Gordon: the man behind the legend

This biography is the story of General Charles Gordon - his exploits in the Crimean War, his secondment to the Chinese government to defeat the Boxer rebels, his care of street boys in Gravesend, his rule in Sudan and persecution of the slave trade and, finally, his death in 1885 trying to save the people of Khartoum from fire and sword - remains one of the great sagas of the 19th century. The author has used extensive manuscript sources to reveal the zeal of Gordon, telling his story from an objective viewpoint. After Gordon's death the legend grew of the perfect hero. Then, a second legend grew - of the tarnished hero, the secret drinker, perhaps something worse. This has dominated and distorted his biographies. This book rehabilitates the reputation of one of Victorian England's great heroes, and places the man's Christian faith at the heart of his life. John Pollock is the author of "The Apostle", "John Wesley", "Shaftesbury" and "George Whitefield".