Product Description

In the early part of Queen Victoria’s reign, the British Empire was well on the way to becoming the greatest empire the world had ever seen. This is the story of how it happened and the people who made it happen. In a fast-moving narrative ranging from London to the harsh terrain of India, Russia and the Far East, Saul David shows how Britain ruthlessly exploited her position as the world’s only superpower to expand her empire. Yet little of this territorial acquisition was planned or sanctioned by the home government. Instead it was largely the work of the men on the ground, and to those at home it really did seem that the empire was acquired in a ‘fit of absence of mind’. Saul David creates a vivid portrait of life on the violent fringes of empire, and of the seemingly endless and brutal wars that were fought in the name of trade, civilization and the balance of power.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49000 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

Review
Incisive and acute . . . thorough and occasionally revelatory, [David] always finds a telling phrase, an eye-catching detail or a human story (Sunday Times )

Splendid . . . a terrific treasure-chest of anecdotes . . . a splendidly brisk, cool and judicious narrator (Daily Telegraph )

TLS
`Tremendously exciting, full of local colour and vivid . . . You can smell
the sweat and the smoke and the fear'

Sunday Times
`Incisive and acute . . . [David] always finds a telling phrase, an
eye-catching detail or a human story'

Customer Reviews

Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire
A thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable retelling of military history during the first part of Queen Victoria's reign up to the death of Prince Albert. The original aspect of this volume however the way in which Saul David has intertwined political and royal events with the succession of "minor" wars including the retreat from Kabul, the Indian Mutiny and the Crimean War.

Beautifully written a darn good yarn for all armchair soldiers and historians

Up to 1861... so why the 1882 Tel-el-Kebir Highlander on the cover?
Guess the book is all right. No silly mistakes. Interesting prose and opinions when delivered. In fact just another one.
I had already read all of it in other History books or as the background of the Flashman novels of the late (and missed) George MacDonald Fraser.
Probably the best you can say about it is the elegant counterpoint between Royal life (Victoria&Albert), the politics in the "home front" and the "far away" wars up to 1861.

Not five stars because the silly marketing plot of the cover illustration. Why picture a soldier of the period NOT covered by the book?. SHAME ON YOU... better correct in next edition.

ADB

Great Overview of Early Victorian Wars
I read many years ago that there was not a day during Queen Victoria's reign when there was not a war going on somewhere involving British forces. Saul David does a great job of describing a number of the early 'small wars' (plus the Crimean War which probably could not be described as a 'small war'), during the period running up to the death of Prince Albert. That is the only 'gotcha' - do not expect this book to cover any wars beyond the date of his death, such as the Zulu War and the Sudan War.
Nonetheless, it's a small 'gotcha' as this is a very well written story. The campaigns are well-described, but Mr David goes further in that he intertwines the descriptions of the military campaigns with a study of the political scene both at home and abroad and a good view of Victoria and Albert as Queen and Consort. He uses, in particular, the Queen's diaries and letters to really bring the era to life which provide a fascinating insight into a Queen who quickly developed a mature and professional political sense. Mr David also provides more than mere descriptions of the military aspects of the campaigns, but gives a good analysis of each scenario from a political and military point of view.
The result is a very readable history book which provides on overview of the wars of the period and the politics surrounding them. It is a great starter book which should naturally lead the reader onto more detailed accounts of the many campaigns fought around the world during the 19th Century. Highly recommended.