Publisher's Weekly
Some readers may quibble at the ambiguous ending, but Cornwell's first modern-day novel, after Redcoat and the Sharpe series, works very nicely. Narrator Nick Sandman, Falkland Islands hero and Victoria Cross recipient, is determined not only to walk again after a war wound but also to sail his ketch Sycorax to New Zealand. After two years' hospitalization, he is, barely, walking again, but Nick's return to Devon finds Sycorax beached and vandalized, apparently at the behest of TV talk-show host Tony Bannister. Legal difficulties force Nick into making a TV movie for Bannister in exchange for salvaging Sycorax. Complications arise immediately: Bannister is out to win the Cherbourg-Saint Pierre race and wants Nick to be navigator; Bannister's ex-father-in-law is out to avenge his daughter's ``murder'' aboard Bannister's ocean racer Wildtrack and wants Nick to help; Bannister's beautiful mistress Angela is out to make that TV movie; and Nick falls in love with Angela. The climax comes with Nick racing across the Atlantic in a howling gale to prevent Bannister's murder. Even landlubbers will enjoy Cornwell's terrific pacing, colorful characters and dry humor, and perhaps, will learn a few things, too (e.g., in sailing jargon, ``scuttles'' means portholes).
Some readers may quibble at the ambiguous ending, but Cornwell's first modern-day novel, after Redcoat and the Sharpe series, works very nicely. Narrator Nick Sandman, Falkland Islands hero and Victoria Cross recipient, is determined not only to walk again after a war wound but also to sail his ketch Sycorax to New Zealand. After two years' hospitalization, he is, barely, walking again, but Nick's return to Devon finds Sycorax beached and vandalized, apparently at the behest of TV talk-show host Tony Bannister. Legal difficulties force Nick into making a TV movie for Bannister in exchange for salvaging Sycorax. Complications arise immediately: Bannister is out to win the Cherbourg-Saint Pierre race and wants Nick to be navigator; Bannister's ex-father-in-law is out to avenge his daughter's ``murder'' aboard Bannister's ocean racer Wildtrack and wants Nick to help; Bannister's beautiful mistress Angela is out to make that TV movie; and Nick falls in love with Angela. The climax comes with Nick racing across the Atlantic in a howling gale to prevent Bannister's murder. Even landlubbers will enjoy Cornwell's terrific pacing, colorful characters and dry humor, and perhaps, will learn a few things, too (e.g., in sailing jargon, ``scuttles'' means portholes).
Used availability for Bernard Cornwell's Wildtrack
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
1998 : Hardback
| Title: Wildtrack (The Thrillers #1) Author(s): Bernard Cornwell Publisher: Penguin Group Availability: Amazon More details... |
August 1989 : Hardback
| Title: "Wildtrack" (Windsor Selections S) Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-86220-311-2 / 978-0-86220-311-5 (UK edition) Publisher: Chivers P Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
April 1989 : Hardback
| Title: Wildtrack Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-8161-4716-7 / 978-0-8161-4716-8 (USA edition) Publisher: G K Hall & Co Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
July 1988 : Hardback
| Title: Wildtrack Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-399-13375-5 / 978-0-399-13375-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Putnam Pub Group (T) Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 1988 : Hardback
| Title: "Wildtrack" Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-7181-3013-8 / 978-0-7181-3013-8 (UK edition) Publisher: Michael Joseph Ltd Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1974 : Hardback
| Title: Wildtrack (The Thrillers #1) Author(s): Bernard Cornwell Publisher: Penguin Group Availability: Amazon More details... |
Paperback Editions
June 2008 : Paperback
| Title: Wildtrack: A Novel of Suspense Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-06-146264-0 / 978-0-06-146264-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Harper Paperbacks Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
November 2006 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: Wildtrack (The Thrillers #1) Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-06-112247-5 / 978-0-06-112247-7 (USA edition) Publisher: HarperTorch Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1994 : Paperback
| Title: Wildtrack (The Thrillers #1) Author(s): Bernard Cornwell Publisher: Hinkler Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
May 1993 : Paperback
| Title: "Wildtrack" Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-14-017723-X / 978-0-14-017723-7 (UK edition) Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1992 : Paperback
| Title: "Wildtrack" Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-7474-0187-X / 978-0-7474-0187-2 (UK edition) Publisher: Time Warner Paperbacks Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 1989 : Paperback
| Title: Wildtrack Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-515-10121-4 / 978-0-515-10121-8 (USA edition) Publisher: Jove Pubns Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1988 : Paperback
| Title: Wildtrack Author(s): Bernard Cornwell Publisher: Putnam Availability: Amazon More details... |
1973 : Paperback
| Title: Wildtrack (The Thrillers #1) Author(s): Bernard Cornwell Publisher: Sphere Publishing Availability: Amazon More details... |
Audio Editions
December 1989 : Audio Cassette
| Title: "Wildtrack": Unabridged Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 1-85496-263-9 / 9781854962638 (UK edition) Publisher: Soundings Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Audio Cassette
| Title: Wildtrack Author(s): Bernard Cornwell ISBN: 0-7366-8267-8 / 978-0-7366-8267-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Books on Tape, Incorporated Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
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