Chain of Fire

The Siege of Khartoum and the Campaign of Egypt and the Sudan

Peter Hart

The dramatic story of the siege of Khartoum and Britain’s extraordinarily violent 1882 campaign in Egypt and Sudan.

In the 1880s, British control over northeastern Africa was a political minefield that Prime Minister William Gladstone wished to avoid—until his emissary Charles Gordon was besieged in Khartoum, and the city became the focal point for war.

It was the height of European colonialism. Injustices were administered, bloody battles fought, and civilians were often caught in the crossfire. Among the famed British officers involved were figures who would later adopt starring roles in World War I, such as Egyptian Army officer Captain Herbert Kitchener.

By turns shocking and dynamic, Chain of Fire examines the terrible desert wars using the testimonies of the men who fought there.

Peter Hart studied at Liverpool University before becoming a director at the Imperial War Museum in London. As the museum's Oral Historian, he works frequently with war veterans recording their wartime experiences.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Praise for Peter Hart:

“Hart superbly depicts these months of brutal combat in all their complexity.” The New York Times Book Review

"Dispelling close-held myths, Hart presents extracts from diaries and letters by soldiers and officers for an in-the-moment account. A focused, organized, evenhanded work of research.” Kirkus Reviews

"Hart's ability to capture individual warriors' experiences as they vividly described them and connect those stories to the broader campaign narrative is a key strength." Army History

"The human element still defines this compelling account of an operation. Hart remain at his best, however, in explaining and presenting the 'near-superhuman courage and endurance' of the combatants. That remains Gallipoli's enduring appeal.” Publishers Weekly

“An important contribution to the growing literature on this epic and tragic campaign.” Military History

"This thorough updating of one of WWI's great 'might have beens' makes a good acquistion as we approach the centennial of the battle." Booklist

“Here is a marvelous, ghastly book. What makes Mr Hart's version so bracing is his method. He is a specialist in oral history at London's Imperial War Museum, and this book, like others he has written or co-written, gains richness and texture from the use of first-hand testimony.” The Economist

"An important reevaluation. An excellent summary of an iconic campaign, offering many lessons for war planners." Library Journal