The Indian Mutiny: 1857 [Paperback]

This is a good, solid effort by Mr. David. He has 2 major points that he wants to prove. The first is that the mutiny was not a spontaneous uprising with one simple cause (the beef/pork tallow cartridge issue). The second is that the outcome (a British victory) was anything but a foregone conclusion. He succeeds in proving both of his points. He shows that the uprising had several causes: poor pay, frustration over the lack of opportunities for promotion, the insensitivity of the British concerning the caste system, and a lack of communication between the British and the Indian troops, caused by arrogance and racism on the part of the British. Mr. David shows that the cartridge issue (which was really a non-issue, since the problem had already been corrected before any of the odious cartridges would have had to have been used) was only a pretext- something that the leaders of the mutiny, mostly high-caste Brahman officers, knew they could use to agitate the "rank-and-file" sepoys. Mr. David also shows that the uprising was anything but spontaneous. There were many indications that something was "in the works". Some of the more astute British officers and East India Company representatives knew what was in the wind...but their warnings were either ignored or, if actions had been initiated to correct grievances, it was a case of "too little, too late". Also, in addition to the above factors, there was much resentment caused by the British annexation of various "fiefdoms"- areas where a local ruler had died and left no natural heir. Longstanding tradition, even under the British, had been that the ruler could pass the property on to an adopted child. The British got greedy and decided they could use the lack of a natural heir as an excuse to grab up these juicy, revenue producing areas for themselves. Once it was clear that the British would not play "cricket"- they'd break the rules when it suited them- some Indians felt that it was time for them to be forced out of the country. Regarding Mr. David's second point, that the mutiny could have succeeded, he proves his point by showing that since the mutiny had spread to several areas, and since the British were substantially outnumbered by the natives, the outcome was dicey for many months. What probably saved the British was the fragmented nature of the mutiny....despite the fact that the uprising itself was planned, there was a lack of coordination and leadership. The various factions pretty much did as they pleased, and the British were slowly able to regain control.....area by area. Mr. David does a nice job of balancing the material that will appeal to the reader that enjoys military history (the nuts-and-bolts of the strategy and battles) and the material that will appeal to the general reader (character sketches of many of the participants, first-person accounts by civilians regarding the horrors of the various sieges, etc.). The maps are all placed together at the start of the book, and are nicely detailed so that the reader can easily follow the "action". If the book has any weakness, it is that since there were so many things going on, the author tends to jump around from place to place a little too rapidly- and he sometimes gets caught up in the small details (for example, constantly giving you the numerical breakdown in various regiments of how many men were British infantry or cavalry vs. Indian infantry or cavalry, etc.). This tended, for me, to break the smooth flow of the narrative- although I can see the appeal to the more military-minded reader. In any case, within the big picture, these are small complaints because Mr. David has written a very exciting and well-reasoned book.

Saul David's retelling of the bloody events of the Indian Mutiny of 1857 gain enormously from the numerous anectodes of those men and women caught up in the conflict. Inevitably these were written primarily by the British rather than mutinous Indian sepoys leading perhaps to a one sided viewpoint. Even so they have an exciting immediacy that shows terror, heroism and courage. The sieges of Delhi, Lucknow and Cawnpore are covered in detail but read like a thrilling historical novel that I was loathe to put down.The author shows that the causes of these turbulent events were as much due to poor pay and conditions as fear that greased cartridges were to be introduced offending both Hindu and Moslem sensitivities. Indeed the latter was used as an excuse to persuade wavering sepoys to rebel. Colourful figures abound. My favourite is the Rani of Jhansi. A useful glossary is included to explain the many unfamiliar terms such as baba-logs, jemander and havildar and the maps are more than adequate. These were all referred to frequently.More detailed descriptions of the Cawnpore massacre can be found in Andrew Ward's excellent'Our Bones are Scattered' but for an overall description of these events Saul David's book is difficult to beat.

Narrative history has been championed successfully of recent by the likes of Anthony Beevor and Simon Schama, both regularly riding high in the best-seller lists. Every bit their equal is Saul David who in this book describes the dramatic events of 1857 and 1858 when the complacent British rule of India came near to being swept away. However, David’s book is not merely a colourful account. It also has an analytical edge, seeking to answer the standard but often disputed question of why the mutiny occurred. His compelling answer is that the causes were neither political, religious, nor even due to the harsh conditions imposed upon the Indian sepoys. Instead the mutiny was more professional in character, resulting from Indian soldiers’ wish for better pay and promotional opportunities. If anything discipline was too lax and Indian regiments generally poorly led by their white officers.

The Indian mutiny is a subject which has often been taken up whether by other historians, such as Christopher Hibbert (who compared to this wrote a rather turgid account), or even in fiction. J. G. Farrell received the Booker prize in 1973 for his novel The Siege of Krishnapur, and Zadie Smith wove Mangal Pandy into White Teeeth. Such popularity is easy to understand for the mutiny was more dramatic than any fiction. This drama is finely reproduced by David.

In 1857 British India under Company rule had reached its greatest extent. A disastrous defeat in Afghanistan in 1840 had been more than compensated for by annexations of the Punjab and Burma, whilst minor princely states continued to be snapped up by the Company when there was no apparent heir. But then in March 1857 an intoxicated sepoy, Mangal Pandy, became the first of tens of thousands of Bengal soldiers to mutiny. The course of events is vividly taken up by Saul David, leading the reader from city walls and bazaars, across dusty plains, to the villages and fields of the Indo-Gangetic plain, hill-top forts, Calcutta’s sweltering palaces, and reaching its conclusion in the jungles of Nepal. The story encompasses great heroism and cowardice, ghastly cruelty yet also surprising kindness, and both incompetence and brilliance. David also gives perceptive descriptions of the mutiny’s main figures; Henry Lawrence in Lucknow, John Nicholson at Dehli, Campbell and his highlanders, Canning in Calcutta, the villainous Nana Sahib, the courageous Ranee of Jahnsi, and the pathetic and tragic King of Dehli Bahadur Shah. Fittingly, however, David ends his account of the mutiny with the moving reminiscences of an aged sepoy who remained loyal throughout these traumatic times.

Apart from the mutiny the book gives a brief account of events leading up to the mutiny, and a more in-depth examination of the mutiny’s background. David assumes you know the bones of British India’s history. As regards events afterwards, other than immediately succeeding the mutiny, there is almost nothing. It might have been interesting to at least have had an appendix on different perspectives of the mutiny; how for example it is regarded in India today. As regards the text itself the only thing I could find to object to was a fleeting and rather unconvincing comparison between the mutiny and the American War of Independence.

These are, however, very insignificant qualifications, and may fairly be termed nit-picking. This is a hugely satisfying book. Saul David has set himself the task of describing and explaining the mutiny and does both admirably. The well-written text together with the nature of the subject meant that I found it hard to stop reading at times. David’s also has a masterly grasp of events. These he plays out chronologically with each chapter focusing on a different area of the struggle. This, together with the book’s excellent maps, make understanding events easy. Whether you are a student of Indian or Empire history (there are copious notes and an extensive bibliography), or merely interested in a rattling good read, I can not recommend this book highly enough. This is like Beevor but with more depth.