Why are you asking? This is purely my opinion from a few scans across website reviews. Its new, 2021 written seemingly by American academics reviewed so far by academics. So it depends on what they have read and the market they want to engage. I doubt that they see the UK as much to make their fortunes from. It seems to be a bit controversial with suggestions of pc but I am 74 and my uncles fought in this campaign. They were well aware of the colonial content of British Imperial Forces and fought alongside them. They had no bias, they fought and died together. Perhaps you should buy it. Read it, then post a review on the forum. Could be interesting. For myself I will maybe watch out for it when it comes out on Kindle at a fraction of the price. Even then I suspect that I would give it a miss.
I've read quite a few articles and a book by Daniel Marston, always found then well-written and informative.
Marston wrote the earlier and considerably pricier Phoenix from the Ashes so it could be considered value for money from that perspective. However, I think this one leans towards the higher levels, PFTA is more the bricks and mortar tactics, looking at a selection of British and Indian units.
I have read it and it is definitely worth buying. Anything written by either Callahan or Marston is required reading, and this one is particularly good. So too is Callahan's previous work ‘Triumph At Imphal-Kohima How The Indian Army Finally Stopped The Japanese Juggernaut’. They are most definitely books about the Indian Army and there is short shrift for the perennial obsession with the Wingate’s escapades, the current obsession with Kohima and Churchill generally. My most obvious criticism of the most recent volume is the change from ‘Indian Army’ in the title to ‘British Indian Army’, of which I disapprove.
I think it is pretty reasonable to solicit opinions on the quality of a book from the community, to see if anyone else has read it and can give an informed opinion.
I read Phoenix From the Ashes years ago and thought it excellent. On that basis, I would say that anything by Marston is worth looking at.
I'm asking because, while it is outside my current, lockdown-inspired, interest (improving my knowledge of British AFVs), it is an aspect of British Imperial history in which I am interested. It is pricey, and my book-buying habit is getting a little out of control, so I thought I'd ask to see if anyone could give me a compelling reason to risk further credit card damage and possible wifely disapproval. It came to my attention because of the aforementioned academic reviews, but I couldn't find any other comment. On the basis of what davidbfpo, sol, TTH and particularly JITTER PARTY have written, I think I will do exactly that! Thanks very much to all who replied!
I'm happy with the term "British Indian Army" as opposed to the post-independence Indian Army which now has a long history all of its own.Certainly wouldn't hold that against a book. We'll see - there will now be a short intermission while I read it . . .
It won the Templer Medal from the Society for Army Historical Research (UK) for best military history book of the year, so I'd say it was pretty good. Anything by Professor Callahan is worth reading,
Yes, I saw that - one of the things that made me think harder about buying a copy once I'd read the initial academic reviews. Thanks for the recommendation!
