Title: Rebel
Author: Bernard Cornwell
First published January 1, 1993
416 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780060934613 (ISBN10: 0060934611)
Rating: 3.9
Overview
In Bernard Cornwell’s Rebel, Nate Starbuck is torn between his loyalty to his abolitionist father and the gratitude he feels towards Richmond landowner Washington Faulconer, who saves him from a violent mob. In an attempt to repay Faulconer’s kindness, Nate enlists in the Faulconer legion and sets out to fight against his own home, the North.
As the regiment prepares to engage in battle and defend their beloved South, they soon realize that the war will bring about more changes than they ever could have imagined. Follow Nate on his journey through a war-torn country where loyalty and family ties are put to the ultimate test.
About the Author
Born in London in 1944, Bernard Cornwell’s parents were part of the Air Force. After being adopted by the Wiggins family, who belonged to the Peculiar People group, he changed his name to his birth mother’s surname.
Cornwell attended Monkton Combe School and the University of London before becoming a teacher. Despite attempting to enlist in the British armed services several times, he was rejected due to myopia.
He then worked at BBC’s Nationwide before joining Thames Television as editor of Thames News. After marrying an American and moving to the United States, Cornwell started writing novels to support himself since it didn’t require a work permit.
Inspired by C.S. Forester’s novels, Cornwell decided to create his own series about a fictional British soldier, Richard Sharpe, fighting in Lord Wellington’s campaign. His first few novels were warm-up books, but he eventually wrote Sharpe’s Siege of Badajoz in his third novel.
Cornwell also co-wrote a series of novels with his wife under the pseudonym “Susannah Kells.” He’s published several other novels, including one about the American Revolutionary War and another about the Battle of Agincourt.
After writing eight books in the Sharpe series, Cornwell was approached to adapt them for television. He wrote a prequel to the series and created a role for Spanish characters to secure co-funding from Spain.
The result was Sharpe’s Rifles, which was adapted into a television series starring Sean Bean.
Cornwell was honoured with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2006. His latest work is about an archer in the Battle of Agincourt, but it’s not related to any of his previous characters.
Editoral Review
Rebel, written by Bernard Cornwell in 1993, is a historical novel set during the American Revolution. Cornwell is a prolific author of historical fiction, with a focus on military history, and is best known for his Sharpe series about a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars.
Rebel tells the story of Nathaniel Starbuck, a young man from Boston who joins the Confederate Army, despite his strong abolitionist views. It explores the complex historical and personal conflicts of the Civil War, as well as themes of identity, loyalty, and betrayal.
Cornwell is a master of the genre, and his attention to historical detail is impressive. He creates a vivid and gripping story that immerses readers in the world of soldiers, spies, and politics.
The plot of Rebel follows Starbuck as he becomes embroiled in the Confederate Army, despite his opposition to slavery. He struggles to reconcile his beliefs with his duty to his comrades and commanders, and his interactions with various characters in the book highlight the complexity of the Civil War era.
Starbuck’s journey is intense and well-paced, with plenty of action and strategic maneuvering. As in many of his books, Cornwell’s character development is strong in Rebel.
The main character is multi-faceted, and the supporting cast is also well-defined. The setting of the Civil War is vividly portrayed, and the historical context adds a layer of depth to the characters’ motivations and struggles.
One flaw in Rebel is that it is somewhat formulaic. Cornwell adheres to a standard plot structure, and the outcome of the story is somewhat predictable.
However, this is not unusual in historical fiction, and the strength of the characterization and setting more than make up for it. Overall, Rebel is an excellent historical novel that fans of the genre will enjoy.
It is informative and thought-provoking, with a gripping plot and interesting characters. It is also culturally significant, as it explores the issues of slavery and the Civil War, which continue to resonate in contemporary discussions of race and politics.
If you enjoy historical fiction and are interested in the American Revolution, Rebel is a must-read. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.
