English Siege and Prison Writings : From the ‘Black Hole’ to the ‘Mutiny’

This volume brings together an unusual collection of British captivity writings – composed during and after imprisonment and in conditions of siege. Writings from the ‘Mutiny’ of 1857 are well known, but there exists a vast body of texts, from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Burma, and the Indian subcontinent, that have rarely been compiled or examined. Written in anxiety and distress, or recalled with poignancy and anger, these siege narratives depict a very different Briton. A far cry from the triumphant conqueror, explorer or ruler, these texts give us the vulnerable, injured and frightened Englishman and woman who seek, in the most adverse of conditions, to retain a measure of stoicism and identity. From Robert Knox’s 17th-century account of imprisonment in Sri Lanka, through J. Z. Holwell’s famous account of the ‘Black Hole’ of Calcutta, through Florentia Sale’s Afghan memoir, and Lady Inglis’s ‘Mutiny’ diary from Lucknow, the book opens up a dark and revealing corner of the colonial archive. Lucid and intriguing, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of modern South Asia, colonial history, literary and culture studies. This volume brings together an unusual collection of British captivity writings - composed during and after imprisonment and in conditions of siege. Writings from the 'Mutiny' of 1857 are well known, but there exists a vast body of texts, from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Burma, and the Indian subcontinent, that have rarely been compiled or examined. Written in anxiety and distress, or recalled with poignancy and anger, these siege narratives depict a very different Briton. A far cry from the triumphant conqueror, explorer or ruler, these texts give us the vulnerable, injured and frightened Englishman and woman who seeks, in the most adverse of conditions, to retain a measure of stoicism and identity. From Robert Knox's 17th-century account of imprisonment in Sri Lanka, through J.Z. Holwell's famous account of the 'Black Hole' of Calcutta, through Florentia Sale's Afghan memoir, and Lady Inglis' 'Mutiny' diary from Lucknow, the book opens up a dark and revealing corner of the colonial archive. Lucid and intriguing, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of modern South Asia, colonial history, literary and culture studies An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies (1681) / Robert Knox -- A Genuine Narrative Of The Deaths Of English Gentlemen (1764) / J.z. Holwell -- Personal Narrative Of Two Years' Imprisonment In Burmah (1860) / Henry Gouger -- A Journal Of The Disaster In Afghanistan (1843) / Lady (florentia) Sale -- The Military Operations At Cabul (1843) / Vincent Eyre -- From The Culcutta Gazette (1791) / William Drake -- A Narrative Of The Sufferings Of James Bristow (1793) / James Bristow -- A Narrative Of The Military Operations On The Coromandel Coast (1789) / Innes Munro -- The Captivity, Sufferings And Escape Of James Scurry (1824) / James Scurry -- An Authentic Account Of The Treatment Of English Prisoners (1785) / Henry Oakes -- Siege Of Lucknow: A Diary (1802) / Lady (julia) Ingles. Edited By Pramod K. Nayar. Contents Preface Introduction 1 An historical relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies (1681) • Robert Knox 2 A genuine narrative of the deaths of English gentlemen (1764) • J.Z. Holwell 3 Personal narrative of two years’ imprisonment in Burmah (1860) • Henry Gouger 4 A journal of the disasters in Afghanistan (1843) • Lady [Florentia] Sale 5 The military operations at Cabul (1843) • Vincent Eyre 6 From the Calcutta Gazette (1791) • William Drake 7 A narrative of the sufferings of James Bristow (1793) • James Bristow 8 A narrative of the military operations on the Coromandel Coast (1789) • Innes Munro 9 The captivity, sufferings and escape of James Scurry (1824) • James Scurry 10 An authentic account of the treatment of English prisoners (1785) • Henry Oakes 11 Siege of Lucknow: a diary (1892) • Lady [Julia] Inglis Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- 1 An historical relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies (1681) -- 2 A genuine narrative of the deaths of English gentlemen (1764) -- 3 Personal narrative of two years' imprisonment in Burmah (1860) -- 4 A journal of the disasters in Afghanistan (1843) -- 5 The military operations at Cabul (1843) -- 6 From the Calcutta Gazette (1791) -- 7 A narrative of the sufferings of James Bristow (1793) -- 8 A narrative of the military operations on the Coromandel Coast (1789)