Public-domain ebook
Language: en3,661 downloads on Project Gutenberg
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In: Biographies·History - Other·History - Modern (1750+)
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #26493.
The work is a biographical study of General Charles George Gordon, focusing on the pivotal years when he left Egypt in late 1876 and was drawn back into Sudanese affairs. The opening passages trace Gordon’s reluctant departure, his negotiations with the Kheded Ismail, and the intricate diplomatic tug‑of‑war that led to his appointment as Governor‑General of the Sudan, Darfur, and the Equatorial provinces. Detailed excerpts of correspondence reveal the personal stakes, the anti‑slavery motivations of his friends, and the political pressure exerted by both British and Egyptian authorities. By laying out the exact terms of his commission, the gifts bestowed by the Kheded, and the immediate challenges he faced, ranging from tribal unrest to Abyssinian disputes, the author sets the stage for a thorough examination of Gordon’s administrative vision and the monumental task he undertook.
Written in the formal, descriptive prose of late‑Victorian scholarship, the narrative combines extensive primary‑source quotations with a measured, almost reverent tone. Its style will appeal to readers who enjoy meticulous historical biographies, scholars of British military figures, and anyone interested in the imperial politics of the 19th‑century Sudan and Egypt. Those who appreciate dense, document‑driven storytelling rather than dramatized adventure will find this volume a rewarding exploration of Gordon’s complex legacy.
When General Gordon left Egypt for England in December 1876 it was with the expressed determination not to return; but the real state of his mind was not bitterness at any personal grievance, or even desire for rest, although he avowed his intention of taking six months' leave, so much as disinclination to leave half done a piece of work in which he had felt much interest, and with which he had identified himself. Another consideration presented itself to him, and several of his friends pressed the view on him with all the weight they possessed, that no signal success could be achieved unless he were placed in a position of supreme authority, not merely at the Equator, but throughout the vast province of the Soudan. …
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