Mr. Kipling's Army by Byron Farwell

Mr. Kipling's Army by Byron Farwell is a picturesque look at the British Army of the 19th century. The book is divided into thematic chapters including regiments, recruitment, religion, training, tactics, sport, women and alcohol. Farwell one of the preeminent historians on the Victorian Army gives numerous examples dealing with each topic.

This is a truly masterful work that if you have any interest at all in the British Army you must have. Farwell also had a gift for writing as well. This could quite easily have been a dry recitation of statistics and regulations. Fortunately it's not. As the title suggests there are occasional references to Kipling's writings, both short stories and poems.

Highly recommended.

Is available through Abebooks.