The Crimean War: A Clash Of Empires

Rating:
Summary: A frustrating read....
Review: I picked up my copy of this weighty book with a great deal of expectation. I have always held an interest in the mid-19th century including the great conflicts of the Crimean War and the American Civil War. I hoped this work would provide a definitive history.

Undoubtedly well researched, the book makes good use of Russian sources to illustrate the experiences of the defenders of Sevastapol. Political entanglements that led to the war and ultimately dictated its peace are thoroughly detailed and discussed.

Nevertheless, for all its careful research, I found this book frustrating to read. The book manifests a number of problems that a good editor should have dealt with long before publication. Words are repeated in the same sentence, quotes and illustrative statments stand isolated in blocks of text without further explanation and anecdotal material is often awkwardly placed. The syntax is especially poor. An example from Chapter 4 -

"It was a scene superbly captured in the 1968 feature film, "The Charge of Light Brigade", which captured the spirit of the march - and its agonies - superbly."

Mistakes such as these would be frowned upon in an undergraduate paper. Far too many of them litter the book and detract from the narrative, making the work a difficult read.

The academic standard of the work is high and the use of Russian sources most welcome. With careful editing and closer proof reading this book could yet become the definitive work it aspires to be, and this makes it all the more frustrating to read in its present form.

If you are looking for academic study of the Crimean War, this book provides it. However, if you also enjoy a good read, you may lose paitience with this book before the end.



Rating:
Summary: A well researched and authentic account.
Review: Oh what images the Crimean War evokes and has evoked for 150 years. For myself, with scant knowledge of specific events, I well remember visiting the Officers Mess of the Royal Regiment of Wales some years ago where I stood for over an hour ignoring my hosts just gazing at the detail of the most outstanding piece of regimental silverware I have ever seen. Made of solid silver, the piece must have measured at least 3 feet by 2 feet and easily over 1 foot high. It depicted in full relief the Battle of Inkerman and showed those attacking and those defending that strategic hill. It was simply called "The Inkerman Piece."

Elsewhere, those with a far greater knowledge of the Crimean War have acclaimed this book as a great work. Of course, only those who have studied the subject in great detail can vouch for the accuracy of the content. Personally, I have taken note of the fact that the Bibliography alone runs to 7 pages and have also taken a close look at the authors and the qualifications and background they bring to the work. In this case it is very impressive.

Ian Fletcher was born in London in 1957 and comes to this work as the author of 17 books and editor of several more. His list of credits is impressive by any standards; Member of the British Commission for Military History, Fellow of the International Napoleonic Society, he also runs battlefield tours specialising in pre-20th century military history and is often found escorting clients to the Iberian Peninsular, Waterloo and the Crimea.

Natalia Ishchenko's credits are equally impressive; Born in the Crimea, she graduated from Taurida National V. I. Vernadsky University and obtained he PhD in Philology in 1989. Today she is an assistant professor at her old university and author of over 40 works encompassing literary, historical and cultural studies.

In short, these two people know their subject and have formed the perfect partnership for producing such a book. On top of all that - and in spite of the passing of 150 years since the Crimean War, the book is described by the no less a person than the Prime Minister of the present day Crimean republic as "The first accomplished mutual investigation of the events of the Crimean War of 1853-1856."

I do believe, therefore, this book will come to be seen as a great literary work - in addition to being a damned good read. It should, therefore, be seen as required reading for all those with an interest in the Crimean War in addition to anyone else who enjoys a fine read on a factual subject.

NM