A Close Run Thing (53 page)

About the Author

ALLAN MALLINSON IS A FORMER CAVALRY OFFICER
. Besides the Matthew Hervey series, he is the author of
Light Dragoons
, a history of four regiments of British Cavalry, one of which he commanded, and a regular reviewer for
The Times
and the
Spectator
. His Matthew Hervey novels are all available in Bantam paperback and his new novel,
Man of War
, is now available in hardcover from Bantam Press.

For more information on Matthew Hervey, please visit his website on
www.hervey.info

Also by Allan Mallinson

AND FEATURING MATTHEW HERVEY

A CLOSE RUN THING

1815: introducing Matthew Hervey, fighting for King and country at the Battle of Waterloo
.

‘
I have never read a more enthralling account of a battle … This is the first in a series of Matthew Hervey adventures. The next can’t come soon enough for me
’

DAILY MAIL

THE NIZAM’S DAUGHTERS

1816: in India Matthew Hervey fights to prevent bloody civil war
.

‘
Captain Hervey of the 6th Light Dragoons and ADC to the Duke of Wellington is back in the saddle … He is as fascinating on horseback as Jack Aubrey is on the quarterdeck
’

THE TIMES

A REGIMENTAL AFFAIR

1817: Matthew Hervey faces renegades at home and in North America
.

‘
A riveting tale of heroism, derring-do and enormous resource in the face of overwhelming adversity
’

BIRMINGHAM POST

A CALL TO ARMS

1819: Matthew Hervey races to confront Burmese rebels massing in the jungle
.

‘
Hervey continues to grow in stature as an engaging and credible character, while Mallinson himself continues to delight
’

OBSERVER

THE SABRE’S EDGE

1824: in India Matthew Hervey lays siege to the fortress of Bhurtpore
.

‘
Splendid … the tale is as historically stimulating as it is stirringly exciting
’

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

RUMOURS OF WAR

1826: while Matthew Hervey prepares for civil war in Portugal, he remembers the Retreat to Corunna twenty years previously
.

‘
I enjoyed the adventure immensely … as compelling, vivid and plausible as any war novel I’ve ever read
’

ANDREW ROBERTS
,
DAILY TELEGRAPH

AN ACT OF COURAGE

1826: a prisoner of the Spanish, Matthew Hervey relives the blood and carnage of the Siege of Badajoz
.

‘
Concentrating on the battle of Talavera and the investment of Badajoz, both sparklingly described, [Mallinson] plays to his undoubted strengths
’

OBSERVER

COMPANY OF SPEARS

1827: on the plains of South Africa, Matthew Hervey confronts the savage Zulu
.

‘
A damn fine rip-roaring read
’

LITERARY REVIEW

TRANSWORLD PUBLISHERS
61–63 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5SA
A Random House Group Company
www.transworldbooks.co.uk

A CLOSE RUN THING
A BANTAM BOOK: 9780553507133
Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781407057354

First published in Great Britain
in 1999 by Bantam Press
a division of Transworld Publishers
Bantam edition published 2000

Copyright © Allan Mallinson 1999, 2007

The Battle of Waterloo, 1815
by Felix Philippoteaux.
Map by David Lindroth, Inc.

Allan Mallinson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

Addresses for Random House Group Ltd companies outside the UK can be found at:
www.randomhouse.co.uk
The Random House Group Ltd Reg. No. 954009

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