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Queen Victoria's Little Wars
"Tells all the old stories of imperial heroism con brio." ―Noel Annan, New York Review of Books From 1837 to 1901, in Asia, China, Canada, Africa, and elsewhere, military expedition were constantly being undertaken to protect resident Britons or British interests, to extend a frontier, to repel an attack, avenge an insult, or suppress a mutiny or rebellion. Continuous warfare became an accepted way of life in the Victorian era, and in the process the size of the British Empire quadrupled.
But engrossing as these small wars are―and they bristle with bizarre, tragic, and often humorous incident―it is the officers and men who fought them that dominate this book. With their courage, foolhardiness, and eccentricities, they are an unforgettable lot.
But engrossing as these small wars are―and they bristle with bizarre, tragic, and often humorous incident―it is the officers and men who fought them that dominate this book. With their courage, foolhardiness, and eccentricities, they are an unforgettable lot.
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
8 people are currently reading
707 people want to read
About the author
Byron Farwell
29 books27 followersFarwell graduated from Ohio State University and the University of Chicago (M.A., 1968). He served in World War II as a captain of engineers attached to the Mediterranean Allied Air Force in the British Eighth Army area and later also saw combat in the Korean War. He separated from the military after seven years of active duty.
As a civilian, he became director of public relations and director of administration for Chrysler International from 1959 to 1971. He also served three terms as mayor of Hillsboro, Virginia (1977-81).
He published articles in the New York Times, Washington Post, American Heritage, Harper's, Horizon, Smithsonian Magazine as well as serving as a contributing editor to Military History, World War II, and Collier's Encyclopedia. Farwell also published biographies of Stonewall Jackson, Henry M. Stanley, and Sir Richard Francis Burton.
He was a fellow of the MacDowell Colony and a member of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Literature.
Farwell gave his papers to the University of Iowa.
As a civilian, he became director of public relations and director of administration for Chrysler International from 1959 to 1971. He also served three terms as mayor of Hillsboro, Virginia (1977-81).
He published articles in the New York Times, Washington Post, American Heritage, Harper's, Horizon, Smithsonian Magazine as well as serving as a contributing editor to Military History, World War II, and Collier's Encyclopedia. Farwell also published biographies of Stonewall Jackson, Henry M. Stanley, and Sir Richard Francis Burton.
He was a fellow of the MacDowell Colony and a member of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Literature.
Farwell gave his papers to the University of Iowa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 24, 2024
There are some books that must be read more than once (or even twice) and this is one of them, at least for me. And I stand by my original review which follows.
Farwell strikes again!!!!....another terrific book by one of the great historians of the British experience. This one covers the reign of Queen Victoria and the "little wars" that were constantly in progress over that 60+ years. Some were outright wars...the Crimean and the Boer.....and some were just skirmishes that lasted from a week to several months and have been forgotten (or are unknown) to the modern world.
As the Empire on which the sun never set, expanded across the globe, there were uprisings from the indigenous populations who chaffed under British rule. Britain's military pride, which was a driving force of the Empire,led them into one fight after another and the generals were not satisfied unless they were on the field of battle. Every once in a while, they got slapped in the face;i.e., the failure to rescue "Chinese" Gordon from the Mahdi in the Sudan; the Boer farmers using guerilla tactics in South Africa; and the pride and bravery of the Zulus.
The author provides interesting biographical sketches of the leading military leaders and those subalterns that showed unbelievable bravery or in some cases, foolhardiness. This is a wonderful word picture of a time when half of the globe was covered by the Union Jack and men charged into battle without fear. Highly recommended.
Farwell strikes again!!!!....another terrific book by one of the great historians of the British experience. This one covers the reign of Queen Victoria and the "little wars" that were constantly in progress over that 60+ years. Some were outright wars...the Crimean and the Boer.....and some were just skirmishes that lasted from a week to several months and have been forgotten (or are unknown) to the modern world.
As the Empire on which the sun never set, expanded across the globe, there were uprisings from the indigenous populations who chaffed under British rule. Britain's military pride, which was a driving force of the Empire,led them into one fight after another and the generals were not satisfied unless they were on the field of battle. Every once in a while, they got slapped in the face;i.e., the failure to rescue "Chinese" Gordon from the Mahdi in the Sudan; the Boer farmers using guerilla tactics in South Africa; and the pride and bravery of the Zulus.
The author provides interesting biographical sketches of the leading military leaders and those subalterns that showed unbelievable bravery or in some cases, foolhardiness. This is a wonderful word picture of a time when half of the globe was covered by the Union Jack and men charged into battle without fear. Highly recommended.
January 12, 2025
This book was published in 1972 and I think I read it before I took a trip to Britain in 1976. It was interesting for me to realize that the "Pax Britannica"--the time of peace, increased commerce and industrial development--applied only to the British people. Continuous warfare became a way of life in the British Empire. From 1837-1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria, there was almost constant military campaigning going on somewhere in the world for various reasons--to protect British residents, repel attack, suppress rebellion, extend the frontier, or avenge an insult.
Reading this book a second time, I'm really struck by the sheer arrogance of the British to think they had the right to rule over other people, especially if they had darker skin. I realize that they had the success they did in building their empire as they were masters of playing off groups of people against each other. The perfect example was India, in which the British used the so-called "fighting races" like the Sikhs or Gurkhas to fight other people in the Indian Subcontinent.
Farwell covers the wars, such as the Afghan Wars, the Opium Wars in China, the Crimean War, the Indian Sepoy Mutiny, the Zulu War, the Sudan Wars, and the Boer Wars. Then there were the many expeditions, which the British public knew little or nothing about. But Britons took pride in the spread of the color pink over the world map as the British Empire kept expanding.
Farwell supports imperialism and seems to accept that the British were carrying out a civilizing mission for the "natives." The focus of his story is not on the issue of imperialism but on the officers and men of the British regiments who fought the wars for empire in the name of the Queen. There are stories of incredible heroism but also foolishness and sheer stupidity. There's triumph but also tragedy. There's quite a cast of characters to follow through all the "little wars" ( actually, the Boer War of 1899-1902 was not so little but a major war with the British Army suffering severe defeats at the hands of white South African "Boers" or farmers, fellow Europeans, but the British won the final victory).
In the end, the Empire would fall. Following Victoria's reign, there would be the two terrible world wars and the global movement for independence of the colonies would succeed. Britain would lose its colonies, or most of them anyway ( they have kept the Falklands and a few others).
.
Reading this book a second time, I'm really struck by the sheer arrogance of the British to think they had the right to rule over other people, especially if they had darker skin. I realize that they had the success they did in building their empire as they were masters of playing off groups of people against each other. The perfect example was India, in which the British used the so-called "fighting races" like the Sikhs or Gurkhas to fight other people in the Indian Subcontinent.
Farwell covers the wars, such as the Afghan Wars, the Opium Wars in China, the Crimean War, the Indian Sepoy Mutiny, the Zulu War, the Sudan Wars, and the Boer Wars. Then there were the many expeditions, which the British public knew little or nothing about. But Britons took pride in the spread of the color pink over the world map as the British Empire kept expanding.
Farwell supports imperialism and seems to accept that the British were carrying out a civilizing mission for the "natives." The focus of his story is not on the issue of imperialism but on the officers and men of the British regiments who fought the wars for empire in the name of the Queen. There are stories of incredible heroism but also foolishness and sheer stupidity. There's triumph but also tragedy. There's quite a cast of characters to follow through all the "little wars" ( actually, the Boer War of 1899-1902 was not so little but a major war with the British Army suffering severe defeats at the hands of white South African "Boers" or farmers, fellow Europeans, but the British won the final victory).
In the end, the Empire would fall. Following Victoria's reign, there would be the two terrible world wars and the global movement for independence of the colonies would succeed. Britain would lose its colonies, or most of them anyway ( they have kept the Falklands and a few others).
.
September 2, 2021
"You're probably too young to know, but the Empire is àlways in some kind of peril"
Sean Connery as Alain Quatermain could've spoken for the Victorian career soldier. The Queen was never able to close the doors of her proverbial temple of war.
Farwell leaves me wanting for more. He promises not to focus on the famous Victorian campaigns, but he does. The Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, the retreat from Kabul, the Sundan and the Boer shuffle into a crowded limelight. Give me more Xhosa to go with the Zulus. He promises not to focus on battles, but his battle descriptions raise the blood. Give me more bodies scarred all over by decades of mutilating bravery. One promised focus he sticks to is the "gentlemen", the officers, as a social class, and the pride of the pre-1950s British Regiments (which gets a great Appendix I) as the main motivation to scale a wall in the world's forgotten corners with a standard in one hand and bullets smashing the other.
Sean Connery as Alain Quatermain could've spoken for the Victorian career soldier. The Queen was never able to close the doors of her proverbial temple of war.
Farwell leaves me wanting for more. He promises not to focus on the famous Victorian campaigns, but he does. The Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, the retreat from Kabul, the Sundan and the Boer shuffle into a crowded limelight. Give me more Xhosa to go with the Zulus. He promises not to focus on battles, but his battle descriptions raise the blood. Give me more bodies scarred all over by decades of mutilating bravery. One promised focus he sticks to is the "gentlemen", the officers, as a social class, and the pride of the pre-1950s British Regiments (which gets a great Appendix I) as the main motivation to scale a wall in the world's forgotten corners with a standard in one hand and bullets smashing the other.
July 23, 2017
Queen Victoria’s Little Wars
The author, Byron Farwell noted, that in the last quarter of the nineteenth century little wars came ever more frequently. There were plenty of military campaigns, plenty of revolts to quash and full scams wars, from the time of Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne until her death, and until this book nobody had ever counted them.
When the author researched this book, he noted that was not a single year in Victoria’s long reign that the British Army in its various guises was not fighting for her and the empire. The one thing of note that Farwell makes is that except for the final Boer War all the military action was small when compared to the wars of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century.
Victoria’s armies were, and still are, organised on a regimental basis, and in one of the appendices he explains the system for those unfamiliar with the regimental system of the British Army. What Farwell does note though the British Army may have been officered by the British, but they were not afraid to use mercenaries in the ranks.
To name all the wars that took place would end up looking like a very long list, but they are all covered in this book, so we see the theatres may change, but the idea of spreading British dominance did not. We are taken across the battles in Asia, India, Africa, the Middle East to dealing with any trouble that were on the edges of the empire in the far east, such as was Burma, some of which did not even garner any interest back home.
Something that does come through rather clearly is that the continual little wars that Britain had undertaken had by the end of Victoria’s reign, become an accepted way of life for the army. In the Sixty-four years Victoria was on the throne, the British Army fought, or undertook more than one hundred ‘little’ wars, starting with the Insurrection in Canara, India in 1837 to the Ashanti War in 1900-1901. With the wars, many can name such as the Crimea and Zulu wars to those people may have heard of such as the Opium Wars or the Boxer Rebellion to far more that you may not know.
Queen Victoria’s Little Wars was originally published in 1973, and has like those little wars become a forgotten book, and it is good to see this recent publication, bringing an excellent historical account back in to print, well done Pen and Sword.
The author, Byron Farwell noted, that in the last quarter of the nineteenth century little wars came ever more frequently. There were plenty of military campaigns, plenty of revolts to quash and full scams wars, from the time of Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne until her death, and until this book nobody had ever counted them.
When the author researched this book, he noted that was not a single year in Victoria’s long reign that the British Army in its various guises was not fighting for her and the empire. The one thing of note that Farwell makes is that except for the final Boer War all the military action was small when compared to the wars of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century.
Victoria’s armies were, and still are, organised on a regimental basis, and in one of the appendices he explains the system for those unfamiliar with the regimental system of the British Army. What Farwell does note though the British Army may have been officered by the British, but they were not afraid to use mercenaries in the ranks.
To name all the wars that took place would end up looking like a very long list, but they are all covered in this book, so we see the theatres may change, but the idea of spreading British dominance did not. We are taken across the battles in Asia, India, Africa, the Middle East to dealing with any trouble that were on the edges of the empire in the far east, such as was Burma, some of which did not even garner any interest back home.
Something that does come through rather clearly is that the continual little wars that Britain had undertaken had by the end of Victoria’s reign, become an accepted way of life for the army. In the Sixty-four years Victoria was on the throne, the British Army fought, or undertook more than one hundred ‘little’ wars, starting with the Insurrection in Canara, India in 1837 to the Ashanti War in 1900-1901. With the wars, many can name such as the Crimea and Zulu wars to those people may have heard of such as the Opium Wars or the Boxer Rebellion to far more that you may not know.
Queen Victoria’s Little Wars was originally published in 1973, and has like those little wars become a forgotten book, and it is good to see this recent publication, bringing an excellent historical account back in to print, well done Pen and Sword.
August 15, 2024
For me three stars means the book was good and worth reading but not much of a surprise. Of course there is much to learn but if you are already familiar with British history and especially their colonial history then the surprises will be rare. Nevertheless, this is an excellent chronicle of the British military exploits of the 19th century. I say military because it was the military and not the Foreign Ministry that gave Britain its empire. There were no negotiations involved in any of Britain's confiscation of foreign territories as these lands were inhabited by lesser beings than the British and there was no need to negotiate with mere savages. Yes, the book puts Britain's arrogance and presumption on full display. Of course it is unfair to criticize a 19th century society from the the 21st century but about halfway through the book the author does raise the obvious questions about the propriety of this avaricious and unchristian conduct by a nation that is supposedly a paragon of civilized society.
While the book's recitation of all the virtually continuous military campaigns conducted during the reign of Queen Victoria is thorough and commendable its fulsome brevity is also a fair portrait of the mindset of the British people as well as their military. Promotion, recognition, and financial reward followed directly from battlefield exploits and victories in the 19th century British military. That being true meant that war of any kind or size was always to be preferred over peace by the military man of this era. As there was no efficient means of communication to keep London informed of conditions in the field the army leadership was pretty much free to make decisions as they saw fit. These men were not diplomats or social scientists and definitely not democratic in their thinking. As a result opposition from indigenous people was met with immediate and violent responses which led to further hostilities and atrocities on both sides. It never seemed to occur to the British that nobody invited them into these countries and that they were invaders and the inhabitants were the victims in these "rebellions" and "wars". Again, further display of British arrogance which was shared with British society in general. The military exploits and their successes were very popular among British citizens who were completely removed from the realities of these "successes" except for those that needlessly lost loved ones in the process. The leaders and standouts of these campaigns were heralded as heroes and showered with honors and rewards. The people gloried in watching the empire expand across the globe and they remained completely ignorant of what was being done by the military in the name of the queen and the country. One wonders how they would have reacted if they knew even a little of the truth.
Reading this book will give you a perspective on the birth of European colonialism as a plague afflicting the more advanced societies of the world. The lack of communication and truthful reporting allowed this plague to continue throughout the Victoria's reign and into the 2oth century. Part of the rationale for these invasions was the juvenile excuse of well the others are doing it too and if I don't get involved I won't get my share or the other guy will get more than me. Britain used that a lot to invade countries that they thought were going to be swallowed by a European rival and that just couldn't be allowed. Today these European colonizers are experiencing the consequences of their 19th century ancestors' ignorance but then again so is the rest of the world. The problems of the Middle East are the result of collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the greed of England and France after WWI. The same can be said of the instability of much of Africa. This book will provide the reader with a preface to the histories of these nations and their difficulties. It's a book worth reading. Enjoy.
While the book's recitation of all the virtually continuous military campaigns conducted during the reign of Queen Victoria is thorough and commendable its fulsome brevity is also a fair portrait of the mindset of the British people as well as their military. Promotion, recognition, and financial reward followed directly from battlefield exploits and victories in the 19th century British military. That being true meant that war of any kind or size was always to be preferred over peace by the military man of this era. As there was no efficient means of communication to keep London informed of conditions in the field the army leadership was pretty much free to make decisions as they saw fit. These men were not diplomats or social scientists and definitely not democratic in their thinking. As a result opposition from indigenous people was met with immediate and violent responses which led to further hostilities and atrocities on both sides. It never seemed to occur to the British that nobody invited them into these countries and that they were invaders and the inhabitants were the victims in these "rebellions" and "wars". Again, further display of British arrogance which was shared with British society in general. The military exploits and their successes were very popular among British citizens who were completely removed from the realities of these "successes" except for those that needlessly lost loved ones in the process. The leaders and standouts of these campaigns were heralded as heroes and showered with honors and rewards. The people gloried in watching the empire expand across the globe and they remained completely ignorant of what was being done by the military in the name of the queen and the country. One wonders how they would have reacted if they knew even a little of the truth.
Reading this book will give you a perspective on the birth of European colonialism as a plague afflicting the more advanced societies of the world. The lack of communication and truthful reporting allowed this plague to continue throughout the Victoria's reign and into the 2oth century. Part of the rationale for these invasions was the juvenile excuse of well the others are doing it too and if I don't get involved I won't get my share or the other guy will get more than me. Britain used that a lot to invade countries that they thought were going to be swallowed by a European rival and that just couldn't be allowed. Today these European colonizers are experiencing the consequences of their 19th century ancestors' ignorance but then again so is the rest of the world. The problems of the Middle East are the result of collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the greed of England and France after WWI. The same can be said of the instability of much of Africa. This book will provide the reader with a preface to the histories of these nations and their difficulties. It's a book worth reading. Enjoy.
January 21, 2022
Byron Farwell's Queen Victoria's Little Wars is exactly as advertised: a succinct sampler of Britain's colonial conflicts in the 19th Century, from Afghanistan to Zululand, delivered in inimitable style. Farwell (a popular American military historian) makes no bones about his admiration for the men who made the British Empire; he admits that the Empire's motives weren't always moral or sound, but he's more interested in celebrating the derring-do of British soldiers and their native allies across the globe. And derring-do there is a-plenty: from the doomed retreat from Kabul to the failed rescue of General Gordon in Sudan, the defeat of the Zulus at Rorke's Drift and Ulundi and the suppression of the Indian Mutiny, there's material enough here for a hundred adventure serials. Farwell spices the narrative with cameo portraits of the era's colorful military figures, from the messianic Gordon to the bad-luck Evelyn Wood and Sir Garnet Wolseley, "the Model of a Modern Major General" himself. The downside of this celebratory approach is that Farwell has little interest or sympathy in the peoples victimized by British expansion, even if he castigates blockheaded generals or admits that China or the Ashanti had legitimate grievances against the Empire. Still, Farwell's work makes a fine companion to the Flashman Papers or G.A. Henty's adventure novels, an uncomplicated tale of courageous men doing daring deeds in exotic locations. And, I suspect, that's all that most readers of this book will want.
September 12, 2020
"If a man cannot catch glory when his knees are supple he had better not try when they grow stiff."
"To try my hand with an army is a longing not to be described, yet it is mixed with shame for the vanity which gives me such confidence: it will come and I cannot help it."
" Charles! Charles Napier! Take heed of your ambition for military glory; this high command will, unless you are careful, give it all its vigour again. Get thee behind me Satan."
Victoria's secret is out: Glory. The desire for glory held by the officers and men of Queen Victoria's army was the driving force that allowed the creation, expansion, and military maintenance of the British Empire. The indications of the importance of glory expressed by one of her generals, Charles Napier, are reiterated throughout the deft accounts of over thirty "little wars" spanning the period of Victoria's reign, from 1837 to 1900.
In light of this sequence of violent encounters, author Byron Farwell notes the irony of referring to the period between the Battle of Waterloo and the start of World War I as Britain's "long peace." The individual wars he describes seemed to result from local military commanders pursuing action and glory as much as by direction from London. The officers were drawn nearly exclusively from the upper class of British society and many were following their fathers and grandfathers as members of the regiment in which they served. The image required was that of being both an officer and a gentleman. Promotions often came very slowly. As a result, competition was high and exceptional bravery in combat was the norm. These attributes led to officers being quite aggressive in dealing with local problems.
Many of the regiments described were drawn from colonial sources, but officered by Britons. The quality and reliability of these sources varied from the most competent to warm bodies whom the officers hoped to keep in the battle.
Farwell's research show a keen eye for good quotes in archived letters and diaries. He also writes many pungent lines on his own. He writes, The Chitralis were a cruel and charming people, treacherous and fun-loving." He quotes several officers on these people. One wrote, "They have a wonderful capacity for cold-blooded cruelty, yet none are kinder to children." Another observed, "It is impossible not to be taken with the Chiralis. Putting side their avarice ... their cruelty and treachery among themselves ... The people were bright, cheery, impervious to fatigue, splendid mountaineers." He pithily noted of the commander of the 21st Lancers, "The charge proved conclusively that his regiment was brave and that he was foolish." The unit was the one in which a young Winston Churchill fought in the Sudan.
The writing is concise, providing needed detail on combat, individuals, and terrain on each war, but doesn't natter on endlessly. There is gruesome detail in some of the accounts, but these were fierce, cross-racial conflicts that killed a lot of people. Mostly, the people killed were the locals, although the British officers were often lost. When British regiments were involved, they too often suffered heavy losses in some battles.
Farwell notes that many of thee conflicts went unnoticed by the people at home. The Indian Mutiny aroused interest, as did some of the fighting on the Northwest Frontier bordering Afghanistan. It was the Boer War, fought against other Europeans, the Dutch, that raised the greatest interest in Britain. This like many of the incidents, found the Brits unprepared and slow to start, but ultimately successful.
There is much of interest in this very enjoyable read. I wish to thank Goodreads' friend Jill Hutchinson for recommending the book. I, in turn, am happy to recommend it to others who are interested in military history and in the subject of past international relations.
"To try my hand with an army is a longing not to be described, yet it is mixed with shame for the vanity which gives me such confidence: it will come and I cannot help it."
" Charles! Charles Napier! Take heed of your ambition for military glory; this high command will, unless you are careful, give it all its vigour again. Get thee behind me Satan."
Victoria's secret is out: Glory. The desire for glory held by the officers and men of Queen Victoria's army was the driving force that allowed the creation, expansion, and military maintenance of the British Empire. The indications of the importance of glory expressed by one of her generals, Charles Napier, are reiterated throughout the deft accounts of over thirty "little wars" spanning the period of Victoria's reign, from 1837 to 1900.
In light of this sequence of violent encounters, author Byron Farwell notes the irony of referring to the period between the Battle of Waterloo and the start of World War I as Britain's "long peace." The individual wars he describes seemed to result from local military commanders pursuing action and glory as much as by direction from London. The officers were drawn nearly exclusively from the upper class of British society and many were following their fathers and grandfathers as members of the regiment in which they served. The image required was that of being both an officer and a gentleman. Promotions often came very slowly. As a result, competition was high and exceptional bravery in combat was the norm. These attributes led to officers being quite aggressive in dealing with local problems.
Many of the regiments described were drawn from colonial sources, but officered by Britons. The quality and reliability of these sources varied from the most competent to warm bodies whom the officers hoped to keep in the battle.
Farwell's research show a keen eye for good quotes in archived letters and diaries. He also writes many pungent lines on his own. He writes, The Chitralis were a cruel and charming people, treacherous and fun-loving." He quotes several officers on these people. One wrote, "They have a wonderful capacity for cold-blooded cruelty, yet none are kinder to children." Another observed, "It is impossible not to be taken with the Chiralis. Putting side their avarice ... their cruelty and treachery among themselves ... The people were bright, cheery, impervious to fatigue, splendid mountaineers." He pithily noted of the commander of the 21st Lancers, "The charge proved conclusively that his regiment was brave and that he was foolish." The unit was the one in which a young Winston Churchill fought in the Sudan.
The writing is concise, providing needed detail on combat, individuals, and terrain on each war, but doesn't natter on endlessly. There is gruesome detail in some of the accounts, but these were fierce, cross-racial conflicts that killed a lot of people. Mostly, the people killed were the locals, although the British officers were often lost. When British regiments were involved, they too often suffered heavy losses in some battles.
Farwell notes that many of thee conflicts went unnoticed by the people at home. The Indian Mutiny aroused interest, as did some of the fighting on the Northwest Frontier bordering Afghanistan. It was the Boer War, fought against other Europeans, the Dutch, that raised the greatest interest in Britain. This like many of the incidents, found the Brits unprepared and slow to start, but ultimately successful.
There is much of interest in this very enjoyable read. I wish to thank Goodreads' friend Jill Hutchinson for recommending the book. I, in turn, am happy to recommend it to others who are interested in military history and in the subject of past international relations.
July 4, 2016
This book was read as a reinforcement of Thomas Pakenham’s The Scramble for Africa: White Man’s Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912. The scope of the Queen Victoria’s Little Wars is larger than The Scramble for Africa, as it covers wars that occurred in North America and Asia as well as those on Africa, though at the same time the scope is smaller as it only concerned with Great Britain and military history. The style of Queen Victoria’s Little Wars is different too, as, while very factual, it is not as densely packed with information and possesses many amusing vignettes. Nonetheless, Queen Victoria’s Little Wars does serve as a good reinforcement to The Scramble for Africa as it reviews the wars described in The Scramble for Africa. The book is certainly worth the read.
June 16, 2009
Nice read on the Victorian regimental system and the small wars that occurred during the prosperous and supposedly peaceful bulk of Victoria's reign.
December 5, 2014
british empire magnanimously liberates various locales from various locals.
March 10, 2012
Good brief synopses of the many wars of Colonial Wars fought under the reign of Queen Victoria. Some were very interesting. Some are not.
January 3, 2021
Byron Farwell's Queen Victoria's Little Wars is a complicated book to review. On its own, Farwell is upfront about what this is, and isn't. It IS a compelling and well written account of the various wars of empire and conquest fought by the British around the world. It is told almost entirely from their perspective, and almost exclusively on the colorful figures involved in leading this or that military expedition around the world in Canada/Afghanistan/India/Crimea to take just Wolseley's example.
What it isn't is a history of why those wars happened, whether there was a point to them, and what the British Empire did with its new acquisitions once "civilization" had arrived. Nor, even, what his various figures got up to outside of these wars. Even the Crimean War Farwell mostly brushes over, since he feels (in a very British way) that his readers likely know all they need to know about it.
So this is almost a throwback history in many ways, stripped down to tales of derring-do and insane heroics by second sons and social climbers keen for glory. And as that's what the author was intending to write, I'd say he succeeded handily. But, I would never suggest reading this in isolation. A book like this leaves me asking what the consequences of Empire are, once the new red coat of paint has faded away.
What it isn't is a history of why those wars happened, whether there was a point to them, and what the British Empire did with its new acquisitions once "civilization" had arrived. Nor, even, what his various figures got up to outside of these wars. Even the Crimean War Farwell mostly brushes over, since he feels (in a very British way) that his readers likely know all they need to know about it.
So this is almost a throwback history in many ways, stripped down to tales of derring-do and insane heroics by second sons and social climbers keen for glory. And as that's what the author was intending to write, I'd say he succeeded handily. But, I would never suggest reading this in isolation. A book like this leaves me asking what the consequences of Empire are, once the new red coat of paint has faded away.
July 28, 2023
I bought this book to provide more insight into Queen Victorias tenure. Instead I got much more - a view into the English psyche of the Victorian Age when they became without shame the empire of greatest extent. There was no shame in that they felt they egotistically felt they were lifting up the peoples under them by giving them the benefit of modernity and a benevolent government. In return they wanted unbridled commerce which did make English businessman extremely rich. If the natives did not cooperate then it must be because bad native government had taken hold and te english felt justified in deposing that government or punishment them to conform. Interestingly almost like how bad government is justified by its true believers here today. Almost is provided the significant contributions made by key brit military officers e.g. Kitchener, Chines Gordo .... The book also provides good insight into how the 'reward system' caused a love of war glory for budding officers because meant being set-for-life. Very well researched book and worth reading if want to know more of the English thinking that fostered its Empire construction.
July 31, 2018
According to the author, British troops were engaged in various wars, punitive expeditions and related activities every single year of Victoria’s 64 year reign. These involve several in Afghanistan, many in India, Burma, China, Egypt, Sudan, the Crimea, and finally in South Africa. Farwell does a wonderful job describing the culture of the empire, the desire, even the yearning of young men of the middle and upper middle class to prove themselves in combat. He describes the local nature and culture of “the regiment” and the public’s view which is mostly detached when not jingoistic. It was a fascinating time. Farwell gives brief histories of the officers involved and that gives a feel for the culture as well. What surprised me is the author is American but he must have done a TON of background research. His writing is crisp and fast paced so it made for a most enjoyable read.
April 19, 2021
An absolutely delightful and eminently readable recounting of the many little wars fought by the British during the reign of Queen Victoria when the size of the Empire quadrupled . While most are known to military historians, even the casual reader will be entertained and enlightened by these stories of typical British character. Think India, Sudan, Crimea, Abyssinia, South Africa, Zulu wars, Ashanti wars, Egypt, Sudan, Afghanistan multiple times, the Boers just to name a few chapters. The author does a superb job of describing the Regimental system, the character of the British military, and why they succeeded while at first failing. I cant recommend this book highly enough, and it is great for cocktail party trivia: eg. Who were the Fuzzy Wuzzies? They were not bears; they were tribes fought by the British in Sudan with wild hair! Enjoy.
April 29, 2023
A very readable book about all of Queen Victoria's Little Wars. Whilst I knew about a few of the more famous campaigns - Sudan, the Indian Munity, the Zulu Wars and the Boer War in South Africa - Byron Farwell's book is filled with information on many smaller, more obscure expeditions, skirmishes, campaigns and wars.
December 29, 2019
Excellent book that gives enough detail, without being overwhelming. It's a fascinating time in history that often goes little noticed. The book is written in an interesting fashion that keeps the readers attention and brings out the personalities of the major players in the events.
March 29, 2018
A great little read about the victories and defeats of the Victorian British Army.
January 17, 2019
An outstanding book about the "Savage wars of Peace" with Victorian personalities that would astound today's eccentrics as being able and unable to command.
July 18, 2019
Publisher could have included maps. Droll humor was a plus.
November 5, 2025
When I first read this, back in the 1980s, it was a treasure trove of fascinating information. Re-reading it now feels almost painfully dated. If I want information about any of these conflicts or the people involved, there's far more available on Wikipedia, it's easier to find, and it's much more detailed. And, what's more, the information on the internet is significantly more accurate, with direct access to a wealth of primary source material.
For example, Farwell tells us about Ethel Grimmond, who led a detachment of troops to safety after an attack on Manipur in 1891 after the surviving junior officers failed to act. Which is fascinating, except that her name was actually Ethel Grimwood, and she didn't lead the troops, she merely advised the officers on the terrain, since she had lived in the region for a year. The true story is all in her autobiography which, although it was practically unobtainable when the books was written, is now freely available online. There are numerous similar examples.
For its time, it was a great little book. Now it's been superseded.
For example, Farwell tells us about Ethel Grimmond, who led a detachment of troops to safety after an attack on Manipur in 1891 after the surviving junior officers failed to act. Which is fascinating, except that her name was actually Ethel Grimwood, and she didn't lead the troops, she merely advised the officers on the terrain, since she had lived in the region for a year. The true story is all in her autobiography which, although it was practically unobtainable when the books was written, is now freely available online. There are numerous similar examples.
For its time, it was a great little book. Now it's been superseded.
September 29, 2014
Interesting book. This is not a history of the wars of the Victorian period but rather a collection of snapshots from the majority of the "small wars" fought in that period. It is as much about the British officers who fought the wars as it is the actual battles and campaigns.
So, if you are looking for geo-politics, the Great Game, or detailed campaign or battle narratives, this is the wrong place to go. What this book does offer is insight into the character, ambitions, and lives of the military leaders of the period. It also tells the stories of particularly amazing, depressing or heroic battles, units and leaders.
This book is a different approach to history than I am used to and it was a nice departure. To me, it served as an introduction to some campaigns I was unfamiliar with, specifically in India, and will help guide my further reading of this period.
So, if you are looking for geo-politics, the Great Game, or detailed campaign or battle narratives, this is the wrong place to go. What this book does offer is insight into the character, ambitions, and lives of the military leaders of the period. It also tells the stories of particularly amazing, depressing or heroic battles, units and leaders.
This book is a different approach to history than I am used to and it was a nice departure. To me, it served as an introduction to some campaigns I was unfamiliar with, specifically in India, and will help guide my further reading of this period.
October 25, 2016
quick read with a lot of good detail about "The Little Wars" of Victoria's reign. The wars of Empire were fascinating and fired young men's imaginations well into the 20th and 21'st Centuries. Farwell does an excellent job of describing the actions and personalities that made up The British Army during the 19th Century. But, his last few chapters seem to have been written as if on a dead line or that he had just grown board with the project and wanted to be done with it. Over all though an excellent read.
July 17, 2008
similar is style to eminant victorian soldiers. each war is given a small section highlighting the action, the general motivation of the british governemnt and any personages of note involved in the war.
essential reading for anyone interested in the victorian era of warfare(roughly 1830s to 1918)
essential reading for anyone interested in the victorian era of warfare(roughly 1830s to 1918)
October 7, 2013
Incredibly (exhaustively) (insanely) well researched, but alas pretty dry. An interesting account of the more obscure skirmishes and colorful characters associated with the expansion and preservation of the British empire in the 1800s.
June 12, 2014
An interesting overview of the wars that made the "Pax Britannica" possible. Even the author admits that his research was incomplete, as record-keeping for the time was a bit less rigorous; that means that for the scores of "little wars that we know of, there are actually dozens more.
March 13, 2011
So far its rather dry, but full of really interesting details of some really exotic wars.
September 18, 2013
What it says on the tin.
April 22, 2015
Great little book that ties together 19th century British imperialism. Well worth a read. Fun and informative.
January 23, 2016
Fascinating look at the wars of the late 19th century.
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