 

[Poor Private]

I have read them all, and most other of his books. Matter of fact I am re-reading the Sharpes series.
And I enjoy the Thomas of Acton series(hope I have the character right). He is a archer in search of holy relics.

 

[theoldman]

The King Arthur trilogy started out a little difficult. The first of the series The Winter King was a bit tedious but the books got much better as the story went on.

 

[thomas aagaard]

it is "Thomas of Hookton" ;-)

There are four books about him, and he is mentioned in a 5th.

 

[Phiip McBride]

I've been a Cornwell fan for well over twenty years. I ate up each Sharpe novel as it was published and the same with the Starbuck novels. I've been waiting a long time for him to return to our Civil war, especially since he moved to the USA.

His recent book about the American Revolution, The Fort, is excellent. It's not a "hero" type novel as are the Sharpe and Starbuck series, but it was riveting to me - and enlightening, especially in regards to one of the great American folk-heroes. (No name, I can't be a spoiler.)

Finally, I have to say that Cornwell's works have been one of the primary standards I have held my own Civil War novels up against, even more in my second book (as yet untitled and not quite finished) than in the first one.