This book is set in 1809. On a rainy February night an unconscious man is carried into a room in Somerset. He is found to be British captain John Lacroix back from his disastrous campaign against Napoleons forces in Spain.
I didn’t mind this book but found it tiring to read in places. I would still recommend it to people who like historical stories.

I dithered about picking this one up for ages - I love the cover but everytime I read the blurb something put me off. I'm so glad I finally decided to give it a chance. It turned out to be much more interesting than I thought it would be, and I raced through it. Turns out I maybe should start judging books by their cover!

The book has two strands that run in parallel. The first is Lacroix’s long journey north from his house in Somerset via Bristol, the home of his sister Lucy, to the Hebrides. It’s a journey he makes without much thought of a particular destination; it’s more about avoiding being recalled to service in the army and trying to escape the memories that haunt him. Only towards the end of the book will he reveal the nature of those memories to a confidante to whom he has become close. In the course of his journey, Lacroix experiences both the best and worst of humanity, experiencing violence but also the kindness of strangers. Eventually he arrives at a remote island in the Hebrides where he is given shelter by the Frend family, comprising Emily, her sister Jane, and their brother Cornelius. One of the themes running through the book is damage – physical, mental and emotional – so it’s notable that Emily is losing her sight and Cornelius is plagued by dental pain. John himself has been left partially deaf due to the illness he suffered on his return from Spain.

The second storyline involves Corporal Calley who has been given a mission by a mysterious individual to track down and kill Lacroix as part of a cover-up of atrocities committed in the war. Calley is the most relentless of adversaries; he’s cruel, brutal and entirely without mercy, committing some horrific acts along the way. As he closes in on his prey, there is an increasing air of menace, especially since Lacroix is unaware of Calley’s mission.

At the end of the book, although some elements of the story are resolved others, in the manner of a sea fret, are left opaque for the reader to reach their own conclusion about.

Now We Shall Be Entirely Free is the first book I’ve read by Andrew Miller and I can now understand why his writing has been the subject of so much praise. At times, it’s poetic in nature. One passage that especially sticks in my mind is from a scene in which two characters finally come together in an act of intimacy. ‘A mutual falling, the grief of appetite. And in between the touching, the tender manoeuvres, the new knowledge.’

Historical fiction set in Scotland is a particular favourite of mine and Andrew Miller does it so well: the combination of a woman losing her sight, a former soldier who may or may not have committed an atrocity, and a bounty hunter pursuing him makes a super strong triangle of tension. Loved it.

Having really enjoyed Andrew Miller's re-creation of pre-revolutionary Paris in 'Pure', I was really eager to read his next novel 'Now We Shall Be Entirely Free', another historical novel set during the Napoleonic Wars.

John Lacroix returns home from Britain's disastrous campaign against Napoleon's forces in Spain a changed man. Unable to talk about the war - or face the memory of what happened in a village during one gruelling retreat - he ignores the summons to return to his regiment and sets out instead for the Hebrides, intent on collecting local folksongs and reviving his own musical interests.

Pursuing him are two unlikely allies - a vicious English corporal and a Spanish officer. Ordered to kill Lacroix, they doggedly follow him as he makes his way north, eventually arriving at the safe haven where Lacrois has found like-minded friends - and the possibility for a very different kind of future.

By turns a bleak and menacing thriller, gently passionate romance, and pastoral comedy, 'Now We Shall Be Entirely Free' retains Miller's piercing insight into the past. The sights and sounds of Georgian England come vividly to life on the page and the characters inhabit a living, breathing world that is simultaneously both filthy and gorgeous.

Unfortunately I just didn't connect with Lacroix and his story. Despite being centred on a chase - albeit one the man pursued is largely unaware of - events in the novel proceed at a stately glide. Whilst by no means a pacy novel, Pure had its wry gallows humour and eclectic mix of eccentric characters to detract from it's own somewhat sedantary storytelling. Lacroix, for all his good nature, is quite dull by comparison and his adversaries, whilst certainly more characterful, are so deeply unlikeable that I was eager to leave their company almost as soon as I arrived in it.

So whilst I desperately wanted to like 'Now We Shall Be Entirely Free' - and can recognise that there is much to admire about the novel - it just didn't quite tick the boxes for me.

For me, this was a bit of a mixed bag. I liked reading about the history of the Napoleonic war and the descriptions of Bristol, Glasgow and the islands of that time. It started well and I’m sorry that Captain John Lecroix’s housekeeper wasn’t in the story more as I found her a likeable character. But I’m not sure I 100% enjoyed the whole book, for example the inclusion of the eye operation, but I certainly didn’t give up on it. The ending was a bit confusing as to what actually happened. Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for letting me review this book.

Funny, romantic and deeply darkly thrilling in turns Now We Shall Be Entirely free keeps you turning the pages if only to find out which emotion you will feel next. Fans of historical fiction will love this

Like Pure, Miller here transports us to a foreign time and setting - here 1809 - without the clunky artificial exposition and world building that we often get in these settings: his descriptions are vivid, muscular - nightmarish at times - and powerfully crafted. And that world of war torn Europe and of the tranquility of the Scottish setting, is so REAL in his writing!

Few writers seem to be able to craft and love the English language as well as Miller at his best, and this is a wonderful example.

A lovely book! Very atmospheric and evocative. The author pulled me into the story and the characters' worlds with ease. A real pleasure.

I dnfd this book, it was not for me and I couldn't get into the story line at all. It was an interesting premise however, I struggled to pick it back up.

I love Andrew Miller books. He’s a voice in contemporary fiction that rings completely true to the period. Loved this.

John Lacroix returns from the Peninsula War in the early 19th century, physically and mentally damaged by his experiences. Nursed back to health, he heads off to Scotland. His story alternates with that of Calley, a soldier giving evidence about a war atrocity in Portugal. How are the two stories intertwined is what the reader is wondering - does the atrocity have something to do with Lacroix? What makes a man decent, are we defined by a single act? There are dramatic moments throughout the novel as it builds towards a slightly ambiguous climax. Beautifully written and definitely worth a read.

Captain John Lacroix is brought home unconscious and traumatised from Britain's disastrous Spanish campaign against Napoleon. Deciding to desert he sets off for the Scottish islands to find peace again as a horrifying experience still haunts him from his time in the army. Little does he know he is being tracked by a ruthless army corporal and a Spanish soldier who have orders to kill. For much of the book you do not know whether Lacroix is a good man or not - what was his role in the terrible event? But this makes it very interesting, to be constantly assessing his character. A fascinating book.

Now We Shall Be Entirely Free is a captivating historical drama set in the early 19th century. A cavalry officer returns home from Spain after witnessing terrible events and travels to a remote Scottish island but two men are on his trail. A novel that is beautifully researched, and deserves to win many awards.

Once I got in to this story I struggled to put it down. It was well written and captured me in every sense. I was sad for this to finish. I particularly loved the cover!

This is a gripping, thoughtful and thought-provoking story which has all the elements of a rip-roaring historical adventure. It's unusual, and difficult to categorise. Military history and historical romance combine within the framework of an obsessive hunt, to make something quite eccentric and extremely readable.

Couldn’t put this down once I got into the story. Perfectly paced and could imagine all of the main characters vividly by the end. The writing completely immersed me in the period and I was very sad to finish it.

As those used to the author will know the lovely flowing prose transports you back in time with vivid characters and story with a beautiful ending

I very much enjoyed this well written book and would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Sorry I didn’t get round to reading this as it still looks interesting but other stuff intervened. Thanks for supporting NetGalley which leads to some lovely reads.