DEFENCE OF PLEVNA 1877

The Siege of Plevna remains an epic of military history. In 1877 Osman Pasha and his Turkish army maintained a resolute, albeit doomed, defence of this important town. The first three battles of Plevna saw heavy casualties inflicted on both sides, as the Turks managed to repulse the Russian and Romanian troops. With supplies running desperately short, the Turks attempted to break out in December 1877. After fierce fighting, they were driven back into the town, where there was no option but to surrender. Over forty thousand Turkish soldiers went into captivity. The Western world, informed of the events in Plevna via a number of intrepid newspaper reporters, were captivated, and public opinion in Britain strongly turned in favour of the Turks. The author, an Englishman by birthm served with the Turkish army throughout the siege. He was thus uniquely placed to offer a captivating and extremely important historical narrative of the Siege of Plevna. This is a superb account, told from the front-lines and the campfire. Note that this reprint of of the full edition, not the later abridged edition.