Official Review: I am a Soldier, First and Always: The Di...

[Tomah]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "I am a Soldier, First and Always: The Distinguished Career of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock" by James Harold Kelly.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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There are so many distinguished figures in military history one would have to compile several books to briefly cover all of them. When it comes to the nineteenth century, one name that can’t be left out is that of Winfield Scott Hancock. Hancock fought in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War on the Union side, coming out as a war hero. He was even nominated for President later on. His story is the focus of James Harold Kelly’s "I am a soldier, first and always": The Distinguished Career of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock.

The book is a treat for fans of historical fiction and military novels, as the author does an impeccable job recreating events from the past using a mix of thorough research and creativity to fill in the gaps. This first volume is divided into two parts: “The Soldier,” which goes over Hancock’s education and first years of service, and “Rebellion,” which covers his participation in the Civil War before the Battle of Gettysburg. There are twenty-eight chapters in total.

As it tends to happen with historical novels, the book counts with an extensive cast of characters, to the point where the reader can easily get overwhelmed without pre-existing knowledge. Though I enjoyed the first part, which establishes Hancock as a charismatic, hard-working and capable soldier, very few characters get the same spotlight. In the second part, tons of officers from both sides of the war are introduced one after the other. At some point, I even forgot about one of the main character’s friends from the first part when he suddenly reappeared.

All of the military aspects are very detailed. Battles are a central element of the story, though the scenes aren’t particularly graphic and instead focus on strategy and army movements. This is great for military buffs, who get to witness intricate games of chess between generals with real lives on the line. The downside is that, just as with the large cast, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the shifts in perspective and large-scale operations. The book does feature some maps that provide a clearer picture, but laymen might still be confused.

"I am a soldier, first and always": The Distinguished Career of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock delivers exactly what it promises: engaging lessons in military history with some literary flavor. The novel is also exceptionally edited, as I’ve only found one minor error. Though the sheer number of characters intimidated me, readers familiar with the period or willing to do some research should have an easier time following the story. For this reason, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. Due to the violence and occasional profanities, I don’t recommend it to younger audiences. You might also want to skip this if reading about military maneuvers in detail sounds boring to you. On the other hand, fans of military history should find plenty to enjoy, especially those interested in the American Civil War.

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I am a Soldier, First and Always: The Distinguished Career of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock
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[Ogoskino]

I am very interested in military history and I would be looking to read this book. Thanks for your insights.

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I love to read about war heroes. Seemingly this one will be a nice choice. Thanks for the insight

[Tomah]

I love to read about war heroes. Seemingly this one will be a nice choice. Thanks for the insight

I am very interested in military history and I would be looking to read this book. Thanks for your insights.

If you enjoy reading about military history, then you'll definitely love this book. Thanks for the comments!

[Letora]

I think I would shy away from this one. All those characters, I can easily see myself becoming confused as I read. Thank you for your review!

[Mbrooks2518]

I'm not a fan of military novels, so this definitely isn't a book for me. Great review, though!

[TheCongSlayer]

I find Military History very fun to read and always have if there is anything Military History related then this is a book to read definitely for sure fiction or non-fiction it still would be a good read

[Dushikirane]

This story mentioned in book , it makes me influences me to read more about miltary history . therefore thank you for insight

[Prisallen]

Reading about military history is not my cup of tea. Additionally, I think the large number of people mentioned would be frustrating for me to keep up with. Thank you for your wonderful review, though!

[fadjei]

This sounds like a fascinating book. I love all types of history. I think I would enjoy this book alot.
Thanks for the review!

[Maria Esposito]

I think I'll have to skip on this one. The number of characters and the strong military connotation of the book intimidates me a little bit. Thank you for your informative and well-written review!

[Tomah]

I'm not a fan of military novels, so this definitely isn't a book for me. Great review, though!

I find Military History very fun to read and always have if there is anything Military History related then this is a book to read definitely for sure fiction or non-fiction it still would be a good read

This story mentioned in book , it makes me influences me to read more about miltary history . therefore thank you for insight

Reading about military history is not my cup of tea. Additionally, I think the large number of people mentioned would be frustrating for me to keep up with. Thank you for your wonderful review, though!

This sounds like a fascinating book. I love all types of history. I think I would enjoy this book alot.
Thanks for the review!

I think I'll have to skip on this one. The number of characters and the strong military connotation of the book intimidates me a little bit. Thank you for your informative and well-written review!

I think I would shy away from this one. All those characters, I can easily see myself becoming confused as I read. Thank you for your review!

I can see how the book might not appeal to readers who aren't military history enthusiasts, as it can get overwhelming at times if you don't know the historical context and characters. Thanks for the comments!

[rumik]

Sounds like a great book! I love historical fiction, military fiction not so much. Maybe this book could be a starting point for me in the military genre? Thanks for the great review!

[gboyeobe]

This sounds interesting,
It will be a book to read,
I suppose there are always war heroes in every battle,just according to how the events plays out.
I look forward to have full story.

[Tomah]

Sounds like a great book! I love historical fiction, military fiction not so much. Maybe this book could be a starting point for me in the military genre? Thanks for the great review!

It's always a good time to try something new, though you might get overwhelmed by the details if you don't know much about the Civil War. Thanks for the comment!