Anthology of reporting by William Russell, special correspondent for The Times, including The Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, the American Civil War and the Franco Prussian War, etc. His eye witness reports of battles, at The Alma and Balaklava must have electrified readers at the time and are still impressive today, in their scope and descriptive power. Russell wielded great power in forming public opinion and did much to highlight the deficiencies of equipment and medical support , in the early stages of the Crimean campaign. He also had tremendous access to the powerful and his dealings with Count Otto von Bismarck, during the Franco Prussian War, are particularly fascinating. ( )