The Cornet of Horse

by G. A. Henty

First published 1881

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2.5(5)

A young Englishman enters military service during the War of the Spanish Succession and joins the mounted forces campaigning under John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. Life as a cornet brings him into a conflict fought across the Low Countries and Germany, where movement, reconnaissance and disciplined cavalry are central to the army’s success.

His advancement depends on surviving battles and proving reliable under commanders whose decisions affect thousands of men. The novel follows the practical experience of campaigning—hard marches, uncertain intelligence and sudden cavalry action—while the larger struggle over the Spanish succession draws England into a European coalition war. Marlborough’s victories provide the historical frame for the protagonist’s growth from inexperienced volunteer to seasoned soldier.