BRIGHT EYES OF DANGER: AN ACCOUNT OF THE ANGLO-SIKH WARS 1845-1849

The Bright Eyes of Danger is rich in detail about the British advancement in India during the latter part of the eighteenth century, thus becoming the paramount power over all India except for the Sikh Kingdom in the Punjab. It gives a vivid account of the seven battles and one siege of the two wars with the Sikhs. The first was brought on by the demise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the machinations of palace officials and rapacity of the Sikh Army. Despite traitors in command, the Sikhs gave the invincible British Army a run for its money. The Battle of Ferozeshah was a closer run thing than Waterloo as the British Indian Empire stood at the brink of disaster. At the close of the first war many expected a British annexation of the Punjab, but the Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge, considered the Sikh real estate too large and expensive to take on, besides which annexation would not play well back home.