Leopard Wakes

New Napoleonic Literary Hero - Just in time for the Bi-CentennialThe year 2003 marks the 200th anniversary of the lead-up to the Peninsular War between Britain and Napoleonic France - the perfect time to catch up on a little historical fiction. Bernard Cornwell recently published the last of his successful &quote;Sharpe&quote; novels, but readers can continue their Napoleonic adventures with a new hero, artilleryman Jonathan West, in two books from Derek Cheney, &quote;The Leopard Wakes&quote; and the sequel &quote;Vittoria&quote;.Derek Cheney combines imaginative sympathy with the historians cool objectivity and rare knowledge of arms, men and military strategy. His vivid portrayal of nineteenth century England - its farming, fashionable society and colourful London &quote;Season&quote; - is as rich in fascinating period detail as his evocation of campaign life. The Leopard Wakes, a story of romance, rivalry and adventure - but also of self-discovery through suffering - captures the spirit of the age and adds blood and meat to the dry bones of history.