The Nizam's daughters - Hardcover

At seventeen, Allan Mallinson gave up the promise of an Exhibition at Oxford to go to theological college. After three years he took a break with a short-service commission in the army where he served with the infantry. On deciding to make the army a career, he transferred to the cavalry. He began writing while still serving - first, a history of the antecedent regiments of that which he commanded, and then the popular Matthew Hervey series, which chronicles the life of a fictitious cavalry officer before and after Waterloo. He left the army in 2004 as a brigadier to write full time, including defence comment for the Daily Telegraph and then The Times. He also reviews for the Spectator. In 2009 his The Making of the British Army was shortlisted for several prizes and chosen by Jeremy Paxman as a `Book of the Year'. His centenary history, 1914: Fight the Good Fight - Britain, the Army and the Coming of the First World War was shortlisted for the Westminster Medal and won the British Army's Book of the Year Award. Its sequel, Too Important for the Generals - a provocative look at leadership during the war - was published in 2016. Allan Mallinson lives on Salisbury Plain.

"A marvellous read, paced like a well-balanced symphony ... This is more than a ripping yarn...I look forward enormously to hearing more of Hervey's exploits; he is as fascinating on horseback as Jack Aubrey is on the quarterdeck." * The Times * "'This is an engaging work...The attention to detail is admirable'" * Daily Express * "Allan Mallinson's grasp of the technical side of his subject is effortless and impressive...The portrayal of the men of all ranks is excellent ...This promises to be an extremely enjoyable series" * Spectator * "Treads a middle course between the subtleties of O'Brian and the simplicities of Cornwell...An exciting, fast-moving story, full of bloody hacking with sabre and tulwar." * Evening Standard * "'O'Brian's equal in accurate knowledge of the equipment, methods, weapons and conditions of serve of the fighting men of whom he writes...An imaginative feat of high order, owning as much to thorough scholarship as it does to compassion and sensibility... Brilliantly conveyed'" * Country Life *