The Life of Gordon Volume II

In this volume, Boulger covers Gordon's early life and education, his commission into the British Army, and his rise to prominence during the Second Opium War in China. A significant portion of the book is devoted to Gordon’s role in the suppression of the Taiping Rebellion, where he earned the nickname "Chinese Gordon" for his leadership of the "Ever Victorious Army." Boulger portrays Gordon as a man of strong moral conviction, driven by a deep sense of duty and religious faith, who took on complex and dangerous missions with selfless courage. The first volume also delves into Gordon's character, highlighting his solitary nature, his disdain for bureaucratic red tape, and his tendency to defy conventional authority. Boulger carefully examines the qualities that made Gordon both a military hero and an enigmatic figure, laying the groundwork for the later events in his life, including his eventual command in Khartoum, which is covered in the second volume.