A professional solder for thirty-five years, Allan Mallinson began writing while still serving. His first book was a history of four regiments of British light dragoons, one of which he commanded. His debut novel was the bestselling A Close Run Thing, the first in an acclaimed series chronicling the life of a fictitious cavalry officer before and after Waterloo (The Tigress of Mysore is the fourteenth in the series). His The Making of the British Army was shortlisted for a number of prizes, while 1914- Fight the Good Fight won the British Army's 'Book of the Year' Award. Its sequel, Too Important for the Generals, is a provocative look at leadership during the Great War, while Fight to the Finish is a comprehensive history of the First World War, month by month. Allan Mallinson reviews for the Spectator and the TLS and also writes for The Times. He lives on Salisbury Plain.
There is no finer military historian. -- Professor SIMON HEFFER His prose is light and engaging; this is a detailed factual account but it is as pleasurable and easy to read as any well written novel. The maps are excellent, the pace is a brisk canter . . . there are some utterly joyfully arid asides and footnotes that made me laugh aloud . . . this book is simply superb. Buy it. Read it. * ARMY RUMOUR SERVICE (Arrse) * Mallinson writes with an exciting pen and a cool head and he understands war. -- Professor MICHAEL CLARKE It is such a relief to read something by a professional who really knows his stuff. -- Professor SIR MICHAEL HOWARD