A Tainted Dawn: The Great War by B. N. Peacock
August 1789. The Rights of Man. Liberty. Equality. Idealism. Patriotism.
A new age dawns.
And yet, old hostilities persist: England and Spain are on the brink of war. France, allied by treaty with Spain, readies her warships. Three youths–the son of an English carpenter, the son of a naval captain, an the son of a French court tailor–meet in London, a chance encounter that entwines their lives thereafter. The English boys find themselves on the same frigate bound for the Caribbean. The Frenchman sails to Trinidad, where he meets an even more zealous Spanish revolutionary. As diplomats in Europe race to avoid conflict, war threatens to erupt in the Caribbean, with the three youths pitted against each other.
Will the dawn of the boys’ young manhood remain bright with hope? Or will it become tainted with their countrymen’s spilt blood? (back cover)
The book starts with brief encounter of 3 boys: Edward; son of a Navy Captain, Louis; son of a French tailor and Jemmy; son of a carpenter who works as a fiddler. The boys’s lives will intervene later on The Caribbean after all of their lives has changed.
The book is told from the point of view of the 3 boys. My favourite was Edward’s story at a ship his grandfather dropped off. I liked to read about the life at the sea and men there. I didn’t however particularly like Louis so I found his chapters to be most boring ones. At the beginning Louis and Edward meet ends up fighting and Louis hates Edward for the rest of his life. I didn’t see the reason for such hate and it was the only thing besides revolutionary thoughts that drove him.
Jemmy was much more sympathetic character. A poor boy with a drunken father trying to get on with life.
There was some slow going paces but overall it was enjoyable. I liked the to read about the life at the sea most and it was fascinating reading about the relationship between the shipmates.
3/5
Publisher: Fireship Press (2012)
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 352
Source: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour
Check out the tour schedule here.
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About the Author
B. N. Peacock’s love of history started in childhood, hearing stories of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire from her immigrant grandparents. They related accounts handed down from their grandparents about battlefields so drenched in blood that grass cut there afterwards oozed red liquid. Such tales entranced her. These references probably dated to the time of the Napoleonic Wars. No wonder she was drawn to this time period.
In addition to history, she showed an equally early proclivity for writing, winning an honorable mention in a national READ magazine contest for short stories. The story was about history, of course, namely the battle of Bunker Hill as seen from the perspective of a British war correspondent.
The passion for writing and history continued throughout high school and undergraduate studies. She was active in her high school newspaper, eventually becoming its editor-in-chief. After graduation, she majored in Classical Studies (Greek and Latin) at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. In her junior year, life took one of those peculiar turns which sidetrack one. A year abroad studying at Queen Mary College, University of London in England led to the discovery of another passion, travel. She returned and finished her degree at F&M, but now was lured from her previous interests in history and writing.
Her work continues on Book Two in The Great War series, tentatively to be called Army of Citizens, with new trips planned to England, France and Belgium.
blodeuedd
I think I’d rather watch than read it, cos well I like stories like this :)
Elysium
I like the movie idea :)
Melissa @ Confessions of an Avid Reader
I enjoyed this one, too, and agree that Edward’s story was the most interesting of the three. I’m looking forward to the second book.
Melissa @ Confessions of an Avid Reader recently posted..Book Talk: Bookish Pet Peeves
Elysium
I’d love to see if the other two will get more interesting.
Barbara Peacock
Thank you Elysium for hosting me and for your review. It was a pleasure to be on your blog.
Thanks also to Blodeuedd and Melissa for their comments. Also, a big thanks to Melissa for hosting me also on her blog! By the way, Edward by far is the most liked character.
Elysium
You’re welcome :)