Warriors in Scarlet

Acclaimed military historian Ian Knight launches his latest book, charting the history of the Victorian army between 1837 and 1860.

The image of the Victorian-era red-coated soldier still holds a prominent place in the public imagination. In this exciting event to launch his new book, military historian Ian Knight will reveal the reality of life for soldiers in the Victorian army during a period of seismic change.

Drawing on first-hand accounts, he will demonstrate the drudgery of peace-time service, the excitement and privations of posting overseas, the floggings and desertions, the regimental pride and comradeship.

He will also show how the Army was forced to adapt to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding British Empire, facing new enemies with different approaches to warfare.

About Ian Knight

Military historian Ian Knight has been writing about 19th-century British colonial campaigns for 30 years. His book ‘Zulu Rising’ received universal critical acclaim, and he is a winner of the Anglo-Zulu Historical Society’s Chief Buthelezi Medal for his lifelong contribution to Anglo-Zulu studies. 

A former editor of the Journal of the Victorian Military Society, he is a regular contributor to historical journals. He has advised on and appeared in a number of television documentaries, including Channel 4’s ‘Secrets of the Dead’ and the BBC’s ‘Timewatch’.