Amateur Armies are a phenomenon I have never ever considered needing further information on, but Stephen Cullen's superb book has changed all that, with considerable research and fascinating facts.
Books Monthly

I have been fascinated by the British Army since a young age, but the weaponry of the Victorian British Army has never particularly interested me and, for that matter, even after having read this book, I still wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a Martini Henry and a Lee Enfield at twenty paces. That's not to say that this book isn't good; it is, very. It's just that I don't have the forensic knowledge that author Stephen Manning has. It is one thing to have that knowledge though, and quite another to be able to write about the subject in a compelling manner that makes it interesting for people like me. Although it's not 'fashionable' to say so now, the British Army of the Victorian and early Edwardian eras did a sterling job of maintaining and expanding the British Empire through a combination of grit, determination, stiff-upper-lipiness and unwavering discipline. The weaponry they used, certainly provided the back-up, and in this book we can read about its evolution from.. Read more
Paul Nixon

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars I feel like I learned a lot. Maybe I dint learn that much about the battles per se, but more about general attitudes, how we reflect on things we’d rather not remember, and sadly, that it seems like we don’t even want to live and learn. The way the British leaders didn’t give any straight answers about why they went to war and what went wrong makes me think the leaders of today are not that different. Doubt we’ll get any clearer answers today... All in all a great book. However, I would encourage readers to read about “the well-known” history, wars, and stories from that time first, to fully understand the meaning of this brilliant and educational book.
NetGalley, Tove R

Wow what a dedicated woman not only as a nurse but as a friend and companion. Worked through horrendous times but nothing stopped her form carrying on.
NetGalley, Angela Stewart

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Having seen glimpses of the film "Zulu" (one of my dad's favourites), when this book popped up on NetGalley I started to wonder how much I really knew. Not very much at all, it turns out! "Zulu Kings and Their Armies" is a clear and well-written history. Yes, it could have been longer, but probably not without making it far too academic and possibly a bit dull. The photos are a bonus, and the "Battle Focus" sections are particularly worth paying extra attention to. I'm very glad that I've read this book, as it has totally changed my perspective on that time and place.
NetGalley, Dawn Lewis