rorkesdriftvc.com :: View topic - Eminent Victorian Soldiers : Seekers Of Glory.

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:35 pm

This title appears to be on the lines of my research into historical leaders, (and glory) although I don't know of the author Byron Farwell.

There is a painting of Melvill and Coghill with the Colours on the front cover.

Anyone know of this book and the author ?

Many thanks.

Coll

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:33 pm

Coll,
I have two of Farwell's books --"Mr. Kipling's Army" and "Queen Victoria's Little Wars". I assume they're representative of his writing style and, if so, I'd recommend any of his other books. He's rather informal (one might almost say "chatty" at times) and reminds me a bit of the author of "Like Lions They Fought"-- full of fascinating , sometimes off-beat information which he presents in a style that's best described by the trite phrase "an easy read". Not the usual pedantic recycling of facts you've already heard before, I put his books down with a feeling of having "been there and done that".

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:39 pm

Coll,

I've always found his books (this one incl) informative and entertaining. His books are well worth having on your shelf.

AMB

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:50 pm

Coll:

Byron Farwell has written a number of books on the Victorian military, in addition to the one you are asking about:

Mr. Kipling's Army
Queen Victoria's Little Wars
Armies of the Raj
The Gurkhas
(one on WWI also, can't remember the title)

Eminent Victorian Soldiers consists of eight short biographies of Wolseley, Kitchener, Wood, Roberts, Gough, Napier, Gordon, and Hector MacDonald. It can be a short, interesting read, but mainly the short bios are the type that might peak your interest for further examination of a particular person. He cannot go into much depth due to the size of the book, so the biographies can be somewhat superficial, and much of it appears to be from secondary sources. The books he writes appear to be more oriented towards popular history than in-depth scholarship.

Actually, reading Mr. Kipling's Army started my fascination with Victorian Military history, so I might recommend them to someone just beginning to study the period. I know that you are more than just a beginner, but they may have some interest for you due to the subject matter. I found them of some interest, and he has an informal, "chatty" style.

I cannot say much about how accurate his books are, and would leave that to other members with more knowledge.

They can be had quite reasonably from Amazon , new or used.

Bill

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:52 pm

Sorry, meant to agree with and credit Sawubona with the "chatty" style comment.

Bill

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:08 pm

Farwell's WW One book:

THE GREAT WAR IN AFRICA 1914-1918; NY, W.W. Norton & Company 1986
Hardcover, ISBN 0670802441

AMB

Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:24 am

I've actually got a copy ... but haven't read it all. sadly!

Note to self: Read it quickly and make comments!

Smile

Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 3:39 pm

All

Thanks very much for your replies.

Coll

Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 11:30 pm

Coll is this the one you are looking for.

Eminent Victorian Soldiers: Seekers of Glory
by Byron Farwell

Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:45 am

Bill,

Then I was very young and visited my grandfather. He had copies of 'British Battles on Land and Sea' - which included the AZW- which I learnt much our military history. The 3-volume set was published by Cassells in 1915. Importantly the work was edited by FM Evelyn Wood - but how much did he contribute to the sections on the Zulu War?

Do you have this on your list?

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 7:16 pm

Martin:

Were you directing this to Coll? I am not familiar with this work, although it sounds interesting.

Bill

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:17 pm

I wonder if Harold has mention of the British Battles at Land and Sea work in his bibliography.

AMB