Dervish: The Rise and Fall of an African Empire by Philip Warner

Dervish: The Rise and Fall of an African Empire by Philip Warner is a history of the independent Sudan during the late 19th century. There is a decent enough discussion on the Islamic movement that swept through the country and led to it breaking away from Egyptian control. There is quite a bit here on its relations with the British government including the murder of Gordon and the eventual reconquering for the Egyptians by the British.

The narrative was alright. I was expecting a little more color. Some of the comparisons with the British Army of the second world war and 1950s were interesting. I have several of Warner's books on British battlefields. They have been reviewed on the blog. I preferred those to this.

Mildly recommended.

Is available through Abebooks.