Saul David was born near Monmouth in 1966 and educated at Ampleforth and Edinburgh University. His previous books, include Mutiny at Salerno: An Injustice Exposed (made into a BBC Timewatch documentary), The Homicidal Earl: The Life of Lord Cardigan, and Prince of Pleasure: The Prince of Wales and the making of the Regency. He lives in Somerset with his wife and two children.

Prologue - "The Electric Telegraph" has saved us; the East India Company; "Carlo" Canning; professional grievances; "Go to hell - don't bother me!"; the conspiracy; the greased cartridges; Mungul Pandy; the storm bursts; Delhi; "The worst of the storm is past"; the mutiny spreads; Oudh; Cawnpore; Satichaura Ghat; the backlash; enter Sir Colin Campbell; the fall of Delhi; the relief of Lucknow; the reconquest of Oudh; the Rani of Jhansi; "War is at an end". Appendices - was 31 May 1857 the date fixed for a general mutiny of the Bengal Army?; the civilian conspiracy and rebel chiefs; the motive for mutiny; the post-mutiny reform of the Indian Army.