Allan Mallinson Books In Order

Publication Order of Matthew Hervey Books

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Mallinson is an English author of historical books best known for his long-running Matthew Hervey series and a number of non-fiction books. He served in the British Army, and it’s from his experiences in the military he was able to craft Matthew Hervey, a fictional character working in British Army from the Napoleonic Wars through colonial conflicts in North America, India, and South Africa.

Some of Allan Mallinson’s nonfiction works include Light Dragoon which tells the story of four Calvary regiments of the English Army. The book was published immediately after Mallinson renounced command of the 13/18 Royal Hussars.

Matthew Hervey series features Matthew Hervey who begins as a Cornet of the sixth Light Dragoons. He finds himself in the midst of many of the colonial military expeditions including Canada, Ireland, Burma, South Africa, and Balkans. His rise on the ranks is never easy or fast because the son of a vicar doesn’t have the means to buy his way through ranks. Additionally, his love life is also turbulence, and despite his personal challenges, he makes efforts to remain a man of honor, and the challenges he faces transforms him as a character throughout the entire series. The series is richly detailed concerning the daily operation of a military regiment and the main characters personal life showcases to the reader the life of an average guy in the mid-1800’s English society.

Matthew Harvey

It’s been rumored that Allan Mallinson’s series, Matthew Harvey does for the horse Calvary what Patrick Russ (Patrick O’Brian) did for fighting sail and that’s much true.

Allan Mallinson takes a particular field of the attempt, the British Army and creates a good story from the main character engaged in that endeavor. Just like Patrick O’Brian, Allan also tends to be more cerebral than your typical adventure/action author. The author makes interesting allusions to classical literature, borrows phrases from other languages and uses technical jargon of the British Calvary without forcing it out to on the readers’
A Close Run is the story of a young member of the light dragoons. He is a strong man with capable ideals and has been in war with the peninsular military under Wellington. However, his ideas come at a price as they earn him the wrath of an incompetent general high up in the military rankings. But by a feat of daring, the young man manages to overcome his enemy and also save a battle but his actions only allow the general’s baggage to be stolen and this doesn’t sit well with the general and our hero is in for some trouble. The general sends some trouble his way, but fortunately, the young man manages to get out earning respect from other highly ranked individuals.

Allan Mallinson’s character is a worthy addition in giving the readers a glimpse of what exactly happened in this era.

The Nizam’s Daughters

The Nizam’s Daughters was initially published as an Honorable Company in hardbound. The novel continues the adventures of Matthew Hervey as the Napoleonic Era comes to an end. One unique aspect of this series is that it doesn’t depict your average military main character of this era or any other era.
The main character here is confident, a capable young man who is irresistible to women and he beds them as a personal favor rather than to fulfill his sexual desires. He is far away and therefore the love of significance is not available, and hence he gives in to the attraction of the near.

It’s normal that in time of danger, we tend to forget the rules. Your typical military protagonist has an aggressive code of his own that he rubs under the orders of the incompetent highly ranked officers.

Captain Matthew Hervey is not your typical military protagonist. He is the type of man who doubts his actions and the kind of man who finds it hard to command men in situations where they will perish. There are plenty of deaths in this book and the entire series as well. Our hero does not take a mechanistic view of his country and God. He knows that performing his duties has personal impacts and that neither he as a military guy nor his superiors are omniscient. He can quote any verse from the bible to fit every occasion, but this doesn’t soothe his feelings.

Hervey is an honest character. He is at times gets the infidelity desires, but an image or voice inside him challenges him to get out of the situation before it’s too late. Even the situation and the desire that triggered it have consequences on him. He cannot treat people as objects and get away with it. He is a man who forgives the shortcomings of others and sets high standards for himself.

As for the narrative in The Nizam’s Daughters, we find Hervey on a mission to India- an operation which has delayed his marriage with a beautiful woman named Henrietta. He is sent to India to act as an advance man for Lord Wellington, but he soon finds himself entangled in a scorpions nest. He’s caught between his personal affinity for Rajah, duty for Lord Wellington and his doubts about British and their paramilitary missions and the betrayal of a known ally.
In unraveling this web of espionage and betrayal, Matthew aids in the rescue of an elephant trapped in the mire, observes cobras mating, learns hunting wild boar and makes and renews friendships. Allan Mallinson does a fantastic job of putting his readers in the main character’s situation of shifting trust and loyalties while at the same time trying to remain true to those above him- both his superiors and God.

The author has created several call-backs to other important points in history throughout this narrative that will amuse and also inspire many readers. One situation is related to the history of the Punic Wars, and another is analogous to Emperor Constantine. The Nizam’s Daughters is a fascinating story with great insights on medicine, culture, and military tactics and strategies. With Matthew Hervey series, the Napoleonic Era period finally has crossed path fighting sail in the Napoleonic Library of Fictional Heroes.

4 Responses to “Allan Mallinson”

1. peter harding: 3 years ago

   could somebody place these books in sequence to read

   Reply
   • Graeme: 3 years ago

     I believe the chronological order is the same as the publication order. The only difference is flashbacks such as Rumours of War which takes place in 1826, but has flashbacks to 1809.

     Reply
2. BARRIE IAN MCKAY: 3 years ago

   have all his matthew hervey novels and itend to keep them… am hoping to aquire his two most recent books. patrick obrian serves the navy in the same way as does a.m.the cavalry .i have all his novels also..

   Reply
3. Mike: 3 years ago

   recommended by my military type brother, who understands my love of horses and my interest in military history.

   Looking forward to reading Allan Malison’s books.

   Reply