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Author Topic: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"  (Read 2465 times)

Offline olicana

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1238
    • Olicanalad's Games
Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« on: August 19, 2023, 06:41:04 PM »
In short, is this book worth the £36 price tag.

I already have a few books on the Sudan and don't want to purchase the same information again in a different cover. If it's great, with excellent maps, etc. I'm in.

My colonial booklist is here:
http://olicanalad.blogspot.com/2023/08/my-colonial-book-list.html

Please advise.

Offline Jack Jones

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 207
    • Sands of Soudan
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #1 on: August 19, 2023, 08:01:20 PM »
I think it’s an excellent volume … full of contemporary illustrations from eye witnesses like War Correspondent Melton Prior, OoBs, photographs of the battlefields, some annotated to help make sense of dispositions etc, contemporary maps, details of uniforms and equipment with colour plates … it was my introduction to this period, and I found it invaluable.

I have since read Snook’s excellent Beyond the Reach of Empire (which focuses on the Desert Column’s attempt to rescue Gordon) and Brian Robinson’s Fuzzy Wuzzy (which focuses on the Suakin campaigns), and cross-referenced these with Go Strong into the Desert.

It’s £25 on Perry Miniatures web site.

I wouldn’t be without it.

Cheers
JJ
« Last Edit: August 19, 2023, 08:03:00 PM by Jack Jones »

Offline olicana

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Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #2 on: August 19, 2023, 08:37:26 PM »
Thanks, for the heads up.

Went to Perry. Ordered.

I was looking at Fuzzy Wuzzy. I have quite a bit on the expedition to relieve Khartoum so I'll probably skip on Beyond the Reach of Empire.

I think I'm going to spend most of my time doing imagi-campaigns in the 'inter-war years' but the history gives a solid understanding to base that on.


Offline peachey_c

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 93
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2023, 08:40:41 PM »
Yes, Snook's book is worth it, he spent time in the Soudan, and visited at least a few of the battlefields, and as Jack says, it's £25 from the Perrys.

I have been interested in the Soudan for many years, I have a small collection of medals from the campaigns. Here are a few books for free..

Official History, 2 volumes, Intelligence Division of the War Office. Very dense, loads - and I mean loads - of info.......just flicking through it is interesting in itself. It is also available as a reprint from Naval & Military press, which I have, it's pricey so don't buy it, the free version is fine.

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.278867/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.278868


Cassell's History of the War in the Soudan, 6 volumes. Pretty easy read, but lots of it. Lots of illustrations.

https://archive.org/search?query=history+of+the+war+in+the+soudan


Bennet Burleigh, war correspondent, Suakin 1884 campaign, includes despatches..

https://archive.org/details/desertwarfarebei00burl/page/n5/mode/2up

Good luck with your project, I look forward to seeing your progress.  8)

Offline Jack Jones

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 207
    • Sands of Soudan
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2023, 08:56:48 PM »
@peachey_c Thanks for the links – in particular Burleigh’s account.

Cheers
JJ

Offline juergen c. olk

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • *
  • Posts: 2389
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2023, 09:36:56 PM »
Great book

Offline olicana

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1238
    • Olicanalad's Games
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2023, 10:28:29 PM »
Thanks, Peachey

Offline Jack Jones

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 207
    • Sands of Soudan
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2023, 08:18:03 AM »
Thanks, for the heads up.

Went to Perry. Ordered.

I was looking at Fuzzy Wuzzy. I have quite a bit on the expedition to relieve Khartoum so I'll probably skip on Beyond the Reach of Empire.

I think I'm going to spend most of my time doing imagi-campaigns in the 'inter-war years' but the history gives a solid understanding to base that on.

You’re welcome. I don’t think you’ll regret the purchase.

Beyond the Reach of Empire is a long, forensic read. If you have time for it I would recommend it to you also.

If you are interested in the Suakin campaigns I recommend Fuzzy Wuzzy. I see the what-if possibilities around the construction of the Suakin–Berber railway as rich ground for game scenarios … and I get proper Hadendowa with big hair!

Cheers
JJ

Offline Deedles

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1138
    • One man & his brushes
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2023, 07:44:44 PM »
You’re welcome. I don’t think you’ll regret the purchase.

Beyond the Reach of Empire is a long, forensic read. If you have time for it I would recommend it to you also.

If you are interested in the Suakin campaigns I recommend Fuzzy Wuzzy. I see the what-if possibilities around the construction of the Suakin–Berber railway as rich ground for game scenarios … and I get proper Hadendowa with big hair!

Cheers
JJ

Spot on. The railway makes great scenario options

What could possiblly go wrong!






« Last Edit: August 20, 2023, 07:50:24 PM by Deedles »
Cheers
Deedles

One day the lead mountain will be gone.... one day

http://onemanhisbrushes.blogspot.co.uk/
http://blazingdice.blogspot.co.uk/

Offline italwars

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1119
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2023, 08:32:02 PM »
Yes, Snook's book is worth it, he spent time in the Soudan, and visited at least a few of the battlefields, and as Jack says, it's £25 from the Perrys.

I have been interested in the Soudan for many years, I have a small collection of medals from the campaigns. Here are a few books for free..

Official History, 2 volumes, Intelligence Division of the War Office. Very dense, loads - and I mean loads - of info.......just flicking through it is interesting in itself. It is also available as a reprint from Naval & Military press, which I have, it's pricey so don't buy it, the free version is fine.

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.278867/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.278868


Cassell's History of the War in the Soudan, 6 volumes. Pretty easy read, but lots of it. Lots of illustrations.

https://archive.org/search?query=history+of+the+war+in+the+soudan


Bennet Burleigh, war correspondent, Suakin 1884 campaign, includes despatches..

https://archive.org/details/desertwarfarebei00burl/page/n5/mode/2up

Good luck with your project, I look forward to seeing your progress.  8)

Thanks for the suggestion but , dont no wy, but downloading of this and other similar PDF does nt work anymore  from that very Archives Library..neither a google link to download same PDF is anymore available....it's just me or you experienced similar recent limitation?

Offline peachey_c

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 93
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2023, 09:02:59 PM »
Hi Italwars - I go to the book page, in "download options" I right-click the pdf link and "save link as" and it downloads to my desktop. I hope that works for you.

Craig

Offline italwars

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1119
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #11 on: August 21, 2023, 03:03:47 PM »
May thanks Craig ..In that way it work now !  :o

Offline peachey_c

  • Bookworm
  • Posts: 93
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #12 on: August 21, 2023, 03:36:53 PM »
Good stuff 8)

Offline olicana

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1238
    • Olicanalad's Games
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2023, 12:06:42 PM »
My copy arrived this morning. At first perusal, it looks like its an excellent book. :D

Offline olicana

  • Mastermind
  • Posts: 1238
    • Olicanalad's Games
Re: Please rate "Go Strong Into The Desert"
« Reply #14 on: August 27, 2023, 04:50:44 PM »
Just finished my first read through. This book is exceptional. Recommended. ;)

 

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