Review & Giveaway - The Last Campaign of Marianne Tambour: A Novel of Waterloo by David Ebsworth

June 1815. Bonaparte has returned from Elba and marches with his army to defeat the Prussian and English enemies of France. Within his ranks is Marianne Tambour, a battle-weary canteen mistress for a battalion of the Imperial Guard’s Foot Grenadiers. Just one of the many cantinières who provide the lads with their brandy and home comforts, both in camp and also in the thick of the fight. Marianne is determined that, after this one last campaign, she will make a new life for herself and her young daughter, since neither of them has ever known anything but the rigours of warfare. But she has not reckoned on the complications that will arise from a chance encounter with another of the army’s women, Liberté Dumont – Dragoon trooper and sometimes spy for the Machiavellian French Minister of Police, Fouché. And Marianne wonders what she really wants, this hawk-faced trooper with her visions, dreams and fancies. Yet, for now, Liberté Dumont is the least of Marianne’s worries. Her position as canteen mistress has not been easily won and she has made enemies in the process. Lethal enemies. And creating a new life, breaking with the army, needs money. Lots of money. So when Hawk-face Dumont accidentally provides an opening for Marianne to rid herself of a dangerous rival and also extends the possibility of fortunes to be made, it looks like an opportunity too good to be refused. The battles that both women must survive, however, at Ligny and Quatre Bras, create their own problems. The closer they come to the English Goddams, the more Marianne is haunted by the memory of the way her adopted mother was butchered at their hands just a few years earlier, in Spain. Thoughts of revenge torment her, distract her from her goals. But her daughter’s capture by the Prussians, and Liberté Dumont’s help in the quest to find the girl creates new and very different bonds, between mother and daughter, and between the two women themselves. The climax will take place on the blood-soaked fields of Waterloo, where Marianne Tambour and Liberté Dumont must each confront their deadliest foes, their worst nightmares, find answers to the secrets of their respective pasts, and try to simply survive the slaughter. Yet the fortunes of war are not easily won, and the fates may, after all, only allow one of these women to see the next day’s dawn. David Ebsworth’s story, The Last Campaign of Marianne Tambour: A Novel of Waterloo, is based upon the real-life exploits of two women who fought, in their own right, within Bonaparte’s army. (provided by the author) ***

(historical fiction – Napoleonic)

 Release date: January 1, 2015

SilverWood Books 360 pages ISBN: 978-1781323212

Author’s website | Goodreads

 ****

It didn't take me long to realize that the author has a real passion for this period in history.  Inspired by real historical figures he has created Marianne Trebour and Liberte Dumont.  I won't go into detail about what this book is about, the synopis above does a very good job of that.

The Battle of Waterloo is a part of history I know very little about and this book brought it to life peaking my interest to learn more.  Women on the battlefield is something that is new to me and it worked here, especially when given details in advance on who these characters are based on.  Watching history unfold through a woman's eye gave it a more intimate feeling.  With rich details and vivid descriptions about the battlefields and camp life, as the troops moved about, I had no problem visualizing the scenes, the emotions, drama and struggles that went on. 

The author notes are always a favorite part of the book, it completes the story for me.  It provides details about liberties taken, how the book was put together and reasoning behind what was included.  The maps at the end of this book was a nice addition along with the details of the journey the author took, following the path these ladies took was interesting and a welcomed addition.

I really enjoyed reading this book and know that it will appeal to those interested in major events in history especially those taking place in France.

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David Ebsworth is the pen name of writer, Dave McCall, a former negotiator and Regional Secretary for Britain’s Transport & General Workers’ Union. He was born in Liverpool (UK) but has lived for the past thirty years in Wrexham, North Wales, with his wife, Ann. Since their retirement in 2008, the couple have spent about six months of each year in southern Spain. Dave began to write seriously in the following year, 2009, and The Last Campaign of Marianne Tambour is his fourth novel. Visit his website. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter Subscribe to his newsletter (see on the right side of the site) Buy the book: SilverWood Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Abebooks | Waterstones

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