The book is the biography of Henry Thesiger, later Lord Chelmsford, most of the centres around his leading of the Zulu War from the tragedy of Isandlwana through to the ultimate victory at Ulundi.

It's a enjoyable read will of interest to anyone interested in British Imperial history and looking for introduction to the Zulu War and Lord Chelmsford.

This is the biography of Henry Thesiger, later Lord Chelmsford, with a majority of the book focusing on his leading of the Zulu War from the tragedy of Isandlwana through to the ultimate victory at Ulundi. The book tries neither to villainize him nor to give an apology for his blunders but simply to paint him as he was, an imperfect general who did his best in both a difficult situation and with an outdated military mindset that combined to cause the Zulu War to be one of the darkest points for the late 19th century British Empire.

The book is readable and a good entry for anyone interested in British Imperial history but at times seems overly detailed on inconsequential points while other points seem rushed. At times it felt as though one were reading a 600-page tome, not something that comes in at under 300 (for the hardcover). It is a good read for those inside a specific niche, but the average Joe on the street will probably find it boring.

A tragic story of an individual who through bad luck/errors led to at the time of the event one of the worst losses of British troops. He overcame this tragedy to go on and succeed in his campaign against the Zulu tribes in Africa. The story is well told and points out some of the biggest issues with the British forces - achieving rank via a monetary payment rather than merit. The author leaves it up to the reader to determine if the harsh criticism he was forced to endure the remainder of his life was warranted or not. I found this book to be an excellent read, informative and worthwhile.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book looks beyond the ill-fated events of Isandlwana to truly explore the depths of who Lord Chelmsford actually was. History has often overlooked his successful career in favor of highlighting the massive blunder that would forever be associated with him. I always enjoy books that attempt to explore the whole picture of a person, place, or event.