Press Release

Donald Featherstone is probably the world's best known wargamer and expert on the Victorian army. A veteran of World War Two, he saw action in North Africa and Italy with the Royal Tank regiment. His first book was published in 1956 and since that time he has rarely had less than six titles in print at any one time.

Donald is a prolific author with almost sixty books to his credit. He has a world-wide reputation for producing outstanding titles on a range of military subjects. Many of his out-of-print titles have become desirable pieces and sell for premium in the collector's market. He has been credited with being the 'father' of modern wargaming having produced, in 1963, the first work on the subject since H. G. Wells in 1913.

Since that time he has written over twenty wargaming books and is recognized throughout the world as being the leading expert on rules and techniques.

With Redcoats For The Raj, Don has departed from the style of his previous books to produce his first full length of fiction. Using his vast knowledge of the Victorian army and its campaigns, as well as his experience of Victorian dialogue and society, he has created a novel that captures the atmosphere of the Victorian barracksroom perfectly.

The British reading public, and no doubt the American reading public as well, seem to have a fascination with all aspects of India, especially concerning the Raj. Most previous fiction concentrates on the aristocracy and the establishment of British domination of the subcontinent. The book portrays the low life of the ordinary foot soldier - men who had to fight and die to preserve British rule.

Wellington called them the 'scum of the earth.' They were not part of the social hierarchy. Not for them the niceties of the officer class, the social gatherings, the parties or the hunting. These redcoats sweltered and festered in long barracks rooms for years on end, their boredom only occasionally broken by the sheer terror of having to undertake some punitive expedition against errant tribesmen.

Each of these soldiers has a story to tell; each lived his own private hell. In Redcoats For The Raj, Donald has given us a glimpse ef Britain's colonial past and a way of life that has gone forever. The Book is set to become a Classic.

"The secret of capturing and holding an audience owes much to a compelling start..."
--Redcoats For The Raj

Review

The press release you have just read was supplied by the publishers of Donald's book. They have available copies at £ 16.00 postpaid. Address is listed below.

What I liked about the book was the dialogue and character development in the barracks. The reader is instantly drawn in to the lives and world of suffering that the British soldiers are subjected to as a matter of procedure in India.

To avoid the hot season, the soldiers are penned up in their barracks very similar to a prisoner. Their situation is made tolerable by the actions of the sections sergeant Benjamin Oakley. Wargamers will certainly embody the identity of the sergeant with the presence of Donald Featherstone. By his guidance we are drawn into the Victorian era and escorted through a series of soldiers tales that are compelling, thought provoking, and seriously funny-in that British sort of way.

The book is certainly worth a look for people interested in gaming the Victorian period. The stories alone could thread into a myriad of skirmish games. The history impact as each tale unfolds is the gem. For those who personalize their gaming figures (A Featherstone suggestion) the complete sub-section history is given in the back of the book. I envision the day when I can see lance-Corporal Mockford on maneuvers at some gaming convention and smile at mention of the name. I recommend Redcoats For The Raj heartily!

Publisher:

Valda Publishing
4 Abbey Walk Church Street
Romsey, Hampshire SO51 8BU
Telephone/Fax: 01794 5222