Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure

Asher has provided a fast paced, interesting take on the great Gordon saga. His contempt for the higher echelons the British Army echoes is strong again this book - along with his others. The book covers the start of the Mahdi and finishes with the funeral service held after Omdurman.

It was good to read a book where Gordon is held as an example and a hero rather than a delusional drunkard. It has become popular to attack the image of Gordon, who in all fairness was thoroughly stuffed by his own side from the start.

Asher also defends Wilson quite strongly saying he was unfairly held accountable for Wolsey's failings. Asher also provides a good account on the 'who was to blame' question.

All in all a great read with some terrific battle descriptions.

A Real Schoolboy Adventure (5/5 people found this helpful)

Michael Asher has produced an astounding account of British involvement in the Sudan at the end of the 19th century.

The book, which is lively and well paced covers the rise of the Mad Mahdi, the fall of General Gordon, the relief expeditions to save him as well as Kitchener's retaking of the Sudan culminating in the Battle of Omdurmann and the last cavalry charge in British history (read the book, and you will understand why!). The book is written with fascinating insights and displays Asher's unique ability to base his books on a combination of archive material as well as physical presence (i.e. having travelled extensively in Sudan and having actually lived with the Bedou for five years).

Even if this is not "your thing", Khartoum deserves a chance. It works well as a holiday read, airport read and long winter night read and is easily accessible. One of the best books I read in 2006.

A great imperial military adventure! (9/9 people found this helpful)

I did not know much about the Sudanese campaign except from watching the classic film Khartoum with Charlton Heston, but this brilliant book told me in very readable detail every aspect of this campaign, the battles, the characters, the individuals, the geography, the problems faced, etc. For example the Egyptian Army was terrible at the beginning (badly led, badly equipped and no motivation) and no one seemed to know how to work with camels but the British Army on a steep learning grove overcame all these problems and defeated a very determined dangerous enemy, but as history tells us sadly not in time to save Gordon and his garrison. The British Army faced some of their toughtest hardest, bloody battles in this campaign which are little known about but are described in great detail in this book.

This book also points out that Gordon died on the city walls fighting with his men rather than as the film and the Victorians( and Wilbur Smith) had us believe on the steps of his palace.

This book is very readable and very enjoyable, it need 10 stars!

A very modern view of the battle for Khartoum (5/5 people found this helpful)

I was engrossed with this book from cover to cover. I have read many other versions of this particular part of Britain's Imperial History but none have left me so excited. It was a 'don't want to put it down' book of the best type. The research was so thorough that the descriptions of the battles felt more like an eye witness account, the sort that might be returned by one of today's embedded journalsts. I agree with your earlier reviewer that Kitchener emerges with far more credit than does Gordon from this book, but what about Garnet Wolseley, he doesn't seem to emerge with his reputation intact either. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in this fascinating period of our country's history.

Illuminates a forgotten corner of imperial history (6/8 people found this helpful)

Michael Asher's book throws light on some forgotten corners of British Imperial history. While some of the central points, Gordon at Khartoum, and the battle of Omdurman are well known imperial myths, a lot of the rest was new to me. Asher writes with some feeling for the people of the Sudan, and what lay behind the rise of the 'Expected Messenger', or Mahdi, which has some echoes for today. He covers the defeats of Hicks Pasha and Valentine Baker in gripping style, and really to my mind exposes the stupidity and self-deception of Gordon. His real hero is Herbert Kitchener, who he shows as an innovative, logistical genius, who as Sirdar of the Egytian army reconqured the Sudan.
A gripping read if a bit politically simplistic.

Khartoum: The Ultimate Imperial Adventure

Michael Asher

Reader Reviews:

From another era (5/5 people found this helpful)

A Real Schoolboy Adventure (5/5 people found this helpful)

A great imperial military adventure! (9/9 people found this helpful)

A very modern view of the battle for Khartoum (5/5 people found this helpful)

Illuminates a forgotten corner of imperial history (6/8 people found this helpful)

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