In Relief of Gordon - Lord Wolseley's Campaign Journal of The Khartoum Relief Expedition 1884-1885

Hutchinson, London, 1967 1st edition good with dustwrapper

Here for the first time is Lord Wolseley's unpublished diary of his abortive expedition to free Gordon in Khartoum. It throws new light both on Victorian military methods and especially on the relationship between soldiers and politicians. It might be argued that Lord Wolseley was, after Wellington, our finest 19th century soldier. His diary shows him up in all his strengths and weaknesses. His confidence in his own ability contrasts with criticism of colleagues and subordinate. Wolseley is revealed as an educated, sensitive, keenly intelligent man, with that sense of vanity which seems to be an essential motive force in larger-then-life figures....