In an age when cannon and musket decide the fate of nations, can horsemen still triumph?
From the back cover:
1808. As Napoleon’s conscript armies smash their way across Europe, a small British expeditionary force lands on the coast of Portugal. Its mission: to support Portuguese efforts to eject the French from their country.
Young cavalrymen Corporal Joshua Lock and Lieutenant the Honourable John Killen disembark with the 20th Light Dragoons. But their three-year friendship, forged in the aftermath of a near-fatal accident, ends tragically when Lock is killed in a French ambush.
So when his regiment march to meet the French in battle, will Killen live to honour his father’s memory?
Excerpt
The pistol hammer flew forward. The flint struck the frizzen, flicking it forward so sparks dropped into the pan to explode the powder. The horse, startled at the noise, shot backwards, pulling loops of rope through Lock’s hand. He closed his fist, using the rope as a brake on the horse’s wild flight, and spoke to it gently; calmly. The horse stopped, nostrils flared, ears pricked; breathing heavily and propped on its front legs, ready for instant flight. Lock quietly lowered the pistol to the ground and began to reel the horse in, little by little, talking to it all the while. When The Tempest stood in front of him once again, breathing normally, he picked up the pistol, adding fresh powder to its pan.
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Professional Reviews
Walls of Jericho by Jonathan Hopkins
Young Joshua Lock saves the life of the Honourable John Killen and in the aftermath of the near fatal accident an unlikely friendship is forged. When both enlist in the 20th Light Dragoons, Joshua through necessity, John to take up a commission, they soon find themselves in the expeditionary force posted to Portugal to fight the French. Out on a patrol, Joshua is ambushed by the French and left for dead. He is rescued by the Portugese partisans however and nursed back to health by their leaders beautiful grand-daughter. John Killen has been told that his friend is dead, but fate has yet a card to play.
An excellent tale of the Peninsular War from the cavalryman's point of view. If you like Bernard Cornwell's tales of this period, you'll like this.
booksfromboris.com
Walls of Jericho by Jonathan Hopkins
Mr. Hopkins displays an evident love of his subject and a thorough knowledge of 19th century military methods, swordsmanship and horsemanship. His narrative is engaging and I found myself quite quickly turning pages as I became involved with the events surrounding the two main characters.
The plot isn’t a particularly new one, but it’s none the worst for that. To be honest, how many plots are there in this world? Many of the greatest novels ever written employ the “rich man’s fate entangled with his poor counterpart” theme and this one – at least until the narrative reaches the shores of Spain where our two heroes are sent to engage in the Napoleonic Wars – kept me engaged and indeed caring about the characters.
I’m afraid it lost me a little once I reached the account of events on Spanish and Portuguese soil. I expected a greater development of personal histories but was rather confused with the sheer weight of information about strategy and the ensuing battle. I was a little let down at how the story ended, as I had expected more detail about how the personal lives of the characters continued after the battle which had just been described in some detail.
I believe that this book will appeal to a particular audience, those who have a keen historical interest in military affairs of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The problem is, I almost feel it’s like two books, neither of which was quite rounded out in the way I would have liked. The first part is fairly “Thomas Hardy meets George Elliot,” with the second part being a land-based version of “Master and Commander.”
All that said, I believe Mr. Hopkins has a good grasp of English grammar (something increasingly lacking nowadays, even among the British!), writes intelligently, with wit and warmth and feel sure a lot of readers will get great enjoyment from this book.
John Manuel
for
I heard it on the grapevine
Walls of Jericho by Jonathan Hopkins
'The immediate detail of Jonathan Hopkins' French versus Austrian battle scene draws you in to Walls of Jericho and holds you there for the duration.'
Hi Jonathan
I have eventually got around to contacting you re the book. I thought it was a great read. I also bought a copy for my Dad who is a staunch Bernard Cornwell fan. He thought it was excellent.
Kindest regards,
Alison (with horses in Groes Faen).
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