General Gordon’s Private Diary of his Exploits in China by Samuel Mossman

First edition of the trials of Gordon’s service during the Taiping Rebellion (1863-1864), written by Samuel Mossman, former editor of North China Herald. The diary covers one of the bloodiest civil wars in history, in which perhaps 20-30 million people died. At the time Gordon commanded ‘The ever victorious army’, a Chinese force trained by western officers, hence the nickname Chinese Gordon. When this book appeared, public interest was enormous as he had been killed only months earlier during the Siege of Khartoum. Containing his own personal diaries, his thoughts on military operations, descriptions of Chinese officials and commanders, leadership, discipline and first-hand material of the nineteenth century conflict.

Relaid spine with original publisher’s green cloth and new end papers. Folding map and portrait plates in good condition. A very good, complete copy preserving the often-missing intact map. Internally clean with no inscriptions. 8vo. 303pp

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