The Life of Gordon, Volume I

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26419

Title

The Life of Gordon, Volume I

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Demetrius Charles Boulger's definitive biography chronicles the extraordinary military and administrative career of General Charles Gordon. Blending personal correspondence with historical analysis, the text explores Gordon's service in the Crimea, China, and the Sudan, highlighting his legendary courage, administrative genius, and tragic end at Khartoum.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Life of Gordon, Volume I*, Demetrius Charles Boulger presents an authoritative biography of General Charles Gordon, drawing upon unpublished family papers and personal knowledge to offer a definitive verdict on the man's character. The narrative begins by tracing Gordon's distinguished ancestry, noting how the Gordon name has long been associated with military service and noble integrity within the British Army. Boulger details Gordon's early career in the Royal Artillery and his distinguished service in the Crimean War, Danube, and Armenia, where he earned the Turkish Field-Marshal rank and the Grand Cordon Medjidieh. The biography then shifts to Gordon's pivotal command of the Ever-Victorious Army in China during the Taiping Rebellion. Boulger vividly recounts Gordon's reorganization of the chaotic Chinese forces, his abolition of plundering, and his brilliant tactical victories at Fushan and Taitsan. These successes restored confidence in the Imperial cause and established Gordon's military reputation. The narrative highlights his strategic genius in cutting off rebel supply lines and his willingness to perform menial labor, such as pulling boats and cooking his own food, to lead by example. The work transitions to Gordon's complex and often frustrating mission in the Nile Valley. Boulger emphasizes Gordon's immense personal energy and his struggle against indifferent Egyptian officials and hostile local rulers like Mtesa and Kaba Rega. Despite facing a sham mission designed to impose on Europe, Gordon remained dedicated to suppressing the slave trade. The text illustrates his sublime courage, citing instances such as lighting a cigarette during a desperate charge and standing unarmed in a breached stockade. Even when tempted to resign due to exhaustion and the incompetence of his subordinates, Gordon's sense of duty and his belief that he was called by God to open the country to the Lakes kept him in the field. The volume concludes with Gordon's formal resignation and his eventual return to the Sudan, setting the stage for his tragic fate while maintaining a balanced perspective that avoids partisan attacks on contemporaries.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography
• History