Customer Reviews

Crimean War

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are interested in learning about the Crimean War, this is a good volume to start with. Includes 16 illustrations (drawings and photographs), 11 maps, the Orders of Battle for British, French and Russian forces. Lists British Cavalry and Infantry regiments invovled. A chronological table is given, starting March 2, 1853 and ending April 27, 1856. Events leading to the war are given first. Background on the war on the Danube, in Asia Minor and in the Baltic are provided. Balaclava, Inkerman and Sevastopol are detailed. Administrative difficulties are discussed and the Naval campaigns in the Baltic, the White Sea and the North Pacific are covered. I found the volume very easy to read and most enjoyable.

Blake's book is a good overview of the war. Where other books have related the exploits of the Light Brigade or the heroism of Forence Nightengale, this book deals strictly with the military progress of the war. Campaigns also covered were those in Asia Minor and the Baltic Sea. Blake's book is also well illustrated with an overview of the ground, so one can visualize what the soldiers had to go through in order to accomplish the battlefield objectives.
With the battles in mind, I only rated this four stars because some of the writing is rather dry. In one chapter, Blakes gives the viewpoint from both the Russian and Allies standpoint. Rather than help the reader, I think this confused those trying to understand the battle. Overall a good summary of the war.