The Battle of Dorking (eBook)

Colonel George Tomkyns Chesney (1830–1895) was a British Army officer and writer, notable for penning the influential novella 'The Battle of Dorking' (1871). His work is categorized under the speculative fiction genre, often recognized as an early example of 'future war' fiction. Born on April 30, 1830, Chesney embarked on his military career by joining the Bengal Engineers in 1850. Throughout his service, he distinguished himself in various campaigns, including the Indian Rebellion of 1857. His keen observation of military strategies and deficiencies within the British Army fuelled the creation of his literary masterpiece. 'The Battle of Dorking,' which first appeared in Blackwood's Magazine, was set 50 years ahead of its time and depicted a devastating defeat of Britain by a technically superior enemy, intended as a cautionary tale on the nation's military unpreparedness. The story stirred public debate and influenced both popular culture and military policy. Chesney's narrative, while fictional, was deeply rooted in his understanding of contemporary military science and his stark advocacy for army reform. Outside of his literary achievements, Chesney also made significant contributions to the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom and was the founder of the Indian Staff College at Quetta. George Chesney passed away on March 31, 1895, yet his legacy as a military thinker and author continues, remembered for pioneering a genre that questions and critiques national defense and security through speculative fiction.