The Crimean War and its Afterlife: Making Modern Britain

In her book "The Crimean War and its Afterlife," Lara Kriegel rescues the Crimean War from the shadows, offering a fresh account of the conflict and its afterlife. Through a series of six case studies, she explores how ordinary Britons looked to the war as a template for social formation and a lodestone for national belonging, demonstrating the uncanny persistence of a Victorian war in the making of modern Britain.

Format: Hardback
Length: 340 pages
Publication date: 17 February 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The mid-nineteenth century's Crimean War is often disregarded as an embarrassing event, marked by blunders and best forgotten. In her book, The Crimean War and its Afterlife, Lara Kriegel aims to bring the Crimean War out of the shadows. Kriegel offers a fresh perspective on the conflict and its aftermath, revisiting beloved figures such as Florence Nightingale and hallowed events like the Charge of the Light Brigade, while also introducing newer heroes, including Mary Seacole. Through a series of six case studies, the book transports readers from the mid-Victorian era to the present day, focusing on the heroes, institutions, and values forged in the crucible of the war. Time and again, ordinary Britons looked to the war as a model for social formation and a symbol of national identity. Kriegel's book vividly showcases the enduring influence of a Victorian war on the making of modern Britain, with clear prose and rich illustrations.

The Crimean War, which occurred in the mid-nineteenth century, is often regarded as an embarrassing event, marred by blunders and best forgotten. In her book, The Crimean War and its Afterlife, Lara Kriegel sets out to rescue the Crimean War from its undeserved reputation.

Kriegel provides a fresh account of the conflict and its aftermath, revisiting beloved figures like Florence Nightingale and hallowed events like the Charge of the Light Brigade, while also introducing newer heroes, such as Mary Seacole.

The book spans a period of six case studies, taking readers from the mid-Victorian era to the present day. It focuses on the heroes, institutions, and values that emerged from the war, highlighting the enduring impact of the conflict on British society.

Ordinary Britons often saw the war as a model for social formation and a symbol of national identity. Kriegel's book vividly demonstrates the uncanny persistence of a Victorian war in shaping modern Britain, with clear prose and rich illustrations.

Through her meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Kriegel offers a valuable contribution to the understanding of the Crimean War and its place in British history.

Weight: 655g
ISBN-13: 9781108842228
Edition number: New ed