CONDITION USED GOOD, THE RED FORT , AN ACCOUNT OF THE SIEGE OF DELHI IN 1857, JAMES LEASOR, HARDCOVER, 1956

The Red Fort by James Leasor is a powerful and vivid retelling of the Indian Mutiny of 1857, focusing on the siege of Delhi and the events surrounding the historic Red Fort. At the center of the narrative is the ageing Mughal emperor, a symbolic leader of the rebellion who was, in reality, a prisoner within his own palace, surrounded by his vast family, opportunists, and traitors.

Outside the fort, the British Army endured brutal conditions—scorching heat above 120 degrees, lack of shelter, and being heavily outnumbered and outgunned. Despite this, the mutineers’ disorganization and poor leadership allowed the British to hold out during the grueling four-month siege.

Leasor brings to life not just the chaos and violence of the conflict, but also the courage and heroism that emerged from both sides. The book culminates in the dramatic final assault on Delhi, where soldiers, out of ammunition, fought hand-to-hand in a desperate struggle for control.

With rich detail and compelling storytelling, The Red Fort captures one of the most remarkable episodes in military history—a story of power, resistance, endurance, and the human spirit amidst warfare.