Warrior Race: A History of the British at War [Paperback]

Lawrence James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 23, 2004

Modern Britain is a nation shaped, both geographically and culturally, by wars. The essence of its identity is the warrior heroes, both real and fictitious, who still capture the national imagination: from Boadicea to King Arthur, Rob Roy to Henry V, the Duke of Wellington to Winston Churchill.

In Warrior Race, Lawrence James draws on the latest historical and archaeological research, as well as numerous previously untapped resources, to chart the full reach of British military history. He explores the physical and psychological impact of Roman military occupation, the monarchy's struggle for mastery of the British Isles, the civil wars of the seventeenth century, and the "total war" experience of twentieth-century conflict.

But Warrior Race is more than just a compelling historical narrative. James skillfully weaves together the many themes of his subject, discussing the rise, survival, and reinvention of chivalry; the literary quest for a British epic; the concept of birth and breeding as qualifications for command in war; and the issues of patriotism and Britain's antiwar tradition.

This is popular history at its very best: incisive, informative, and accessible; immaculately researched and hugely readable. Balancing the broad sweep of history with an acute attention to detail, Lawrence James never loses sight of this most fascinating and enduring of subjects: the question of British national identity and character.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This imposing history of is less a recounting of British feats of arms than of the creation of a British nation by the wars in the British Isles-England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Beginning with the Roman conquest, James (The Rise and Fall of the British Empire) proceeds through the Anglo-Saxons and Normans into the Middle Ages, and then marches through the civil wars, the continental wars from 1689 through 1815 and the colonial conflicts (mostly won, except for the American Revolution). The entire second half of the book covers the two world wars and their aftermath, where the United Kingdom assembled in the first half of the book exhausted itself (though not without valuable results) in two global conflicts and the twilight of empire. While a valuable summation throughout, the real splendor of the book is in its illustrative examples of the context in which the fighting men (and eventually women) were raised, and the impact of their experiences on the larger culture. Consider that a medieval knight's warhorse cost far more than his armor, that the author's mother-in-law had rationing brought home to her by bloaters (a fish) for breakfast and that residual patriotism accounts for the current seller's market in works on the Special Air Service. Less charming are the tragedy of Anglo-Irish relations and the outrageous racism of Allied soldiers in England during WWII. The book's comparative emphasis on ground forces will rankle those who believe, justly, that it was the Royal Navy (and later the Royal Air Force) that transformed the nature of British military power. While not for people who insist on narrative and not for beginners on the subject, this big book will be worthwhile for everybody else with an interest in history.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Drawing on an extensive range of resources, James (The Rise and Fall of the British Empire) offers a graphic-if somewhat anecdotal-account of the British experience of war from the time of the Roman occupation to World War II. The author presents a two-part thesis. First, he argues that until modern times, Britain's fleet and armies were led by representatives of a ruling class that drew political and territorial power from carefully tended chivalric concepts blended with "Christian ideals of social responsibility and Renaissance notions of virtue." He then contents that in the 20th century, the economic, political, social, and psychological repercussions of the two world wars have not only "impoverished and shaken" the British spirit but also done much to reveal "an astonishing tenacity and intensity of purpose" in the national character. Unfortunately, the very breadth of this massive survey results in truncated and sometimes facile history (e.g., James uses D.H. Lawrence's fictional gamekeeper, Mellors-commissioned from the ranks after the heavy losses of 1918-to exemplify the growing number of officers coming from working- and lower-middle-class backgrounds). Still, the carefully documented resources at the back of the book may well be worth the price of admission. Recommended for larger public libraries and all military collections.
Robert C. Jones, formerly with Central Missouri State Univ., Warrensburg
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 880 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (April 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312307381
• ISBN-13: 978-0312307387
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,565,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant history of empire and war, May 2, 2003

By 

William Podmore (London United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Warrior Race: A History of the British at War (Hardcover)

Lawrence James, the distinguished independent historian of the British Empire, has written a fascinating account of Britain's wars and their impact on British culture. It is based on huge research in private papers and secondary sources.

It is in six parts: conquests 43-1100, disputed lands 1110-1603, civil wars 1637-1800, overseas wars 1660-1870, total war 1914-1919, and the people's wars 1919-2000. He constantly notes the forces' pay and conditions, and tells us how the fighting and killing must have felt.

Part I depicts the conquests by Romans, Vikings and Danes. Part II tells of the wars against Ireland, Wales and Scotland that determined Britain's shape. The hundred years' war against France (1337-1453) started with the early victory of Crecy, then slowly collapsed into military debacles abroad and spiralling debt and taxes at home. At this time, chivalric tales glamorised war, setting up the lasting themes of crusade and sacrifice, `Church and King', `king and country', and `natural leaders' (public school prefect types) `rallying the ranks'.

In Part III, James includes under `civil wars' the American War of Independence and Ireland's 1798 rebellion, which were really national liberation wars against colonial oppression.

In Part IV, he tells us about the vast wars for empire: the second hundred years' war against France (1688-1815), the wars to seize and control India (1757-1858) and its North West frontier (1897-1924), the 64 years war to control China (1840-1904) and the South African (1879-1902) and North African wars (1882-1898). These cast some doubt on the slogan `Pax Britannica'.

Part V looks at World War One, where James damns Earl Haig's reliance on attrition and `fighting spirit'. Part VI examines World War Two and the many bloody retreats from Empire.

To finish he asks, `What next?', answering `further wars of intervention' and `the wonders of the electronic battlefield'.

This brilliantly written and deeply researched account proves, possibly against the author's intentions, that capitalism means empire and empire means war. The ruling class alone gains from capitalism, empire and war. Our working class is not a warrior race, a nation of Ghurkhas; we are for industry and peace.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nation of Shopkeepers, Not Warriors, October 12, 2008

By 

Chimonsho (Turtle Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warrior Race: A History of the British at War (Paperback)

Napoleon's sarcasm is somewhat unfair but essentially true. James's impressive wealth of documented detail is unconvincing in arguing that the British character marks them as a "martial race" like the Gurkhas, which the other review notes. (Even Gurkhas do not fit the stereotype; cf. T. Parsons, "The African Rank-and-File" for a persuasive critique of martial-race ideology.) "WR" is not a narrative, instead it skips between incidents in the wars and rebellions covered chronologically. It is thoughtful and stimulating as an extended commentary on British war experiences. But the Napoleonic insight still rears its head, because James does not fully consider evidence that counters his thesis. The real British genius is pragmatism, historically enabling success in many endeavors, with warfare merely one among many, and less crucial than labor or commerce. Dynastic marriage, a notable art of peace, was at least as important in creating the United Kingdom. This was less true for the Empire, but many colonies were added through peaceful negotiations and trade relations. James highlights the upper classes' warlike virtues, but the first review injects more nuanced class analysis in identifying workers' core interest in peace; they are most of the victims, after all. Cf. Jez Lowe's song, "Old Bones," a moving example of proletarian antiwar feeling. "WR" is an exciting ride through history, but you'll end somewhere besides the author's intended destination.