The River War: An Account of the Reconquest of the Sudan

Winston Churchill

Mar 2012 · Courier Corporation

About this ebook

"Churchill's first major historical work is still considered one of his most riveting." — Library Journal
"It's a great read." — The Washington Examiner
A story of heroism and glory that rivals any work of fiction, this instructive treatise on a Middle Eastern conflict was written by one of history's greatest figures. In The River War, Winston Churchill recounts a critical but often overlooked episode from the days when the British Empire was at the height of its power: the operations directed by Lord Kitchener of Khartoum on the Upper Nile from 1896 to 1899, which led to England's reconquest of the Egyptian Sudan.
After the 1881 rebellion of the Mahdi had plunged the Sudan into chaos, British attempts to withdraw from the region climaxed in General Gordon's ill-fated attempt to rescue officials, soldiers, and Egyptian subjects from Khartoum. A decade later, the British government began its efforts in the pacification and restoration of the Sudan--a mission that succeeded within two years, at the final battle of Omdurman.
Churchill was present at this decisive battle, and he wrote this book while he was still a young cavalry officer. In addition to the future statesman's views of the conflicts and the politics behind them, it shows how the River War altered the fates of England, Egypt, and the Arabian people of northeast Africa. Illustrated by 22 maps and plans, this treatise offers valuable insights into a historic clash of Western and Arabic cultures.

About the author

Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace on November 30, 1874 and educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. His military service included periods spent in Cuba, India, the Sudan, and in France during World War I. He became a Member of Parliament in 1900 and held many high offices of state under four different prime ministers. He was the Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II. Churchill's writing career began with campaign reports including The Story of the Malakand Field Force and The River War. In 1900, he published his only novel Savrola. His other works include Lord Randolph Churchill; Marlborough, a four-volume biography of his ancestor the 1st Duke of Marlborough; The World Crisis, a four-volume history of World War I; The Second World War, a six-volume history; and A History of the English. History of the English-Speaking Peoples, a six-volume work was completed toward the end of his life. In 1953, Churchill received the Nobel Prize for Literature, in recognition of his extensive writing as well as for his speeches throughout his career as a statesman. That same year, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. He died on January 24, 1965 at the age of 90.