"Follow Me to Glory" by Will Hutchison - Book Review

Award-winning author Will Hutchison has written a detailed fictional account of the battles of the Crimean War of the mid-nineteenth century. This is the story of preparation and training in the early military career of Captain Ian Carlyle.Young Ian is compelled to fulfill his destiny to become a company commander in the Scots Fusilier Guards to lead men into battle and to have them "follow him to glory." His story includes a coming-of-age theme, a romantic interest, and the ultimate opportunity -- to lead men into battle.Faced with the brutality of the Russians and the shortages and chaos of the men in the trenches, Ian comes to terms with the truth about courage, duty, and the price of glory in human suffering including the cost of lives lost.Hutchison has done extensive research on the troop movements, artillery placements, and tactical strategy used in the battles of Alma, Inkerman, Balaklava, and Sevastopol. He has included detailed diagrams of these battles, as well as maps of the Turkey and Crimea area in 1854.Hutchison is an entertaining storyteller. He imparts historical information with amazing dexterity, and is a powerful motivator. By example, Ian Carlyle inspires the reader to follow their dream, to fulfill their destiny, and to face their circumstances with new courage and confidence.In addition to Ian Carlyle's character, Hutchison shows an amazing insight into human nature as he carefully develops individual personalities for a cast of dozens of major and minor characters introduced throughout the novel "Follow Me to Glory."Hutchison's writing is passionate, riveting, and full of action and conflict, with stimulating dialog, a powerful plot and meticulous research.Infinity Publishing (2006)ISBN 9780741435606Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (6/07) dr seuss cat in hat history