The Great Fight For India

This book doesn't fall into my normal reading genre, being a young adult book, and also a collection of short military stories. TO be honest I had suspected, but not known fully it was young adult, and my main reason for buying it was the intriguing pictures and the fact it takes place in India.

Dating from around 1913, and told from a British perspective, this book collects the story of thirteen battles in India - initially against the French, then after their withdrawal, the India opposing forces. They are provided with a source in each case, although they appear adapted into a consistent and common narrative, as they stories provide linking from one to the next, and use common language and phrasing. They do, however stand alone as individual stories. Approximately the first half feature Robert Clive, the others then split into various primary characters.

The stories are heroic and interesting, but of course, told from a colonisers viewpoint where the British didn't consider the Indians should raise arms against in defence of their own leadership structures.

Four full page paintings are contained within, plus those on the cover and spine.

3 stars.