Series:

Essential Histories

2 primary works • 7 total works

Book 52

Cover of The Boer War 1899-1902
Victorious in her previous campaigns in Africa, Britain now confronted an altogether different foe. As this book explains, the Boers proved themselves formidable opponents, masterfully compensating for interior numbers through their resourcefulness, grim determination, strong religious faith and, above all, their expert use of cover, mobility and the power of long-range magazine rifles firing smokeless powder. With inadequate transport, insufficient numbers of mounted troops and poor intelligence the British were to be severely tested in a distant and inhospitable land of immense size and extremes of climate.

Book 66

Cover of The Wars of the Barbary Pirates
The Barbary War was the first war to be waged by the United States after gaining independence.

Cover of The French Revolutionary Wars

Europe's great powers formed two powerful coalitions against France, yet force of numbers, superior leadership and the patriotic fervor of France's citizen-soldiers not only defeated each in turn, but closed the era of small, professional armies fighting for limited political objectives. This period produced commanders such as Napoleon and Nelson, whose names remain a by-word for excellence to this day. From Italy to Egypt Napoleon demonstrated his strategic genius and mastery of tactics in battles including Rivoli, the Pyramids and Marengo. Nelson's spectacular sea victories at the Nile and Copenhagen were foretastes of a century of British naval supremacy.

Cover of The Jacobite Rebellion 1745-46
The Jacobite Rebellion was the final attempt of the House of Stuart to re-establish itself on the British throne and it saw the death throes of the independent martial prowess of the Highland clans. No event in British history has been more heavily romanticized, but Gregory Fremont-Barnes succeeds in stripping away the myths to reveal the key events of this crucial period. From questions of dynastic succession to religious dominance, the events leading to the Rebellion are carefully explained and analyzed, drawing upon a host of primary research. From the landing of Bonnie Prince Charlie to the battle of Culloden, this book offers a complete overview of the Rebellion, complete with detailed maps and beautiful period illustrations.

v. 68

Cover of The Indian Mutiny 1857-58
In the mid-19th century, India was the focus of Britain's international prestige and commercial power - the most important colony in an empire which extended to every continent on the globe and protected by the seemingly dependable native armies of the East India Company. When, however, in 1857 discontent exploded into open rebellion, Britain was obliged to field its largest army in forty years to defend its 'jewel in the crown'. This book, drawing on the latest sources as well as numerous first-hand accounts, explains why the sepoy armies rose up against the world's leading imperial power, details the major phases of the fighting, including the massacres at Cawnpore and the epic sieges of Delhi and Lucknow, and examines many other aspects of this compelling, at times horrifying, subject.

Cover of The Soviet-Afghan War 1979-89
The Soviet invasion of its neighbour Afghanistan in December 1979 sparked a bloody nine-year conflict in that country until Soviet forces withdrew in 1988-89, dooming the communist Afghanistan government to defeat at the hands of the Mujahideen, the Afghan popular resistance backed by the USA and other powers. The Soviet invasion had enormous implications on the global stage; it prompted the US Senate to refuse to ratify the hard-won SALT II arms-limitation treaty, and the USA and 64 other countries boycotted the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. For Afghanistan, the invasion served to prolong the interminable civil war that pitted central government against the regions and faction against faction. The country remains locked in conflict over 30 years later, with no end in sight. Featuring specially drawn mapping and drawing upon a wide range of sources, this succinct account explains the origins, history and consequences of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, thereby shedding new light on the more recent history - and prospects - of that troubled country.

Cover of The Napoleonic Wars (3)
When Spain and Portugal united against Napoleon, they shocked the world by scoring stunning victories and seriously undermining his domination of Europe. Spain might seem temporarily crushed and Portugal defenceless, but despite Napoleon's best efforts, he could not bring the war to a close and his victories never proved decisive. Six years of hard campaigning followed. When Britain allied herself with Spain and Portugal and entered the field against Napoleon, he faced yet more failures. Meanwhile Wellington guided the British army to victory after victory. This is the third in four volumes providing a complete history of the Napoleonic wars. This title covers the long-drawn-out campaigns of the Spanish peninsula.