Tom Connery - Markham of the Marines

I have not read this series which was written by David Donachie under the pen name Tom Connery. As it is written specifically about the Royal Marines they could be an interesting read.

Has anyone read them?

Yes, I read and enjoyed them. I wonder if he'll write any more in this series?

reb01501 wrote:Yes, I read and enjoyed them. I wonder if he'll write any more in this series?

In that case I'll add them to my wish list

I came across this series a couple of years ago, and read all three novels.....since then I've been waiting for another in the series.....yet nothing seems to have appeared in a long time. Does anyone know if "Connery" has any intention of writing any further ones ? He did leave us somewhat high and dry at the end of the third novel.

Since the Napoleonic wars were just beginning at the time of that novel, there would seem to be tremendous scope for continuing.....Just compare to Cornwell's "Sharpe" series. It would be a shame - and a bit of a con on the readers - to just leave it there.

At the moment we seem to get a new book in Donachie's John Pearce series each year so I guess that is where his attention is at the moment.

That series seems to be set over quite a short period and the different books are to some extent just part of one story. Perhaps when that reaches some sort of conclusion he will get back to being 'Connery'

I had read several HNF series before I came upon David Donachie's (aka Tom Connery) works and found them "good reads" though they didn't use the "standard tack" of much HNF I had read to date. His characters were "privateers" and now "Royal Marines".

So again, as is my practice if they're available, I bought (the then) set of 3 HBs Markham and the Marines from Orion Books, LTD.

In the 1st novel A Shred of Honour the action doesn't build slowly. It begins on the first page with Lieutenant Markham being "pressed" into command in the heat of a naval engagement due to the death of his captain. Talk about the "opposite of patronage" this fellow has absolutely nothing going for him. And being late of the 65th Regiment of foot he's a little short on background as a "transfer in".

He spends much of this series ashore, getting himself organized, gaining (as best he can given what he has to work with) the respect and loyalty of his men, determining who poses the greater danger to his longivity, the French or his nemisis Col Hanger, and, of course, "redeeming his honour".

From the historical view, the background of the fight to take Corsica from the French and the seige of Bastia are, to me, the most interesting.

I understand from earlier comments that there is wonder and speculation if Donachie/Connery will continue this series. In that it's been 14 years, since the publishing of Honour be Dammed I think we have the answer.[u]. But that's OK, I enjoyed what he gave us, even thought it didn't seem to be "headed uphill" at the end. It's in my library.