A Tidy Little War: The British Invasion of Egypt 1882

by William Wright

In 1882 the British invaded Egypt in an audacious war that gave them control of the country, and the Suez Canal, for more than 70 years. William Wright gives the first full account of that hard-fought and hitherto neglected campaign, which was not nearly as "tidy" as the British commander would later claim. Using unpublished documents and forgotten books, including the discovery of General Sir Garnet Wolseley’s diaries, Wright highlights how the Egyptian War, climaxing in the dawn battle of Tel-el-Kebir was altogether a close-run thing. The major combined services operation of the late Victorian era also saw the Royal Navy sail into battle for the last time in its old glory and the book has the first full account of the Bombardment of Alexandria.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Other authors publishing under this name are:

William Wright
William Wright
William Wright
William Wright, British orientalist
William Wright, Irish missionary
William Wright, Jesuit
William Wright, British aural surgeon
William Wright, British physician and botanist
William Wright, aka Bill o'th' Hoylus End
William Wright, aka Dan De Quille
William Wright (1930-2016)
Rev. William Wright (1813-1855)
William Wright (1824-1866)

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very clear and informative account of one of Britain's many 'little wars' of the Victorian era.
Beginning with an overview of the political, cultural, and religious factors that led to the use of military action in Egypt in 1882, it then covers in detail the deployment of both British and nationalist Egyptian troops and the numerous minor engagements before portraying the climatic battle of Tel el-kebir that effectively ended the war.

It finishes with an epilogue describing the fate of all major figures and connects and compares the uprising of the nationalist Ahmad Arabi in 1882 with the revolution in 1952 of Gamal Abdel Nasser.

A welcome addition are the short biographies of all the major military and political figures on both sides, and summaries of various aspects of Victorian era military service, such as recruitment, pay, morale, and the problems logistics had of supplying food, water and other essential supplies in such a demanding and inhospitable environment.

An essential book for followers of Victorian era military history, but also an enjoyable read for anyone interested in military history in general.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a detailed account of the developments leading to the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882, meticulously exploring the maneuvers and decisions that shaped this pivotal conflict. While it touches on the political landscape, its primary focus is military history, providing an in-depth look at the strategies and events of the war.

A must-read for anyone interested in military history, the Middle East, or the British Empire, this book is both informative and engaging for enthusiasts and scholars alike.