Product Description

The Crimean War was the first 'modern' war for the British forces: journalists reported home via the telegraph, a device that also tempted the government to micro-manage the war from the comfort of Whitehall. It is most famous for the charge of the Light Brigade, celebrated in poetry and film as a classic British military disaster. It also gave us 'The Thin Red Line', when a handful of British infantry saw off a horde of Russian cavalry. It was the first war in which ordinary British soldiers recorded their experiences - and Julian Spilsbury brings their story to life, together with the very different world of their officers and assorted mistresses. The army in the Crimea was a microcosm of Victorian society with all its strengths and weaknesses.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146114 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
'His skill lies in knitting together many disparate reports so that a clear picture of the action emerges from the smoke, confusion - and gore - of battle.' (BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE (May 2006) )

About the Author
Julian Spilsbury is the military obituarist for the DAILY TELEGRAPH and a script writer for THE BILL, TAGGART and CASUALTY. He is the author of several thrillers including NIGHT OF THE BEAR and VISION OF THE HUNTER.

Customer Reviews

The best account
This is the most enjoyable I have read of the numerous books on this war. It contains large sections which are first hand accounts of the events, and gruesome they are on occasions. The maps are pretty clear and useful though, im the odd case, naming on a map of more of the particular features mentione in the text relating to an action in the area shown would have helped. I certainly wish I had owned this book when I visited Sevastopol and Balaclava some years ago and will certainly have it with me when I try to see more of the battle sites there this year. There is now also a monument to the Light Brigade charge erected since my last trip so that should, I hope,help too. As it was last visit, monuments to tank battles of WWII in the area were the more prominent Crimea features (interesting in themselves)