Reliable but lacking the WOW factor
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If John Wilcox's novels were cars they would be Volvos; dependable, sensible but just a little bit boring. Majuba Hill, his latest, falls firmly within this description.
Returning his reoccuring heroes Simon Fonthill and '352' Jenkins (the latter's first 'name' was amusing once but just seems stale now) to South Africa and the run up to the First Boer War the historical research and details contained within Majuba Hill are, as ever, first rate. As the literary equivalent of a drama-documentary this book is excellent, but then again the same could be said of all Wilcox's previous Fonthill adventures.
Unfortunately as an adventure story Majuba Hill just doesn't cut the mustard. It begins strongly enough, with an episode in the Egyptian desert that comes close in terms of pace and energy to be actually being exciting. Unfortunately, once Fonthill and Jenkins arrive in South Africa things slow right down again and this early promise is lost.
The root cause of this problem with pacing is Wilcox's choice of having Fonthill intimately involved in the heart of real life events. Rather than craft a fictional tale that only intersects now and again with real incidents and peiople so that he has more control over dramatic events and the story's pace, he ties his characters closely to the historical record. This means that they and their stories have to fit in with the pace of real developments, and those do not always make for the most exciting adventures. In fact it is fair to say that the most exciting episodes in the whole of Majuba Hill, namely Fonthill & Jenkins' adventures in Egypt, are only completely fictional parts of the whole story, which istelf says a great deal about Wilcox's approach.
As if he has realised the weakness inherent in his approach Wilcox does make some efforts to insert other fictional events & characters (beyond the Egyptian prologue) in amongst the historical details in order to liven up matters. These come in the form of a diplaced Texan cowboy, a teutonic Baron and a beautiful femme fatale. Unfortunately all three are walking cliches straight from central casting and suffer as a result. In terms of upping the action quotient the best they can contribute are a couple of passable duelling sequences, some sharp shooting and rather insipid love interest for Fonthill that disappears almost as soon as it arrives.
Overall fictional characterisation is not Wilcox's strong point at all. Both Fonthill and Jenkins are drawn in incredibly broad strokes and have little or no depth to them. Wilcox's attempt to give Fonthill some emotional gravitas amounts to having him think about his lost love and then get a bit cross about doing so, something he does half a dozen times over the book's length. The only characters who really spring off the page are those who can be found in the historical record and where Wilcox has research to help him build personality traits. With these individuals you get the feeling that Wilcox feels on far firmer ground and this comes across in the writing.
Still, despite all the flaws I am going to keep buying John Wilcox's books (in paperback). You might ask why after all the faults I have found with Majuba Hill, but ths simple facts are that not only do I enjoy the history lesson they provide but despite one being a shallow, callow youth and the other being a walking bad pun I still enjoy the company of Fonthill and Jenkins and I'm curious to see where they end up...
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Historical fiction of the best posible kind... To be enjoyed.
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This is the fourth volume of the Victorian colonial adventures of Simon Fonthill, 352 Jenkins and the rest... (meaning by the rest a lot of actual REAL characters and some great fictional one's).
From my point of view the research is impeccable (after all I have read the same books the author uses as sources...) and the pace and plot better... you see I have to tell you those kind of literature need a strong romantic interest (after all the followers of this novels are direct heritage readers of P.C.Wren, Mason, Conan-Doyle and Forester to say the least... add a bit of Zane Grey, Fenimore Cooper or Oliver Curwood for those like me over fifty...) and at last the author provides it.
I am a fan also of the Rutland character, "Fancy JACK" Crossman, and of the Sharpe/Harper duo, and yes also the AUBREY/MATURIN who are in a class of their own because the erudition on the pages.
A real ripping yarn and a step forward in the right direction of composition and intrigue. If you like it get the first three volumes you won't be really disappointed... the first one THE HORNS OF THE BUFFALO is probably the weaker, I enjoyed THE ROAD TO KANDAHAR much more... and the third THE DIAMOND FRONTIER is only good because MAINLY the characters HAVE GROWN ON YOU... and the plot is rather an alibi...
A must read series for us old colonial wargamers/history buffs/good old boy's own adventures.
ENJOY.
ADB
PS: As usually in my reviews I do not like to spoil the read... but you all know how the first Boer war was... don't you?
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