General Gordon, Saint and Soldier — Edition Insights

A Friend's Testimony and a Moral Purpose

The preface and dedication establish the book's dual character: personal recollection and moral instruction. Wardle writes that he was 'induced' to narrate by the 'greatest possible pressure' from friends, and he thanks authors and newspapers for extracts. The dedication to his son, Joseph Gordon Wardle, quotes Sir William Jones on the greatest man being 'the best.' This framing suggests the book is less a critical biography than a memorial shaped by affection and a desire to edify. Readers should expect firsthand anecdotes and letters rather than objective analysis.

Gordon's Unflinching Readiness for Death

Chapter I includes a striking exchange with the King of Abyssinia. When the king threatens death, Gordon replies, 'I am always ready to die,' adding that execution would be a favour, relieving him from future troubles. The king concedes his power has no terror. Wardle then describes Gordon's perilous escape, bribing his way out and travelling alone over snowy mountains past 'dog-faced baboons' and hostile tribes. This episode, drawn from Gordon's own account, illustrates the blend of religious fatalism and practical resourcefulness that Wardle admires.

The Cost of Service: Nervous Exhaustion

Chapter VI shows Gordon after resigning his first Soudan post. Wardle reports that under officials saw Gordon as 'a religious fanatic, and too strict to govern.' The Khedive's farewell speech praises his loyalty. More revealing is the medical certificate from Dr. MacKie, diagnosing 'symptoms of nervous exhaustion' from 'continued bodily fatigue, anxiety and indigestible food,' and ordering complete rest. Wardle comments that 'none find it harder to rest than those who need it most.' This medical detail grounds Gordon's legendary endurance in physical reality.

Letters as Windows to Character

Throughout the excerpts, Wardle repeatedly references Gordon's letters as evidence of his 'deep solicitude for the lads' and his work among the poor at Gravesend. The index lists a chapter of 'Gordon's letters—Leaflet, &c.—His work at Gravesend—Amongst his “Kings.”' These letters are the book's primary source for Gordon's inner life. Wardle does not reproduce them at length in the excerpts, but their presence shapes the narrative: the book is as much a collection of testimonies as a continuous story. Readers should attend to how Wardle weaves quoted material into his own prose.

Wardle's book is best read as a contemporary portrait by an admirer who knew Gordon personally. The excerpts show a work that values anecdote over analysis and moral example over political context. Readers interested in Gordon's character as seen by a friend will find rich material; those seeking a balanced military history should look elsewhere. The letters and personal recollections are the core of the book's value.