THE REASON WHY

Tennyson single-mindedly immortalized the courage of Britain's famous Light Cavalry Brigade as its members rode "cannon to right of them, cannon to left of them . . . into the valley of death." But Woodham-Smith is more concerned with the tactical stupidity and sheer folly of that fateful charge in the Crimea. How could the successors of Wellington make such strategic mistakes just forty years after their brilliant victory at Waterloo? His answer spans two hundred years, eight tapes and two fascinating families--the Brudnills and the Binghams--detailing their rivalries, arrogance, foppishness, ignorance, shames and even a little glory. Stuart's British reading captures the humor and subtle ironies in this painful period in history. Students of history will delight in this addition to the audio record. P.E.F. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 95]