The Starbuck Chronicles

The Starbuck Chronicles are a series of four books following the exploits of a young Boston-born Confederate Officer Nathaniel Starbuck in the early battles of the American Civil War, written by British author Bernard Cornwell, who also wrote the Sharpe Series. They were released one per year from 1993 to 1996

Synopsis

The books begin in Richmond, Virginia after the fall of Fort Sumter, Charleston, South Carolina when Starbuck is trying to visit his friend Adam Faulconer. Starbuck is saved from an attack by Richmond's patriotic residents (who think he is a Yankee spy) by Faulconer's rich landowner father, Washington Faulconer. Faulconer wishes to raise a regiment to fight the Yankees, Starbuck is appointed one of Faulconer's aides with the rank of second lieutenant. He is there by circumstance not for politics. Starbuck is then tasked with recruiting a tough Mexican-American War veteran, Thomas Truslow who lives in the fictional Faulconer County, to the regiment, he succeeds only by dedicating the grave of Truslow's wife and officiating in the marriage of his wayward daughter Sally Truslow. Many other events occur between this and the start of the hostilities and the rather pompously named Faulconer Legion marches off to the First Battle of Bull Run. It is here that Starbuck alienates himself from Faulconer. This skeleton is elaborated upon in the article on the book "Rebel". The next book, "Copperhead", follows Starbuck during the period of the Union invasion of the Confederacy by the Army of the Potomac under General McClellan. The Third book, "Battle Flag", is set in the aftermath of the defeat of McClellan. The final book "The Bloody Ground", follows Starbuck as the Confederate army under Robert E. Lee invades the North, culminating in the Battle of Antietam Creek.

A supporting character in the series is Patrick Lassan, son of Richard Sharpe (the star of Bernard Cornwell's other major series).

External links

* [http://www.bernardcornwell.net/index2.cfm?page=1&seriesid=2 Section of Bernard Cornwell's website on The Starbuck Chronicles]