DOVETON, Frederick Brickdale.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Reminiscences of the Burmese War, in 1824-5-6. First edition of this account of the First Anglo-Burmese War by an officer in the Royal Madras Fusiliers, published shortly after the outbreak of the second war. Doveton provides a brief history of the conflict and conveys the complexities of combat waged in unfamiliar and inhospitable terrain.Climate and infection plagued the British forces, and the Burmese proved a formidable foe, much to the surprise of the invaders. Doveton (1805-1882) recalls "the shouts of joy with which we welcomed the intelligence of a war with the Burmese... To receive a flesh wound, in the easiest possible manner, at the hands of an enemy! Here would be news to communicate to fair friends in Old England! To be gazetted as Lieutenant or Ensign, wounded in action, and to have one's name trumpeted about as a hero in every news-room! Here would be fame and immortality" (pp. 1 and 48). Later in the narrative, he is more world-weary, comparing the casualty and death tolls to those of Waterloo.The account's descriptions of Burmese life, landscape, and customs are authentically personal. He describes his surprise at seeing locals playing chess and his experience of having a tattoo.

Found via Rare Books Intel, a search across rare-book dealers, auction houses and marketplaces worldwide.