The Military Adventures of Johnny Newcome With an Account of his Campaign on the Peninsula and in Pall Mall

"The Military Adventures of Johnny Newcome" by David Roberts is a story from the 1800's that trails a young Londoner named Johnny Newcome, who wants adventure and fame, and starts a military life during the Peninsular War. It is a funny story, with themes of wanting success, the truths about being in the military, and how people acted back then. The story starts with Johnny as a grocer’s son with dreams of military glory, who then leaves his normal life to become an officer. The reader sees Johnny's mixed emotions of excitement mixed with fear as he gets ready for his travels, humorously dealing with the military service, like the crazy conditions on a ship, and the problems he touches down in Portugal. The narrator depicts Johnny Newcome as charmingly awkward, as he familiarizes himself with the military rules and with the cultural differences, preparing the stage for a series of humorous and relatable misadventures.