Ian Hernon

A good survey of smaller wars and skirmishes the British got involved in during that long Nineteenth Century, many of which I had certainly never heard of. Of course, some topics can't really be called wars, such as the skirmish in the Falklands but Hernon held my interest throughout, especially with his astonishing revelation that British soldiers were only supplied with pairs of either left or right footed boots until well into the nineteenth century, which makes the British victory over Napoleon all that more remarkable.… (mere)

"The Savage Empire" is book number two of his "Forgotten Wars" trilogy of small wars the British were involved in during the nineteenth century. Besides the fact it's sobering to think one needs three books to deal with the minor wars waged by Britian in a century, this is an important series for both the serious historian and the lay reader in learning of these obscure wars that thousands of people, some British troops but in the main locals who resented British presence, fought and died in.

Of the nine campaigns listed here (similar numbers are covered in Books One and Three), I had certainly known of the Black War in Tasmania, the Opium Wars in China and the Zanzibar War of 1896, known to history as the shortest war ever. The Capture and Loss of Buenos Aires in 1806-07 and the Benin Massacre of 1897 were certainly new to me and even if they are not news to you, Hernon's writing style inevitably leads you to tracking down Books One ("Massacre and Retribution") and Three ("Blood in the Sand").… (mere)