The 100th anniversary of the reconquest of the Sudan has come and gone, but it prompted a small publishing frenzy. This work is a collection of diaries, letters, and accounts. Chapters are as follows:

1. Preparing for the Campaign W.T Maud Reporter
2. Diary Cpt. E.A Hubbard Lincolnshire Regt.
3. The Omdurman Campaign (letter) Lt. H Hodgson Lincolnshire Regt.
4. The Omdurman Campaign (telegrams) L.James Reporter
5. The Omdurman Campaign and the Charge of the 21st Lancers Major H. Finn 21st Lancers
6. The Omdurman Campaign and the Charge of the 21st Lancers Lt. R. Smith 21
7. The Battle of Omdurman Lt. A McNeill Seaforth Highlanders
8. The Battle of Omdurman General Sir A. Hunter
9. The Capture of Gederaf Major H. Lawson RE
10. Return to Omdurman Lt. Col. H. Finn Major H. Finn 21st Lancers
11. The Kaka Expedition Cpt. A. Pirie 21st Lancers

An excellent biography of all parties mentioned in the book is included. Illustrations from Maud and McNeill and several photos are included in an excellently produced book.A couple of points emerged that may especially interest:

a.. the use of mules by the RA 32nd battery instead of mules due to the sand;

b.. training exercises practiced by the 21st Lancers in Cairo to combat Mahidist cavalry, whereby a fourth squadron wasahidist tactic of attempting to avoid direct attacks and seek to outflank any enemy.

It is interesting to compare this work with John Meredith's Omdurman Diaries, also published last year. Meredith takes a different approach, using four accounts of the whole campaign and linking them with a detailed narrative. Meredith's is a better overall account of the whole reconquest, as the subject work only looks at the final 1898 campaign. I have not had the opportunity to read right through Meredith, but I suspect that this is better value. The concentration in this work on one battle alone means that it is a little repetitive, albeit that all the contributions are worthwhile in themselves. Some of the contributions would be OK for SOTQ or The Heliograph, but I'm not sure if they warrant inclusion verbatim in a book.

In summary, if you are a Sudan addict, buy this, but if you aren't, there are plenty of better later-period Sudan books to buy first.