Customer Reviews

Death Or Glory: The Legacy Of The Crimean War

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

 

 

Death or Glory contained so many errors that I found it difficult to read. Edgerton's discussion of the Ottoman Turkish involvement in the war proved abysmal. He glossed over and distorted the accounts of British and French officers and soldiers who served in the Ottoman army. In addition, he paid no attention to Polish and Ottoman sources relating to the Ottoman part in the war. Edgerton informs us that the staffs of the Bodleian Library, Oxford and the Public Record Office translated all works in French and other languages for him. Since he could not read in French himself, he missed many crucial points. Distressingly, Edgerton has misunderstood Victorian English. William Howard Russell's "rapine" [meaning pillaging, looting] at Kertch became "rape" for Edgerton - a fabulous misinterpretation that led to the incorrect conclusion that allied troops raped innumerable women. On another occasion, Edgerton totally dismissed the major scandals surrounding the Ottoman Turkish generals at Kars in 1855 - publicized at great length in published English sources by Lake, Williams, and Sandwith - with the facile comment that the Ottoman Turkish general was only too glad to turn command of the Ottoman Turkish army over to General Williams. It didn't quite happen that way! By far the worst conclusion in this book was Edgerton's unwillingness to find post-traumatic stress disorder in the various letters, diaries, and memoirs of soldiers in the war! He simply did not look. Perhaps his inability to understand Victorian English prevented him. Death or Glory is a HUGE disappointment. Anyone attempting to find out about the war's realities will merely end in unknowing and confusion.

A rather disjointed recounting of the gore and hazards of war. It seems that the legacy was not covered as well as what begat the legacy. Could have been a little more organized. Some interesting facts were included but read like a rehash of known information.

This vivid description of the Crimean War could have prevented the American Civil War. The Crimean war was modern

battle at its worst. It's not pure history. But, an excellent read nevertheless. It remains one of the most riveting

books on the war. The writing is excellent. His interweaving the Crimean War and the Civil War provides a different but

refreshing analysis. This book should be reissued on this 150th anniversary of the Civil War. So few pople know about the

events in the Crimea that foretold the slaughter of the Civil War and WWI. Oh, why didn't they learn. Buy it and read it.

This was an OK read. I learned something about the Crimean War. Although I am no expert, the first review seems rather harsh. I enjoyed the book for the view from the Ottoman, Russian, French, and British perspective. I think the author does justice to all sides. The Civil War examples are out of context when one is reading about the Crimean War. The author was trying to do a comparison, but it didn't appeal to me. I read the author's previous book about the African Gold Coast (Ghana) and I found that a better read. This book is a good overview of this war.

An average read about the Crimean War. This is an interesting book from a different perspective.

Robert Egerton did a wonderful job of expressing what it was like for soldier and civilians who lived (and died) during the Crimean War. The hardships that the soldiers, sailors and civilians endured was truly amazing! Mr. Egerton's description and antedotes really drove this home. I must admit that the book would have been more enjoyable if I had had any knowledge of the Crimean War before I read the book. My ignorance made the battle references somewhat hard to follow. I highly recommend this book.

Edgerton's book about the Crimean War does not just cover the battles. It covers the British society of that time who thought a war would be a fine thing because they hadn't had one in 40 years. It covers the stupidity of the British high command, both on the spot and in Britain, and the suffering that this stupidity caused those fine British soldiers who did their duty. Kipling would approve of this book.