Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure
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Product Description
Anthony Sattin, Sunday Times
'It is hard to see how this bloody conflict could be more conclusively and convincingly told'
Philip Ziegler, Telegraph
'This is the most complete picture of the Sudanese campaigns that has yet been published . . . a vigorous and engrossing narrative'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
There have been quite a few books written on the subject of the British adventure in the Sudan in the closing years of the last century. None of them captures the atmosphere like Michael Asher's book KHARTOUM. This is probably because Asher lived in the Sudan for ten years, a lot of the time actually with the nomads who formed the Mahdi's army 100 years earlier, but whose way of life was unchanged.
When Wolseley's Camel-Corps marches across the desert to do battle with the dervishes, you can almost taste the dust and smell the camels. His description of the incredible clash between the British soldiers and the Mahdi's forces at Abu Klea was so moving, with amazing courage on both sides, that I read it with tears in my eyes.
Asher has his heroes - Kitchener, who spoke fluent Arabic and Turkish, who started life as an Intelligence Officer spying behind enemy lines disguised as an Arab, and who became Sirdar of the Egyptian Army; Gordon, a mystic masquerading as a soldier, who followed his inner convictions rather than his orders; Sir Evelyn Baring, an honest man who was genuinely trying to get a better deal for the Egyptian peasants; Winston Churchill, the cheeky cavalry subaltern who took part in the last regimental cavalry charge ever made. He also has his villains: the brave but incompetent Burnaby, the inefficient Buller, the society navy officer Beresford, obsessed with his Gardner machine-gun. But Asher's true heroes are the ordinary soldiers on both sides whose guts and dogged determination seem, in retrospect, almost unbelievable.
This is a stunning story, told with the panache and detail of an epic novel, but all the better for being true. Read it!
When Wolseley's Camel-Corps marches across the desert to do battle with the dervishes, you can almost taste the dust and smell the camels. His description of the incredible clash between the British soldiers and the Mahdi's forces at Abu Klea was so moving, with amazing courage on both sides, that I read it with tears in my eyes.
Asher has his heroes - Kitchener, who spoke fluent Arabic and Turkish, who started life as an Intelligence Officer spying behind enemy lines disguised as an Arab, and who became Sirdar of the Egyptian Army; Gordon, a mystic masquerading as a soldier, who followed his inner convictions rather than his orders; Sir Evelyn Baring, an honest man who was genuinely trying to get a better deal for the Egyptian peasants; Winston Churchill, the cheeky cavalry subaltern who took part in the last regimental cavalry charge ever made. He also has his villains: the brave but incompetent Burnaby, the inefficient Buller, the society navy officer Beresford, obsessed with his Gardner machine-gun. But Asher's true heroes are the ordinary soldiers on both sides whose guts and dogged determination seem, in retrospect, almost unbelievable.
This is a stunning story, told with the panache and detail of an epic novel, but all the better for being true. Read it!
26 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What makes Michael Asher's book superior to all the other books covering the British military experience in the Sudan at the end of the 19th Century is his knowledge of the Sudanese side of the conflict. He is able, therefore, to paint a much more complete picture of both sides of the war where previous authors have tended to stick to the European sources and have lacked the first hand experience of the Sudan itself and its many, varied tribes.
Asher has a slightly unusual (but convincingly argued) take on many of the personalities of the story, especially senior British military figures. For instance, he is very critical of Fred Burnaby and Redvers Buller but has a high opinion of Charles Wilson who was made the scapegoat for the failure to break the siege of Khartoum. Again this is an example of Asher's own professional experience allowing him to sidestep the contemporary prejudice for and against these men - Asher served in both the Paras and the SAS and clearly has little time for the amateurish, if colourful, attitudes of many Victorian officers.
Written in a gripping style and about as complete an account as you could hope to find Khartoum cannot be recommended too highly for readers interested in 19th Century history.
Asher has a slightly unusual (but convincingly argued) take on many of the personalities of the story, especially senior British military figures. For instance, he is very critical of Fred Burnaby and Redvers Buller but has a high opinion of Charles Wilson who was made the scapegoat for the failure to break the siege of Khartoum. Again this is an example of Asher's own professional experience allowing him to sidestep the contemporary prejudice for and against these men - Asher served in both the Paras and the SAS and clearly has little time for the amateurish, if colourful, attitudes of many Victorian officers.
Written in a gripping style and about as complete an account as you could hope to find Khartoum cannot be recommended too highly for readers interested in 19th Century history.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Asher has provided a fast paced, interesting take on the great Gordon saga. His contempt for the higher echelons the British Army echoes is strong again this book - along with his others. The book covers the start of the Mahdi and finishes with the funeral service held after Omdurman.
It was good to read a book where Gordon is held as an example and a hero rather than a delusional drunkard. It has become popular to attack the image of Gordon, who in all fairness was thoroughly stuffed by his own side from the start.
Asher also defends Wilson quite strongly saying he was unfairly held accountable for Wolsey's failings. Asher also provides a good account on the 'who was to blame' question.
All in all a great read with some terrific battle descriptions.
It was good to read a book where Gordon is held as an example and a hero rather than a delusional drunkard. It has become popular to attack the image of Gordon, who in all fairness was thoroughly stuffed by his own side from the start.
Asher also defends Wilson quite strongly saying he was unfairly held accountable for Wolsey's failings. Asher also provides a good account on the 'who was to blame' question.
All in all a great read with some terrific battle descriptions.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
An Excellant Book
This is a fine book , a rattling good read ! If , however , you are given to modern political correctness then it is , probably , not for you .
Published 1 month ago by Terry J
The Gun is Jammed and the Colonel is Dead
Talk to people about the Soudan (and Ashantee) campaign and the general response is that they were something of a walkover with the superior firepower of British troops simply... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Merlin's Owl
First class read!
One of the best popular histories I've read in a lomg time. Gripping. My admiration for 'Tommy Atkins' grows apace! These boys need a statue somewhere!
Published on 13 Sep 2008 by Septimius
Over-enthusiastic account of the Empire's bloodiest campaign
Michael Asher, ex-Parachute regiment and SAS, has written a vivid account of the Sudan campaigns of 1883-98. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2008 by William Podmore
simply awesome
I picked this book up by accident in King's Cross when my train was delayed and boy, am I glad I did. Read more
Published on 23 July 2008 by j_mcguire1970
review of Khartoum
I could not put this book down. Beautifully written, fascinating subject. Asher effortlessly takes us back to an erea about which relatively little is printed and brings it richly... Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2008 by Springy
A gripping read
This book is a wonderful read. Michael Asher writes a gripping tale and like a good thriller, the reader finds himself eager to turn the page to discover what happened next. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2007 by Mr. T. Day
A Real Schoolboy Adventure
Michael Asher has produced an astounding account of British involvement in the Sudan at the end of the 19th century. Read more
Published on 15 April 2007 by Ulrik Jungersen Walther
A great imperial military adventure!
I did not know much about the Sudanese campaign except from watching the classic film Khartoum with Charlton Heston, but this brilliant book told me in very readable detail every... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2007 by SJ SMART
A very modern view of the battle for Khartoum
I was engrossed with this book from cover to cover. I have read many other versions of this particular part of Britain's Imperial History but none have left me so excited. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2006 by D. Jowett
Listmania!
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