Step backward in time and explore the harsh, yet passionate realities of a 19th century battlefield with Will Hutchison's award-winning novel, "Follow Me to Glory" (ISBN 9780741435606, Infinity Publishing, 2006). "Follow Me to Glory" received an Independent Publisher's Bronze Award for best regional fiction and was selected as a finalist for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award in fiction.
"Follow Me to Glory" is both a coming of age story and a war novel about a young Scotsman named Ian Carlyle, a captain in the British army during the catastrophic Crimean War. Descended from the legendary Scottish highland warriors, Ian--a bit of a rogue and a rebel among his refined English comrades--dreams of following in his father's footsteps and leading men into the "glory" of battle.
The Crimean war was fought from 1854 to 1856 on the western coast of present-day Ukraine. Though the war's origins are still murky, Britain and France joined the battle to aid Turkey against a Russian invasion. In "Follow Me to Glory," readers join Ian on a journey, beginning at Eton College and culminating on foreign battlefields, where Ian learns that the realities of war fall far below his naïve expectations of glory. As he navigates his way through the dire challenges of battle, Ian begins to transform into a real warrior and leader, and comes to terms with the truth about the glory he once sought.
Ian's intermittent romance with a sultry, caramel-skinned London barmaid named Jasmine provides a distinct reprieve from the brutality of war, extending the passion and heat of battle beyond combat. Filled with action, romance and just enough precise historical details to bring the time period alive, "Follow Me to Glory" is a thrilling read sure to satisfy any reader's longing for an authentic historical fiction novel.
Readers who finish "Follow Me to Glory" and are ready for more Ian Carlyle can find him in a sequel planned for early 2008. Ian's next adventure will land him across the Atlantic, where he becomes closely involved with the American Civil War.
About the Author
Will Hutchison resides in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and served for 26 years as an officer in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. He now spends his time as a writer and photographer with occasional law enforcement consulting projects. As an avocation, he has written and lectured on 19th century military history internationally for over 20 years.
"Follow Me to Glory" (ISBN 9780741435606, Infinity Publishing, 2006) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.followmetoglory.com. Publicity contact: www.readerviews.com. Review copies available upon request.