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Quick answer: If you liked The Fort, read Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe's Rifles and The Last Kingdom, then 1776, John Adams, Johnny Tremain and The Killer Angels. All are detailed accounts of war and politics in the age of sail and early America.
Bernard Cornwell's 2010 novel retells the Penobscot Expedition of 1779, when an American fleet tried to capture a British fort in Maine, and the blunders that followed, with Paul Revere and a young Scottish officer among the characters. It is vivid, tense and ironic. The books below offer similar military history, colonial America and battles told through ordinary soldiers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe's Rifles | Bernard Cornwell | Adult | Sharpe series |
| Sharpe's Eagle | Bernard Cornwell | Adult | the classic Sharpe |
| The Last Kingdom | Bernard Cornwell | Adult | Saxons and Vikings |
| Azincourt | Bernard Cornwell | Adult | Agincourt |
| Redcoat | Bernard Cornwell | Adult | American Revolution |
| 1776 | David McCullough | Adult | the war's critical year |
| John Adams | David McCullough | Adult | founding father |
| Johnny Tremain | Esther Forbes | Ages 10+ | Boston before the Revolution |
| April Morning | Howard Fast | Adult | Lexington |
| Drums Along the Mohawk | Walter D. Edmonds | Adult | frontier war |
| Arundel | Kenneth Roberts | Adult | Arnold's march |
| The Killer Angels | Michael Shaara | Adult | Gettysburg |
| Master and Commander | Patrick O'Brian | Adult | Napoleonic sea fiction |
| Hornblower and the Hotspur | C. S. Forester | Adult | naval adventure |
| Mutiny on the Bounty | Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall | Adult | mutiny at sea |
1. Sharpe's Rifles by Bernard Cornwell
Sharpe fights Napoleon's army in Spain. Fast, gritty and the start of a long series.
Best for: Sharpe series.
2. Sharpe's Eagle by Bernard Cornwell
Sharpe must capture a French eagle. Exciting and well plotted.
Best for: the classic Sharpe.
3. The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
Uhtred, a Saxon raised by Danes, fights in Alfred the Great's England. Gripping and brutal.
Best for: Saxons and Vikings.
4. Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell
An archer fights at Agincourt. Vivid and bloody.
Best for: Agincourt.
5. Redcoat by Bernard Cornwell
A British soldier fights in the Revolutionary War. Gritty and fast.
Best for: American Revolution.
6. 1776 by David McCullough
McCullough tells the story of the first year of the Revolution. Clear and moving.
Best for: the war's critical year.
7. John Adams by David McCullough
A full biography of the second president. Warm and detailed.
Best for: founding father.
8. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
A silversmith's apprentice is drawn into the patriots' cause. A classic Newbery winner.
Best for: Boston before the Revolution.
9. April Morning by Howard Fast
A boy takes part in the first battle of the war. Short and powerful.
Best for: Lexington.
10. Drums Along the Mohawk by Walter D. Edmonds
A young couple lives through war in the Mohawk Valley. Vivid and detailed.
Best for: frontier war.
11. Arundel by Kenneth Roberts
A young man joins Benedict Arnold's march to Quebec. Adventure and history.
Best for: Arnold's march.
12. The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The Battle of Gettysburg is told from the viewpoints of its leaders. A Pulitzer Prize winner.
Best for: Gettysburg.
13. Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
The first Aubrey-Maturin novel. Rich, witty and detailed.
Best for: Napoleonic sea fiction.
14. Hornblower and the Hotspur by C. S. Forester
Captain Horatio Hornblower in action against the French. Fast and classic.
Best for: naval adventure.
15. Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall
The 1789 mutiny aboard HMS Bounty. Fast and dramatic.
Best for: mutiny at sea.
How to Choose
For more Cornwell begin with Sharpe's Rifles or The Last Kingdom. For the American Revolution pick 1776, John Adams or Johnny Tremain. For frontier stories read Drums Along the Mohawk or Arundel. For sea warfare choose Master and Commander or Hornblower. The Fort is short and sardonic, so these picks suit readers who like history with an eye for human error. The Penobscot Expedition was one of the worst naval defeats in American history before Pearl Harbor, and the story is little known, which is part of why Cornwell chose it. Readers curious about the real events can find short histories online. Cornwell's detailed historical notes at the end of The Fort explain what is real and what is invented. If you enjoy historical notes, you may enjoy his other standalone novels too. Cornwell's books are widely available as audiobooks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Fort about?
The disastrous 1779 Penobscot Expedition during the American Revolution.
Who wrote it?
Bernard Cornwell.
When was it published?
2010.
Is it based on real events?
Yes, with real figures like Paul Revere.
Is it a Sharpe book?
No, it is a standalone.
Is it a long book?
About 400 pages.
Is it violent?
It has battle scenes but is not as graphic as some Cornwell.
What should I read next?
Try Redcoat or Sharpe's Rifles.
Is The Fort historically accurate?
It follows the real expedition closely, with some invented dialogue and characters.
Is Paul Revere in the book?
Yes, he appears as an artillery officer, and the book does not flatter him.
Which book here is best for Agincourt?
Try Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell, which suits readers looking for Agincourt.
Which book here is best for founding father?
Try John Adams by David McCullough, which suits readers looking for founding father.
Which book here is best for frontier war?
Try Drums Along the Mohawk by Walter D. Edmonds, which suits readers looking for frontier war.