{"title":"Edward Spiers","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"letters-from-mafeking-book-edward-spiers-9781526710024","title":"Letters from Mafeking","description":"Mafeking was the longest and the most controversial of the three sieges that began the South African War in 1899\\. Lasting 217 days, the Siege of Mafeking brought a highly charismatic leader to public attention and involved some controversial practices.  While of little military significance, the relief of Mafeking produced unprecedented celebrations across Britain and much of its empire. Sustained over several days, such rejoicings led to the creation the verb to maffick, meaning to celebrate both extravagantly and publicly. Such rejoicing reflected not only the build up of emotions during the South African War, but also how Mafeking revived memories of imperial siege histories over the previous fifty years.  In this illuminating account of the siege and its aftermath, Edward M. Spiers, a leading authority on Victorian military history, provides fresh insights on the conduct of the siege and its relief. He draws new material from some 120 letters, diary extracts, interviews, and speeches by soldiers and civilians - all uncensored, unlike the press reporting from Mafeking. He rebalances arguments about the command of Baden-Powell, reviews civil-military relations within Mafeking, examines the impact, both physical and psychological, of the most intensive shelling of the war, and accounts for the successful defence and relief of a small, isolated frontier town, bereft of natural defences and effective artillery.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49510373851409,"sku":"GOR010207467","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49733488247057,"sku":"NGR9781526710024","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49982724833553,"sku":"GOR013828695","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53393301209361,"sku":"GOR009930091","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1526710021.jpg?v=1750718355"},{"product_id":"victorian-soldier-in-africa-book-edward-spiers-9780719091278","title":"The Victorian soldier in Africa","description":"The Victorian soldier in Africa re-examines the campaign experience of British soldiers in Africa during the period from 1874 to 1902 - the zenith of the Victorian imperial expansion - and does so from the perspective of the regimental soldier. The book utilises an unprecedented number of letters and diaries, written by regimental officers and other ranks (many of which were published in the metropolitan and provincial press), to allow soldiers to speak for themselves about their experience of colonial warfare. The sources demonstrate the ability of the British army to fight in different climates, over demanding terrain and against a diverse array of enemies. They also uncover soldiers' reactions to the army reforms of the era as well as the introduction of new technologies of war. The book includes commentary on soldiers' views of commanding officers and politicians alongside their assessment of war correspondents, colonial volunteers and African natives in their roles as auxiliaries, allies and enemies. This book provides insights on imperial and racial attitudes within the army, on relations between soldiers and the media and the production of information and knowledge from the front line to the home front. It will make fascinating reading for students, academics and enthusiasts in imperial history, Victorian studies, military history and colonial warfare.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49603760587025,"sku":"GOR008568116","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52665678135569,"sku":"NLS9780719091278","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0719091276.jpg?v=1772794294"},{"product_id":"engines-for-empire-book-edward-spiers-9780719086151","title":"Engines for Empire","description":"Engines for empire examines the use of the railway by the British army from the 1830s to 1914, a period of domestic political strife and unprecedented imperial expansion. The book uses a wide array of sources and images to demonstrate how the Victorian army embraced this new technology, how it monitored foreign wars, and how it came to use the railway in both support and operational roles. The British army's innovation is also revealed, through its design and use of armoured trains, the restructuring of hospital trains, and in its capacity to build and repair railway track, bridges, and signals under field conditions.  This volume provides insights on the role of railways in imperial development, as a focus of social interaction between adversaries, and as a means of projecting imperial power. It will make fascinating reading for students, academics and enthusiasts in military and imperial history, Victorian studies, railway history and colonial warfare. -- .","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49629907976465,"sku":"GOR013691317","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52691429425425,"sku":"NLS9780719086151","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0719086159.jpg?v=1763119598"},{"product_id":"victorian-soldier-in-africa-book-edward-spiers-9780719061219","title":"The Victorian Soldier in Africa","description":"The Victorian soldier in Africa re-examines the campaign experience of British soldiers in Africa during the period, 1874-1902 - the zenith of the Victorian imperial expansion - and does so from the perspective of the regimental soldier. The book utilises an unprecedented number of letters and diaries, written by regimental officers and other ranks, to allow soldiers to speak for themselves about their experience of colonial warfare. The sources demonstrate the adaptability of the British army in fighting in different climates, over demanding terrain and against a diverse array of enemies. They also uncover soldiers' responses to army reforms of the era as well as the response to the introduction of new technologies of war. Moreover, the book provides commentary on soldiers' views of commanding officers and politicians alongside assessment of war correspondents, colonial auxiliaries and African natives in their roles as bearers, allies and enemies. This book reveals new insights on imperial and racial attitudes within the army, on relations between soldiers and the media and the production of information and knowledge from frontline to homefront. It will make fascinating reading for students, academics and enthusiasts in imperial history, Victorian studies, military history and colonial warfare.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52734334337297,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52734334501137,"sku":"GOR014605208","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780719061219.jpg?v=1763393870"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-edward-spiers.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}