"Between 1824 and 1885 Britain and Burma fought in three deadly struggles.
The first was the longest and most expensive war in British Indian history, the second was criticized at the time as being caused by gunboat diplomacy, and the third led to the removal of Burma's Konbaung dynasty and the incorporation of Burma into the British Raj.
These wars were fraught with military blunders and incompetence.
Why did the tensions arise initially and how did the first battles begin? How were Burmese forces able to resist the powerful armaments of their opponents for so long? And what were the implications of this controversial war for the British?
The Burma Wars: 1824–1886 uses a vast assortment of contemporary sources to build up a vivid picture of the clashes, highlighting the courage and perseverance of the men who fought for both sides in difficult conditions.
The Times described Bruce's books as 'well researched, with a keen eye for historical detail.'
The Burma Wars: 1824–1886 is a brilliant account of one of the conflicts that led to the formation of the British Empire. It is part of the series Conflicts of Empire, which also includes Retreat from Kabul and Six Battles for India."
"Afghanistan, 1839.
The British East India Company dominated the Indian subcontinent, yet they were not secure in their position.
Holding unjustified fears that Russia threatened India's north-western border, the Company decided to make a pre-emptive strike and ensure that this menace would be stopped by a strong pro-British Afghanistan.
Thousands of British and Indian troops invaded this mountainous land to intervene in a succession dispute between emir Dost Mahommed Khan and former emir Shah Shuja-ool-Mulk. After capturing Kabul they placed the cruel, but pro-British Shah Shuja upon the throne once again, and supported him with an overwhelming military presence.
However, the proud and ruthless warriors of Afghanistan were unwilling to submit themselves to British control and within three years they had risen up against their oppressors in one of the bloodiest revolts in history.
George Bruce delves into a vast array of published and unpublished nineteenth century sources to uncover this campaign in which very few British survivors made it back through the snow-laden passes to India."
"By the end of the nineteenth century India was described as the jewel in the crown of the British Empire, but how did such a small island come to dominate one of the richest lands in the world?
Without doubt the toughest opponents to British control was led by the Sikhs.
Ranjit Singh, the brilliant 'Lion of Punjab', who ruled the Sikh Empire had revolutionized his army by employing French officers from Napoleon's Grand Army to train his artillery and infantry on the European model.
He had ruled well and created a cultural and artistic renaissance in his lands, yet his death led to infighting amongst his successors and within a few years tension with the neighboring British-protected territory broke out into open warfare.
George Bruce explores how the military might of the East India Company clashed with the powerful forces of the Sikh Empire in six hard-fought battles. Using a wide array of contemporary source materials he demonstrates how close the British forces were to being decimated and how they were only saved by treason within the Sikh ranks."
