Martial Races : The Military, Race and Masculinity in British Imperial Culture, 1857-1914

Name: Martial Races : The Military, Race and Masculinity in British Imperial Culture, 1857-1914
Brand: Manchester University Press

Manchester University Press

This book explores the identification of Scottish Highlanders, Punjabi Sikhs, and Nepalese Gurkhas as the British Empire's fiercest, most manly soldiers in nineteenth-century discourse. 'Martial races' were believed to possess a biological or cultural disposition to the racial and masculine qualities necessary for warfare, leading to their use as icons to promote recruitment in British and Indian armies. This had significant social and political effects in India, Britain, and the armies of the Empire. Martial Races bridges regional studies of South Asia and Britain, integrating fields of racial theory, masculinity, imperialism, identity politics, and military studies. It challenges the marginalisation of the British Army in histories of Victorian popular culture and demonstrates the army's impact on the cultures of the Highlands, the Punjab, and Nepal. This unique study is fascinating for students and experts in imperial history, military history, and gender history. Summary: "Martial Races: The Military, Race and Masculinity in British Imperial Culture, 1857-1914" by Heather Streets, published by Manchester University Press in 2010. This paperback book examines the concept of 'martial races' within the British Empire, focusing on the military recruitment and cultural impact of groups like Scottish Highlanders, Punjabi Sikhs, and Nepalese Gurkhas. It delves into themes of race, masculinity, imperialism, and identity.