Review - CAMPAIGNERS by Cynthia Harrod Eagles

Still continuing the Morland dynasty series this book set during the Napoleonic wars gives you an insight mainly into the English version of events. As Napoleon's rise to power comes to an inevitable end, the elite of English society gather in Brussels and though it sounds very incongruous form their little English world there, of balls and clubs and cricket matches! Heloise and Lucy are now taking Sophia and Rosamund for their debut - hoping to make an eligible match for both of them.

At the same time James Morland back at home is trying to come to terms with the loss of his daughter Fanny, and in turn is resentful that his wife is not there around to share in the sorrow. It is only James who mourns Fanny to this extent mainly because Fanny was not a very nice person.

Sophie falls in love with a Frenchman and Rosamund has to handle her feelings for her cousin Marcus. The story culminates in the biggest ball of the season with which also the war commences in full. The sadness of the War, the loss of life on both sides, the horrors of the war brought home with the dying and wounded and how Heloise and Lucy, Sophie and Rosamund all turn their hands to succor the dying and wounded add a lot of interest to the story.

The war itself and how it went is well documented in lots of books. Here the interest lies in the personal stories of each of our heroines and heroes. Conflict within a younger group of Morlands who will feature in future stories is also apparent.

Military history is very well documented in this very fat book by the author and the personal history and stories of the Morlands continue.