The Thin Red Line: An Eyewitness History of the Crimean War

by Julian Spilsbury

Book Overview

A FORGOTTEN VOICES for Victoria's Redcoats The Crimean War was the first 'modern' war for the British forces: journalists reported home via the telegraph, a device that also tempted the government to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0297846256
• ISBN13: 9780297846253
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: George Weidenfeld & Nicholson
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Historical Detail

This is a wonderful book in order to understand the complexities of the Crimean War. It is a very good book for anyone interested in this period, whether you are a scholar of the period or just getting your feet wet. I also recommend an historical novel, set in this time period, to bring the events even more alive, Follow Me To Glory If you are a serious collector try Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War

You Can't Make This Story Up

The Crimean War was the first large scale war of a string of foreign military adventures (and mis-adventures) initiated by Great Britain that continued through the end of the 19th Century, and which have come to be known as the Victorian Military Age. In fact, this was one of the first wars of that age where the combatants recorded their experiences in letters and journals, and was also the first war where the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest award for valor, was awarded (and supposedly created from melted down Russian guns). I got this book because I was so impressed with Mr. Spilsbury's other treatise, The Indian Mutiny, and in which he so skillfully interwove first person accounts with the history of that later conflict to give an immediacy and human poignancy to such an exciting and important chapter of human conflict. He does no less with The Thin Red Line, telling a story that a novelist couldn't have made up because nobody would otherwise believe that such things could have actually taken place. The Crimean War, which is a war that shouldn't have been fought and could have been avoided (as is the case with most wars) may be categorized as involving four distinct battles: (1) The Battle of The Alma, a classic set piece where an invading army must cross a river and assail heavily fortified heights to obtain a gateway to their ultimate goal; (2) The Siege of Sevastopol, surely one of the most horrific sieges, both for besiegers and besiegees, as has ever been the case in history; (3) The Battle of Inkerman, a "soldier's battle" encompassing hand to hand combat in the fog with multiple seizures of and retreats from a sandbagged redoubt that had minimal tactical value; and (4) The Battle of Balaklava, encompassing the repulse of Russian cavalry hordes by a small number of Highlanders [ie, the "The Thin Red Line"]; the Charge of the Light Brigade, the most famous cavalry charge in history and one that only occurred due to misinterpretation of a general's directive, and the Charge of the Heavy Brigade, whose harrowing drama was overshadowed by the actions of the Light Brigade. This is an enthralling and important work, and one that doesn't require you to be a student of military history to savor. Highly recommended.

Oral History At Its Best!

To qualify my comments, I'm a career infantry officer in the US Army. I have studied military history for over 40 years and have done my fair share of writing for a periodical relating to the American Civil War. The amount of fine literature that was "required" reading by my commanders and schools in my career numbers into the hundreds. Add to that books of my own choice (probably a thousand or more) and it's safe to say that I'm hard to please. That said, I can say without question that Julian Spilsbury's "The Thin Red Line" is the finest piece of literature I've ever read, not just those relating to military history, but all (surpasses Bruce Catton, Douglas S. Freeman, John Keegan, etc). It's certainly obvious that Spilsbury has walked the ground in the Crimea and that brings a special touch to his work. His ability to relate this war to other eras is especially interesting. He clearly has a "soldier's" heart and insight for what he writes about, something only a fellow soldier can really appreciate. I read it non-stop while on a much-earned vacation and found myself re-reading most every page, wishing to absorb how he shared / said what he did (poetic would be an understatement). This book is timeless and I would love to see him do another on the era. While focusing on British forces, he does not short-change the efforts of the French or Russians, which is appreciated. Were I commanding men and women in the military today, I would require this book of all officers and would include it as a discussion topic. My only compliant, and it's a minor one, is I wish he'd had more maps (those used are excellent) showing in more detail some of the action he describes. I'd have also wished for more art work. Both of these of course run up the price of a book, something he may have been considering when limiting both. Regardless, I now intend to track down some books related to the actual photographs, drawings and heroic paintings from this war. And how I wish someone in Hollywood would read it and make it into a film (could easily surpass "Zulu" and others of its type). Mel Gibson ("Braveheart", "We Were Soldiers", and "The Patriot") could do wonders with it!!

Great Insight into a terrible war

Anyone who is a fan of Heroism and the ideas of duty, honor and country will love the journey we take with these British troops from the battle at the river Alma, to Balaklava, to Inkermann. Spilsbury does an incredible job compiling research and creating a book that is streamlined, easy to read, and enjoyable. The Crimean War deserves attention from all history enthusiasts. Tennyson, James Jones and W.H. Campbell have all made famous reference to this conflict, and yet very few understand the context in which they referred. This Book by Mr. Spilsbury can change all that.

The way History should be told...

I found this book to be written in style that truly brought this war to life. Mr. Spilsbury has woven the words of the participants in the struggle in with the historical facts as we know them in an entertainingly seamless way. He made you care about the participants in the drama and want to learn more about the subject. My only regret was that the book ends abruptly and you never find out what happens to most of the players.