February 2023 MBR The World History Shelf

The World History Shelf

Onwards to Omdurman
Keith Surridge
Helion and Company
c/o Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781915070517, $45.00, PB, 170pp

https://www.amazon.com/Onwards-Omdurman-Anglo-Egyptian-Reconquer-1896-1898/dp/1915070511

Synopsis: On 2 September 1898, the Anglo-Egyptian army under General Kitchener crushed the Mahdist Sudanese army of the Khalifa Abdallahi at the battle of Omdurman. Depictions of the battle, in books and films, have too often depicted it as the hapless slaughter of the Mahdists by a modern, well-equipped professional army.

With the publication of "Onwards to Omdurman: The Anglo-Egyptian Campaign to Reconquer the Sudan, 1896-1898", Keith Surridge seeks to show, however, that the battle was not a foregone conclusion and that the result might have been closer if the Mahdists had conformed to their battle-plan. By examining the battle in fair detail, the book emphasizes that the Mahdists battle plan was poorly executed, hence their defeat. Although it took another year before the Khalifa was defeated and killed, the battle at Omdurman ended a two-year campaign that had utilized the power of modern Victorian technology.

To fully understand how and why an Anglo-Egyptian army arrived to fight at Omdurman, "Onwards to Omdurman" takes a fresh look at the Sudan campaign as a whole, because it provides an excellent example of how modern technology was used to overcome the vagaries of the desert and the river Nile. Thus, railway lines were built to bring troops and supplies across the desert. Communications were enhanced by miles of telegraph wire. Control of the Nile was ensured by British-built gunboats, armed with machine guns and artillery.

While the Anglo-Egyptian army carried modern rifles, machine guns and artillery. Kitchener had witnessed Britain's failed Sudan campaign in 1884-85 to rescue General Gordon trapped in Khartoum by Mahdist forces, because of too much haste and not enough forethought. Kitchener did not make the same mistakes. Moreover, he and his officers never underestimated the fighting prowess of their enemy.

Before Kitchener's campaign is examined, however, "Onwards to Omdurman" provides context by discussing how and why Britain was involved in Egypt and why the decision was made to invade Mahdist Sudan. It then considers the political, social and military organization of the Khalifa's domain. Also examined is the Egyptian army and provided are details on the British contingent. The various stages of Kitchener's advance are then discussed.

"Onwards to Omdurman" is based on British accounts from unpublished material in archives and published contemporary works, for they are readily available. Where possible, this military history takes into account the Mahdist perspective by using the available published sources and the Intelligence reports prepared from information supplied by Sudanese agents and informers.

Critique: A minor masterpiece of illustrated historical research, "Onwards to Omdurman: The Anglo-Egyptian Campaign to Reconquer the Sudan, 1896-1898" is an invaluable contribution that will prove to be an enduringly appreciated and valued contribution to personal, professional, community, and academic library British and Egyptian military history collections in general, and the British/Egyptian Sudan campaign in particular.

Editorial Note: Keith Surridge (https://london.nd.edu/about/faculty/keith-surridge) gained his BA in history at Queen Mary College, London in 1989, and his Ph.D at King's College, London in 1994. Since 1993, he has taught aspects of British history at various American university programs in London. His books include Managing the South African War, 1899-1902. Politicians vs Generals (1998) and with Denis Judd, The Boer War (2002). He has also published many articles on aspects of the South African war 1899-1902 and on the British army and imperialism during the late-nineteenth century.

Augustus at War: The Struggle for the Pax Augusta
Lindsay Powell
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781399023368, $28.95, PB, 496pp

https://www.amazon.com/Augustus-War-Struggle-Pax-Augusta/dp/1399023365

Synopsis: The Latin words Pax Augusta (or Pax Romana) evoke a period of uninterrupted peace across the vast Roman Empire. With the publication of "Augustus at War: The Struggle for the Pax Augusta", author and historian Lindsay Powell exposes the truth for the lie that it is. Almost every year between 31 BC and AD 14 the Roman Army was in action somewhere, either fighting enemies beyond the frontier in punitive raids or for outright conquest; but it was also entangled in suppressing rebellions within the borders -- or itself on the verge of mutiny.

Remarkably over the same period Augustus succeeded in nearly doubling the size of the Empire, outperforming either Pompey the Great or Julius Caesar for conquests. How did Augustus, a second-rate field commander, and a man known to become physically ill before and during battle, achieve such extraordinary success? Did he, in fact, have a grand strategy?

The decisions Augustus made determined the future of the empire -- and of the Europe which followed. Powell reveals Augustus as a brilliant strategist and manager of war. As commander-in-chief he made changes to the political and military institutions to keep the empire together -- and to hold on to power.

His genius was to build a team of semi-autonomous legati (deputies) to ensure internal security and to fight his wars for him. Often bound by ties of blood and marriage, but above all loyalty, these men (more than 50 of whom are profiled in this volume) fought for Augustus, who claimed for himself the credit for their achievements.

Critique: Lucidly written by the author of the acclaimed biographies "Marcus Agrippa" and "Germanicus", and drawing upon archaeology, art, coins, inscriptions and documents of the period, Lindsay Powell with "Augustus at War: The Struggle for the Pax Augusta" presents a new and provocative assessment of the men and events shaping a crucial period in world history, which still reverberates down to our own time. Informatively enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of informative illustrations, military symbols, tables, a section of color plates, four appendices, sixty-one pages of Notes, a 30 page Bibliography, and a twenty-six page Index, "Augustus at War: The Struggle for the Pax Augusta" is unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community and academic library Ancient Roman History collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Augustus at War: The Struggle for the Pax Augusta" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Lindsay Powell (https://lindsay-powell.com) is a historian and writer who has a passion for the history of the Roman Empire. He is news editor of Ancient History and Ancient Warfare magazines. His appearances include BBC Radio, Dan Snow's HistoryHit, and the History Channel. He is also the author of Eager For Glory; Germanicus, and Marcus Agrippa (all from Pen and Sword Books). He is a graduate of the University of Aston in Birmingham, a veteran of The Ermine Street Guard re-enactment society, and divides his time between Austin, Texas and Wokingham, England.

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