Some of his other works have been made into films, as well. Forester overview kessinger publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hardtofind books with something of interest for everyone. Rifleman dodd the novella however provides an excellent overview of the tactical, operational, and strategic issues at hand during the peninsular war. The novel follows dodds quest to reunite with his unit as he wages guerrilla warfare against the french in portugal. Dodd is one man caught in a clash between two large armies in portugal and is lost in the shuffle as the armies move and maneuver against each other. Rifleman dodd is about a certain british foot solider named matthew dodd. This book describes everything about matthew dodd and the things he went through to return back to the fight. Rifleman dodd has an interesting place in literature as it was unavailable to the. Dodd, a british infantry rifleman in the napoleonic wars. It was a entertaining story set in portugal in the years 18101811. Rifleman dodd is a book that was given to me by my combat instructors during school of infantry. The recollections of rifleman harris is a memoir published in 1848 of the experiences of an enlisted soldier in the 95th regiment of foot in the british army during the napoleonic wars. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Rifleman dodd by c s forester, 9781430453864, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Forester, the author of the horatio hornblower novels. The novel is set in the pennisular wars with allied forces fighting against the armies of napoleon. The book is a work of historical fiction, set in the peninsular war during the napoleonic wars, eventually known to the french high command as. It followed the struggles of dodd, a rifleman in the british ninetyfifth, as he tried to return to his regiment when he was cut off by the french.
Matthew dodd who fought in the peninsular which took place in portugal against an overwhelming force of french soldiers lead by napoleon. Rifleman dodd is a british private cut off from his regiment who only seeks to return to his regiment, behind the french lines in a hostile and destroyed countryside. Sep 10, 2010 the novel is a study of one mans commitment to duty taking precedence over his own personal survival. It shows how one man with ability, courage, and initiative can make a difference to the outcome of a war. Mar 28, 2007 rifleman dodd by c s forester, 9781430453864, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The gun, also by forster, and available on kindle is recommended. Click on title for available copies and formats study of one mans commitment to duty taking precedence over his. Rifleman dodd is based on a real event in history the peninsular wars. The book is on the commandants professional reading list, a good choice rifleman dodds example personifies what clear thinking during times of extreme hardship and war can produce. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. I recently borrowed a napoleonic war era book titled rifleman dodd, by c. Read rifleman dodd, krulak said, and youll see the kind of grit. Even so throughout the novel, he was alone he managed to make friends and find help that were willing to listen to his orders and directions. The novel is a study of one mans commitment to duty taking precedence over his own personal survival. One of the striking things about this book written by a british novelist in the 1930s, says brown, is that the reader is presented with the perspective of both the british rifleman stranded behind french lines, who cooperates with spanish guerrillas. Mar 22, 2016 rifleman dodd the novella however provides an excellent overview of the tactical, operational, and strategic issues at hand during the peninsular war.
Forester 20, hardcover at the best online prices at. A novel of the peninsular campaign hardcover published september 10th 2010 by kessinger publishing, llc hardcover, 220 pages. The british army was retreating to the lines of torres vedras and dodd was left behind since he separated from. Rifleman dodd, c s forester, bantam paperback, 1st. The eponymous soldier was benjamin randell harris, a private who joined the regiment in 1803 and served in many of the early campaigns in the peninsula war. An odd thing mcii d mci book is that it depicts d mci the same events twice, alternating d mci of view between dodd and a handful of his french counterparts, a e of boyhood friends from nantes following their pal sgt while on this journey, dodd ran d mci mcii problems. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of rifleman dodd by c. Forester overview kessinger publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hardto. Rifleman dodd is a story from the book death to the french by c. Rifleman dodd, though only a rifleman revealed that even as foot soldiers, troops, or the lower ranks can still prove to have extreme leadership skills.
The british army was retreating to the lines of torres vedras and dodd was left behind since he. The story takes place during the napoleonic wars, also known as the peninsular war. Dodd is separated from his fellow riflemen and spends time fighting the french behind the lines with the local population. This is a new release of the original 1943 edition.
The chief focus of the novel is on a member of 95th foot rifles matthew dodd, aka rifleman dodd. Forester about a british rifleman by the name of pvt. Published by the infantry journal, washington 1943 used. Written by the author of the excellent hornblower series, i had high expectations. The slim novel is foresters unromantic account of the peninsular war 18091814 in which napoleons french. This is a story of the napoleonic war in portugal in 1812. The story here is also during the same period of the peninsular war, but uses a siege gun as its central plot point. The setting was the peninsular campaign during the napoleonic war. Nov 25, 2017 it was published in the us as rifleman dodd simply the name of the hero and protagonist of the novel. The successes and failures of the combatants are worthy of examination, and serve as a excellent basis for further study. A novel of the peninsular campaign by forester, c s isbn. Being as this was published in 1932, i am sure that it influenced him greatly, as dodd is also a rifleman. Rifleman dodd is placed at the turning of the tide.
It was also published in the united states under the title rifleman dodd. Im wondering if the book is a work of fiction or if it is a recording from a veteran after the war. Rifleman dodd was the commandants choice for 1996 and it supported the years theme of commitment. The combatants were the french who would hang or shootif they. Forester 20, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Although the book rifleman dodd is fictional, dodd s simple, unyielding devotion to his duties as a soldier exemplifies core values honor, courage and commitment which all marines are expected to demonstrate. A novel of the peninsular campaign 97811634320 by forester, c. Rifleman dodd is a war narrative by awardwinning english writer c. A novel of the peninsular campaign the story in the book talks about an infantry warrior named private matthew dodd and his journey to re unite with his fellow soldiers.
Rifleman dodd was an interesting book thats telling a story of a soldier that gets separated from his fellow brothers and sisters during a battle in the 1800s. A novel of the peninsular campaign aka death to the french by c. After reading the entire sharpe series i wanted to get foresters take on the peninsular campaign. I recently found a copy of the book and decided to read it. I have intended to read the book, but lost it just before my arrival to 3rd battalion, 5th marines. Rifleman dodd was a short little book that was solidly ok. Death to the french, aka rifleman dodd, is the story of a seasoned english military man, cut off from his unit, during the peninsular war, circa 1810. The british army was retreating to the lines of torres vedras and dodd was left behind since he separated from his comrades during the retreat in portugal. A novel of the peninsular campaign large print edition authors. The book is on the commandants professional reading list, a good choice rifleman dodd s example personifies what clear thinking during times of extreme hardship and war can produce. However, the novel is also known as rifleman dodd, after the main character of the novel.
Forester 3 stars a good action read of the kind that forester is famous for. Dodd continued to function and fight, showing great resourcefulness and the virtues of patience, leadership, and marksmanship. The british army was retreating to the lines of torres vedras and dodd was left behind since he separated from his comrades during the retreat in portugal behind. Forester wrote many novels with military and navel themes, and is perhaps most known for his horatio hornblower series. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature in affordable, high quality, modern. Although the book rifleman dodd is fictional, dodds simple, unyielding devotion to his duties as a soldier exemplifies core values honor, courage and commitment which all marines are expected to demonstrate. Somehow he must pass through the french forces chasing the retreating british and. Search for copies quanticomcu research library copies. Death to the french is a 1932 novel of the peninsular war during the napoleonic wars, written by c.