The Battle of Dorking

by George Tomkyns Chesney

The Battle of Dorking is a novella written by George Chesney, first published in 1871. It is a fictional account of a hypothetical invasion of England by a foreign power, told from the perspective of a narrator who lived through the events. The story is set in the late 19th century and follows the invasion and subsequent defeat of the British army by an unnamed enemy, believed to be Germany.The novella is divided into two parts, with the first part describing the events leading up to the invasion and the second part detailing the invasion itself. The story is told through the eyes of a soldier who fought in the battle and witnessed the destruction of his country.The Battle of Dorking was written at a time when Britain was experiencing a decline in military power and was facing the threat of invasion from other European powers. The novella served as a warning to the British people about the importance of maintaining a strong military and being prepared for any potential threats.The book was well-received upon its initial publication and has since become a classic of early science fiction and military fiction. It has been adapted into various forms, including a play and a radio drama, and has influenced numerous other works in the genre.The notorious account of future war that so stunned 1870s Britain.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, War, Fantasy, Classics, Military Fiction

108 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1871

About the author

Sir George Tomkyns Chesney (30 April 1830 – 31 March 1895) was a British Army general who served in India.

He entered the Bengal Engineers as second lieutenant in 1848. He was a public works department employee.

On the outbreak of the Indian rebellion of 1857, joined the Ambala column, was field engineer at the battle of Badli-ki-Serai, brigade-major of engineers throughout the siege of Delhi, and was severely wounded in the assault.

He wrote a Indian Polity (1866) on the administration of the several departments of the Indian government.

His short story Battle of Dorking is considered a founding piece of the invasion literature genre.

Reviews

[Lost Planet Airman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing like a 147-year-old dose of 147-year-old warfare techniques to unstir the blood.
Politically and educationally, however, this was an informative look at a predecessor to The War of the Worlds, as the British get their Victorian ashcans handed to them by a thinly-disguised Germany, and the author explains why.
Disappointing, though, that the Author's version of America failed to come to the aid of the Brits.

For Seasonal Reading Challenge Spring 2018 Task 50.1, "The Classic Novel" Part 3, 3: Victorian Era - 1st published 1837-1901 (inclusive) - Option (B) author 1st & last initials in VI C TORIA RE G INA.
I read the hoopla e-book The Battle of Dorking by George Tomkyns Chesney (108 pp. in this PB edition.) (also a Golden Oldie)

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story that started the victorian obsession with invasion stories and not too bad either. Where this works, is that the author is a retired officer who had seen action on the front and leaves us with a good idea of how things could turn out.

What causes the invasion caused quit a stir in its time and with, back then, good reason.

There shall be no spoilers, this truely relies on the opening pages or there would be nothing to read.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every man’s face reflected the general feeling that we had neglected the warnings given us, and that now the danger so long derided as impossible and absurd had really come and found us unprepared.

Published 1871. Historical fiction novella, written as if in the 1920s describing events in the near 1870s. First-person narrative. Propaganda for English rearmament 150 years ago foreshadows current European situation.

Happy those whose bones whitened the fields of Surrey; they at least were spared the disgrace we lived to endure.

Unnamed adversary is clearly Germany, and in 1871 the Germans seemed to be the colossus of Europe, not that they could have pulled the coup de main described. Describes the fragile nature of the British economy and empire, borne out a century later.

Those who had tobacco smoked—indeed there is no solace like a pipe under such circumstances.

Unconscious class- and cultural-biases give readers a window into upper class Victorian English attitudes and behavior. Tea and tobacco are more essential to the narrator than food and bullets. Just like us.

A nation too selfish to defend its liberty, could not have been fit to retain it.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly what it says it is and a little bit more. Written in 1871, this short novella has been called one of the first dystopian works but I think you have to make a real stretch for that. It purports to be a memoir written for his grandchildren by a London man and tells about an invasion of England that took place some fifty years before. Most of this forty-page novella is a description of the battle he took part in to repel the invaders, who are never really named but are obviously German. Leading up to, and interspersed among the battle descriptions are the author's remarks about the preparedness of Great Britain, their cultural and political blindness, and how they laid themselves open to the eventual destruction of their Empire. The author has similar things to say about France also.

This is nicely written and not very preachy. I can see why it was popular in its time as the military scenes are obviously the work of someone with a professional's knowledge. While it may only hint at a dystopian future, it definitely fits into what was the very new genre of science fiction of the day.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley

This short novella, one that can easily be read in a sitting, describes the fall of England to the Bosch, sorry the Germans.

It is interesting to read not because the writing is knock your socks off. It isn’t. This doesn’t mean that it is bad writing, but Chesney lacks the vigor and vim of say a great many authors. It’s almost like an adult C.S.Lewis’ Narnia without the magic and religion, and, therefore, slighter paler.

No, the reason is because why Chesney got a many things wrong in terms of what would happen in a war between a complacent England and an aggressive Germany, he also got many things write. He isn’t entirely right about Ireland or America taking over Canada (some Americans can’t find Canada on a map, so I’m not convinced an invasion would actually work), but there is enough truth in it to understand why it set people on edge. It is a Handmaid’s Tale with a more country view than feminist view. It’s worth reading simply for its connection to history.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure what to think. This was published in 1800's. Which after you read this and realize when and what the story is about one just might be gob-smacked. It was only 47 pages, but a bit of a challenge to read. It just ran together. But again, lets look at when it was published. I don't want to say what this is about, that will take away from everything. But its short and won't take to much of your time.

But having said what I said I must spoil the book. I mean the author talks about a German invasion into the UK. They actually set foot on British soil. I shall make mention again that this was published in something like 1847. I am still gob-smacked by this 47 page story.

[Sean O'Hara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting the book to be a jingoistic mess, but while it's clear the author is a Tory, he's quite mild. He's even skeptical of empire (mainly because it stretches Britain thin). His fear of Germany is overblown (for the 1870s), and he way underestimates the difficulty of amphibious invasions, but he avoids the xenophobia of Le Queaux.

You can definitely tell he served in the military by how much of the story is spent in hurry-up-and-wait mode with nobody knowing what's going on.

[Ronald · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Battle of Dorking by George Chesney was originally serialized in the British newspapers in 1871 and later published as a book. This novella, written by a military man, describes an invasion of Britain by a German-speaking army of an unnamed country. The story was hugely popular and controversial at the time, and it can be argued that it kicked off the "future war" sub genre of science fiction. That sub genre of science fiction is still active. Chesney's story proved prescient, for Great Britain got into a conflict with the German Empire in 1914.

The two star rating I gave for this book is my evaluation of the story on its own terms. Its stuff like this which gives credence to the old knock against science fiction: strong on ideas, poorly written. Genre writing though has greatly improved since that time.

The story is about 99 percent exposition, which made it a chore to read. The narrator recounts the battle of Dorking which occurred 50 years previously. Early in the story we can infer the outcome of that battle. That kills suspense.

Here's is an extract from the story which is illustrative of the writing problems:

"...and on returning found the household was assembling for early breakfast. A sorrowful household it was, although the burden pressing on each was partly an unseen one. My father, doubting whether his firm could last through the day; my mother, her distress about my brother, now with his regiment on the coast, already exceeding that which she felt for the public misfortune, had come down, although hardly fit to leave her room. My sister Clara was worst of all, for she could not but try to disguise her special interest in the fleet; and though we had all guessed that her heart was given to the young lieutenant in the flagship--the first vessel to go down--a love unclaimed could not be told, nor could we express the sympathy we felt for the poor girl..."

A writer like Hemingway might have re-written the above scene as a conversation among family members at the breakfast table. The attack and its consequences would not be directly stated but the reader would infer it from the conversation. A writer such as Dos Passos might have used collage techniques. SURPRISE ATTACK ON GREAT BRITAIN!

I would recommend this book only to those who have a scholarly interest in the development of the future war genre.

[Judy Monchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. 3.5 stars
The Battle of Dorking: Reminiscences of a Volunteer, an alt history novella from 1871 (it was first serialized in Blackwood's Magazine before being published in book form) launched the genre of invasion literature that was an important precursor to science fiction.
This is the fictional retelling of Britain being invaded by Germany circa 1875, caught completely off-guard and scrambling to defend itself without supplies or coordinated information. The story is recounted as a man's recollection/warning to his grandchildren 50 years in the future. The Battle of Dorking was immensely popular, sparking hundreds of stories and novels, including the Martian invasion classic War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.
Written by George Tomkyns Chesney, a British general, it's an absorbing tale told with energy. I could feel the terror of being unprepared and under attack. The writing may be almost 150 years old, but I was engaged for the duration.

[Sunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

eyeopenning book especially if you've been bought up in the surry area. a lot of the names mentioned in this book were eerily familiar to me. the book documents a few days in the invasion of a german force on south east england. it was written around the turn of the last century and was one of the few key books that precipated what a lot of people were thinking. the industrial revolution was in full flow in europe and the leading powers were stocking up. There was a lot of talk of war before the incident in sarajevo sparked WW1 into the chain of events that occured. thsi book highlighted the need to be aware and alert to the possible dangers. the allegory with the mauritius dodo and his response to invading hunmans is a lesson to us all .. "dont worry dear, we'll peck them to death tomorrow".

[Noah Chinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It kicked off a genre, and it is well told, but from a modern storytelling standpoint I think it only rates around average. No doubt at the time, though, it was revolutionary, seeing as it single handedly started the invasion genre craze. From a historical standpoint in fiction literature I'd probably give it four out of five instead.

[Joseph Patchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A curiously marvelous bit of fiction. This 1871 novella truly lays the foundation for invasion literature and science fiction overall. The story is engaging and engrossing. Truly war is Hell and you feel it through the narration.

[Bettie]

Page 263 bloody foreigners

[Don Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t exactly expect much when I cracked open The Battle of Dorking, and in a way I suppose I was proved right. I’m really fascinated by the Victorian era and its reading habits, and my interest in that side of it far outweighed my interest in the actual book itself. But having said that, I found this far more readable than it had any right to be; just fast-paced and breezy enough, and immune to the interminable prolixity that infected, like a virus, many of the big names in Victorian lit. In its own way it is still just as moralistic as the most didactic “improvement” literature of the time, although here that didacticism is mostly crammed into the beginning and the ending passages;

“We English have only ourselves to blame for the humiliation which has been brought on the land.”

And then the middle chunk of the book is dedicated to a pacey survival adventure of various improbabilities and escapes. I found it hard to swallow just how unprepared the British army was to take down an invasion like this, although I’m of course reading after two world wars and the nuclear age have both alerted us to foreign threats and declined our standing as a world power. If I was one of the decadent Victorian upper classes standing by witnessing the Franco-Prussian war I suppose I could have felt “it could never happen to us” or some such thing. The Pax Britannica can be so distancing. It’s the type of story that could only be written by a British soldier and statesman with a vested interest in warning his fellow countrymen of the danger next door.

I’ll admit, the fascination that this book held for me was due not just to my subjective interest in the historical period but from the geographical perspective too, as Chesney is writing about my local area. Hearing all of the battle locations as towns and villages that I happen to have grown up around and know like the back of my hand had a strange effect on me, like playing a massive-scale game of soldiers in my backyard. I could imagine places I know going up in flames whilst a barrage of hellfire engulfs all the local buildings (I would be very glad to see my old school go). The fact that it was written in a time period I’m particularly interested in is just the icing on the cake.

It’s not as well written as some other adventure writers of the late Victorian period would have managed it, although the short length of the book means he doesn’t leave the reader in the literary doldrums. He stumbles and bumbles a lot over descriptions of munitions and mobilisation when he should have been getting on (paragraph breaks Chesney, you should try ‘em). He was doing rather well keeping this unnamed invader mysterious and threatening, until he has them speaking German to each other towards the end of the book. Sure he doesn’t mention that they’re actually Germans, but now that some kind of identity has been tagged to them I felt less immediacy in the threat, almost as if putting a language to the faceless behemoth helped to confine and define it somehow. A tip to budding writers: if you want your nameless enemy to be frightening and threatening, don’t have them turn around partway through the story and say “Jawohl”.

The ending is rather nationalist and jingoistic, though I suppose compared to a lot of what else was being written during the age of empire it may have been rather mild. A stark warning to preserve British liberty not just for our own sakes but for the blessed beneficiaries of Britannia’s loving international outreach.

“A nation too selfish to defend its liberty, could not have been fit to retain it.”

It’s not so much motivated by a desire to give the British a taste of their own medicine, as in Wells’ The War of the Worlds, but more to paint a dystopian picture of what will come if Britannia lets security and liberty slip through her fingers into the greedy palms of the bosch. If you have an interest in Victorian reading habits check it out, as it’s a speedy read and is an interesting precursor to The War of the Worlds that describes somewhat the national consciousness just after the Franco-Prussian war, but the actual content we get here is mostly standard-issue for a story like this.

[Cropredy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard about this book while listening to a 6 part "The Rest is History" podcast on the weeks between the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo and the start of WW I. The podcasters made a reference to "invasion" literature that had affected the British public over the past 40 years - and made the reference as if all their listeners knew about the "Battle of Dorking". Well, not me, so I picked up this book (available only as a $1.99 e-book; first editions are extremely expensive and there is no modern reprint).

It is a novella and you'll read it in under two hours. The premise is that a thinly disguised Germany has smote the mighty France (the book was written in 1871, just after the Franco-Prussian War). Great Britain had overextended itself and neglected its army. Not just overextended, but deluded itself that as a great empire, the fact that it was a manufacturing center, an entrepot of goods with wealth oozing up and down the country was sufficient to indefinitely stay supreme. With the Navy distributed around the globe and the small standing army preoccupied with the pesky Irish, Chesney's protagonist, a gentleman, finds himself a volunteer in a hastily started war between Britain and the Teutonic power poised across the Channel.

Told as a reminiscence from 50 years hence, our hero is caught up in the confusion of the times, where newspapers publish new editions as each snippet of war news arrives - everyone doing the 1871 equivalent of doom-scrolling.

Our man finds himself an infantryman posted near Dorking, Surrey on a hill, waiting for the enemy who has successfully landed at Brighton. What happened to the Royal Navy? Handily written out of the story due to a technological surprise.

The poorly trained, poorly equipped volunteers and militia are leavened with a few regulars. Skirmishing ensues, artillery belches, fusillades fired. Men fall with grievous wounds. Things don't go well and the war ends in humiliating defeat.

Chesney was a soldier and wrote this book as a warning to the British government and public about what he saw as the woeful unpreparedness of Great Britain to fend off a continental land power. There are parallels to the "Bomber gap" or "Missile gap" hysteria of the 1950s. Apparently, the Battle of Dorking was a huge public success with multiple editions and translations.

Somewhat simple-minded in conception, giving the enemy amazing logistical and organizational skills. There is strategic surprise which seems unlikely in 1871. But, if the enemy were in fact the victorious Prussian army of 1871 versus raw British recruits of clerks and shopkeepers, the results would be as Chesney depicts.

Chesney gives the British more organizational credit than I think is reasonable in assembling an army on short notice, deployed in defensive positions. That said, food is in short supply, ammunition stocks are low, and transport is wanting so that was believable.

There are no chapters, just long paragraphs, one after another. The British stiff upper lip class make up most of the named characters, and if not them, their faithful servants or loving wives. But, this is not a novella about individuals or the hero's journey. Instead, it would be an entertaining/frightening tale for the the reading public who would soak it up, especially in serial form. Fortunately, the 1871 writing style was not hard to read and you'll breeze through this. It is not great literature nor is it turgid.

Recommended for WW I buffs who are interested in the mindset of the Brits prior to August 1914. Shades of argument that we still hear from MAGA and other "xxx First" nationalists.

You may find this as the first novella within an anthology called The Battle of Dorking and Other Invasion Stories, 1871 - 1914. I'm not sure I'm going the read the other "invasion stories" as they are 300+ pages each and all have a similar theme to the Battle Of Dorking -- "get off your rich lazy arses and build up the military".

[Colvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book the day after reading "If Russa Wins" or in German "Wenn Russland Gewinnt" about a possible scenario where Russia gets what they want in a Ukrainian capitulation and a 2028 Russian incursion into Estonia to test NATO's willingness to enact Article 5 and to see if NATO has properly boosted its military capabilities. That book talked a lot about European politicians inabilities to raise funds for military investment and failing to raise troop numbers and being unprepared again for Russian incursion because nobody thought it would happen again or so soon after Ukraine. This book, The Battle of Dorking, has nearly identical political ramblings at the beginning and end in regards to its fictitious, but plausible, scenario of a Prussian invasion. The middle of the book is mainly meant to give a picture to unprepared volunteers scattered about and not knowing what to do at a sudden Prussian invasion, and then a graphic depiction of a battle that leads to Britain's loss of this hypothetical war. The political commentary at the beginning and end of this book could be lifted from this book and dropped directly into If Russia Wins and you would not be able to tell the difference. It is actually incredible how seemingly identical some things are between the two. This books beginning and end are incredibly relevant to this day (December 7th 2025), even after all these years. This is a worthwhile read if you are interested in the beginnings of invasion literature, political history, or want to pair it with If Russia Wins like I did. Incredibly relevant book.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strange little tale

This short story was very strange in several ways. First it seemed to be written in the early twentieth century, but actually was written in the late nineteenth century. Secondly to call it an alternative history I well and good, but a person might also call it a cautionary tale for the British people of what might be the future of Great Britain if they did not prepare for wars that were sure to come. Then finally there is a certain melancholy to the story that is not really unsettling, but makes the reader feel a bit sad. Now others may read this story and not see the sadness or the frustration that the narrator has in his voice and that is fine. As for me, I was left with many questions about this story that I will have to ponder on at my leisure. Did I enjoy this story? Yes. Would I recommend this story? Yes, but with one caveat don't expect a lot of passages of combat action this is a thinking story in my book.

[James Earnshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourable review stems from the story being integral to my doctoral thesis. It isn’t the best prose in the world, and can hardly be described as a masterpiece. But it did cause a sensation throughout the spring and summer of 1871 because of its fast-paced narrative and accurate military details (which stem from Chesney’s own military experience, and suggest he suffered from combat trauma). Chesney tapped into several anxieties prevailing mid-Victorian society, such as the rumbling fears of degeneration and a sense of masculine inadequacy to earlier generations. The story is not an example of Germanophobia, but a warning that if Britain continued on its path, it will be overtaken, even invaded, by a nation devoid of imperial corruption. For those more interested in the history of science fiction, ‘The Battle of Dorking’ is an early example of what we recognise as science fiction, and helped inspire ‘The War of the Worlds’.

[Sjervey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads as a polemic, attempting to frighten the people of England into further expenditures on the army. It's description of battle is too realistic to have been merely imagined. Chesney had either experience or knowledgeable assistance. The book is still of some value, giving a biased but nevertheless useful picture of a mercantile nation and the pros and cons of an economy dependent on imports for the necessities of life and productivity. While only 40 pages, it is dense, lacking chapters or breaks and, for the most part, even paragraphs. This augments the sense of a polemical rant and I can only recommend the book to those eager to get a sense of opposition argumentation in the England of the late nineteenth century.

[Rob Sedgwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The country has gone to the dogs

How many times do you hear this sentiment? Usually, it's an accusation made by the fairly old - and invariably wrong. The Battle of Dorking is a "gone to the dogs" novella of 1871 predicting doom and gloom for once mighty Great Britain because our armed forces were ill-prepared for war. It was proved totally wrong and we fought in two World Wars without being invaded once. Today's Chesneys have thrown in the towel on being "invaded" by immigrants on small boats. Doubtless, they will look foolish in a few decades, as will all the others in the "gone to the dogs" brigade.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set a short, undetermined amount of time after the 1870 Franco-Prussian War (~1875), but narrated by a veteran 50 years afterwards (~1925), this novelette depicts an unsuccessful failed German invasion of the United Kingdom, as well as the prediction of a civil war in an independent Ireland. This is where invasion literature, as well as science fiction's precursor comes in, but this is rather a poor introduction due to its irrelevancy in comparison to most modern publications with the same subject. So it's a shame that these early instances of science fiction have aged for all the wrong reasons.

[Halecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

An early alternative history story

I decided to read this book because it is a very early example of all the alt-history stories that are a dime a dozen nowadays.
It was a decent story and near the end something happened that made me realize I had become invested in the story.
The author's style is a bit rough (40 pages ,1 paragraph). But it was pretty readable; much more than some of the other 1800's literature.
It took no time at all to read (~1 hour) and was worth the time spent.
If you're into books and the development of different genres, it's a slam dunk to read it

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

harrowing early invasion literature acting as a precursor to certain sf strains like war of the worlds. not much sf elements in here aside from an unnamed naval weapon allowing for the quick destruction of the english fleet. no bravery or heroics, but rather chaos, confusion and starvation. very prescient to the destructive wars of the 20th century, has some pretty clear anti-imperial sentiments, and quite good at depicting a scenario where everyone loses everything except for the unnamed invaders

[Roman Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

i gave this book 3 stars because it was quite good but it was a bit random sometimes, but the main plot about the englishers getting invaded was beaming throughout the book. it is an old, FICTIONAL, classic about england getting invaded by germans. this tale involves elememts of superiority, struggles and sad sad war... it was moving in many ways, and it's almost like an alternate universe where germany won the war! highly reccomended from ages 10-96 with the odd exeptions if you know what i mean

[Harry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Towards the end of the nineteenth Century and up to the First World War a number of novels were written in the UK about the dangers of complacency with regards to mainland Europe and the threat of invasion. As it happened that invasion never came but alternative histories like these are a fascinating snap shot of just how worried people were of the state of preparedness that Britain was in for an invasion. Very short read and only really for those interested in the subject.

[Jared · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this only because it is considered the first British “invasion story” which eventually lead to The War of the Worlds. It was decent. I like how easily the British lose the battle; there’s no heroic moments for the British at all. It makes sense as the author constantly reminds you that they should have seen it coming and because they didn’t they were unprepared and lost quite easily.

[Lulu]

1871

Started the genre of invasion literature and an important precursor of science fiction (e.g. inspired wells war of worlds). Written just after the Prussian victory in the Franco-Prussian War, it describes an invasion of Britain by a German-speaking country referred to in oblique terms as The Other Power or The Enemy.

[Kathy Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let Me tell you a story

Mr. Cheney makes you feel like you are with him durning the fighting and marching. His description of what it must have felt like to the unprepared men is vivid.

[Arthur Estes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Difficult story

The enemy is never defined and many of the paragraphs are more than a page long. There are no chapter breaks and the story is difficult to follow. Is it science fiction?

[Matt Kelland · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting curio, in that it started the entire "invasion" genre, but it's not actually very good.