{"title":"Bill Whitburn","description":"\u003cp\u003eDive into the gritty world of Bill Whitburn, where hard-boiled crime meets the streets of Britain. Perfect for fans of Derek Raymond, explore his compelling tales of detectives and the underworld.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"bright-eyes-of-danger-book-bill-whitburn-9781909982215","title":"Bright Eyes of Danger","description":"Details the British advancement in India during the latter part of the eighteenth century, thus becoming the paramount power over all India. The Bright Eyes of Danger is rich in detail about the British advancement in India during the latter part of the eighteenth century, thus becoming the paramount power over all India except for the Sikh Kingdom in the Punjab. It gives a vivid account of the seven battles and one siege of the two wars with the Sikhs. The first was brought on by the demise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the machinations of palace officials and rapacity of the Sikh Army. Despite traitors in command, the Sikhs gave the invincible British Army a run for its money. The Battle of Ferozeshah was a closer run thing than Waterloo as the British Indian Empire stood at the brink of disaster. At the close of the first war many expected a British annexation of the Punjab, but the Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge, considered the Sikh real estate too large and expensive to take on, besides which annexation would not play well back home. He opted instead for a quasi-independent Sikh State, and in deference to the parsimonious East India Company Directors in London, he charged the Sikh State war reparations, annexed the most productive province of Jullundar and sold Kashmir to the 'biggest scoundrel in India' for £75,000. The second war erupted with a rebellion at Multan and the British Army advanced to battle with a new Governor-General and the same Commander-in-Chief, Lord Gough, whose catalogue of tactics did not extend beyond the awesome charge of British bayonets. This was not enough at the bloody onslaught of Chillianwala, where both sides fought to a stand still. At Gujerat Lord Gough, with a greater number of guns than Wellington had at Waterloo, crushed the Sikhs into submission and the Governor-General, Lord Dalhousie, annexed the Punjab. Having rocked the British Indian Empire at Ferozeshah, Ranjit Singh's soldiers helped save it during the Great Indian Mutiny, and later in both the World Wars.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49736803942673,"sku":"NGR9781909982215","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1909982210.jpg?v=1751632379"},{"product_id":"dust-of-glory-book-bill-whitburn-9781914059339","title":"Dust of Glory","description":"The Russian-sponsored attack by the Shah of Persia on Herat was the latest move in the longrunning tournament for predominant influence in Central Asia called the Great Game. Its proximity to India could not be tolerated as it threatened British designs for the expansion of trade along the Indus valley. Urged on by hawkish secretaries, hoodwinked by the wily Maharaja of Punjab and prompted by his political masters in London, the ostensibly peaceful Governor-General of India, Lord Auckland, ordered the assembly of a vast army to counter the Persian move. The opportunity was also to be used to replace Shah Shuja back on his ancestral throne of Afghanistan. At the eleventh hour, Persia withdrew from its failed attack and to many a sage observer, Lord Auckland should have ordered his army back to barracks. Instead, an army of 10,000 soldiers, 50,000 transport animals and 30,000 camp followers advanced in December 1839 for the single purpose of regime change. From the very first blare of bugles and the cracking of whips, this glorious army was to prove that the path to Hell is paved with good intentions. In Dust of Glory the author explores the causes of the First Anglo-Afghan War and describes its course gleaned from a multitude of sources supported by seventeen sketch maps of key actions. No lessons were learnt as five more conflicts were to follow in this country that only produces fruit, nuts and opium.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49742085488913,"sku":"NGR9781914059339","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50610913575185,"sku":"GOR014012458","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1914059336.jpg?v=1751630473"},{"product_id":"bright-eyes-of-danger-book-bill-whitburn-9781804515648","title":"Bright Eyes of Danger","description":null,"brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":50040128078097,"sku":"NGR9781804515648","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50560827195665,"sku":"GOR014000099","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1804515647.jpg?v=1751631864"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-gb\/collections\/author-books-by-bill-whitburn.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}