Making saints
Subtitle: religion and the public image of the British Army, 1809-1885
By: Kenneth E. Hendrickson III.
Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press; Associated University Presses
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Madison, NJ; London; Cranbury, NJ
Language: eng
Number of pages: 197
Subjects: Great Britain. Army. Chaplain's Dept.; Great Britain. Army -- Chaplains -- History -- 19th century.; Great Britain. Army -- Public relations -- History -- 19th century.; Soldiers -- Great Britain -- Conduct of life -- History -- 19th century.; Militarism -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century.
Description: In 1815, the British public supposed the army to be a band of murderous thugs and drunkards whipped into shape only by the strenuous efforts of great men like Wellington. By 1885, the curious figure of Charles Gordon could immediately and easily slip into the robes of Christian martyr splendor, standing as proxy for the moral force of the army at large.

This study tells the story of how the British army went from rabble to crusaders beginning with the century that witnessed Britain's greatest imperial triumphs, and how institutional reforms helped to shape and alter public opinion.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [179]-191) and index.