The Fort

Bernard Cornwell turns his attention to a little-known slice of American history--the Penobscot Expedition, a foolishly conceived, ill-planned attack to remove the British from Fort George (now Castine, Maine) by the militia and navy of Massachusetts in the summer of 1779. Driven less by patriotism than by the possibility of monetary gain, this exercise in war-for-profit proved an unqualified disaster. Robin Bowerman's energetic reading, especially during conversations and fast-paced action sequences, insists on complete attention. Bowerman changes voices and timbres so quickly and easily that listeners will be sure he's sharing the booth with a full cast. Thanks to Cornwell's meticulous attention to military and nonmilitary details and Bowerman's spot-on reading, history buffs, particularly Revolutionary War enthusiasts, will find much to consider here. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

August 2, 2010
In a slight departure from his usual sword and musket epics, Cornwell (Agincourt) delivers a straightforward fictionalized account of a disastrous 1779 American military campaign in today's Maine (then Massachusetts) that's heavy on historical figures and tense battle scenes. After the British establish a fort on the Penobscot River, the Massachusetts patriots mount an expedition to oust the redcoats. Unfortunately, the campaign is poorly planned and ineptly executed, pitting an ill-trained and undisciplined force against experienced British soldiers and the Royal Navy. The commander of the American land force is Gen. Solomon Lovell, a useless and dithering Boston politician, and the American navy is led by Cmdr. Dudley Saltonstall, an obstinate officer who refuses to risk his ships. Then there's Paul Revere, artillery commander and shameful yellow belly. In fact, the only American officer with any spirit for a fight is a former schoolteacher, Gen. Peleg Wadsworth. This is a rousing yarn of clashing personalities, crashing cannons, and lively musket and bayonet work, along with spies, cowardice, and moments of incredible bravery. Cornwell presents a fascinating, accurate, and exciting history lesson enlivened with a generous blast of gun smoke and grapeshot.