11. I received the following from Richard Morgan: I can now tell you that the Diary of an Indian Cavalry Officer is out and despite a good deal of grief from the binders they have actually done rather a good job and it looks very well. I append some blurb I have done about the book which probably tells you all you need to know about it. Pagoda Tree Press who specialise in books on India also have a website and can handle all the distribution for me, world wide.

Acting on your advice I have also sent a copy to the Library of Congress, but have of course had no reply yet - it went surface mail so will take weeks to get to them.

The Diary of an Indian Cavalry Officer 1843-63

John Hatfield Brooks 1843-63
Edited by Richard Morgan

John Hatfield Brooks served in the 1st Bengal Light Cavalry and its successor regiments for 20 years, from 1843 and kept a daily diary during most of that period. He gives a vivid picture of the events during the 1857 Mutiny at Mhow where he was a major participant, and of the actions the next year of the Sarun Field Force (using the Crew of HMS Pearl) in a successful containing tactic against the Mutineers. The Diary also describes the Kingdom of Oude before and after its annexation by the East India Company.

Other features are the substantial changes from the relative slackness of the old pre-Mutiny army to the greater professionalism and responsibilities of the post-Mutiny Army. We also see the Diarist on furlough with his wife's extended family in the Cape, and back at his Manor House in England, adjusting to civilian life.

This is a major document for Indian military history and has never been published before.

Limited edition of 250 copies, casebound, 289 pages, illustrated, with coloured dust jacket

ISBN 1-904289-16-9
Price £40.00

4 Malvern Buildings, Fairfield park, Bath BA1 6JX United Kingdom

hughrayner@pagodatreepress.com