The Campaign in Mesopotamia

This is not a general history—it is the British Empire’s official account of one of the most complex and underexamined theatres of the First World War.

Compiled at the request of the Government of India and based directly on official military records, The Campaign in Mesopotamia presents a forensic reconstruction of operations across modern-day Iraq. From the early advances along the Shatt al-Arab to the catastrophic siege of Kut and the eventual capture of Baghdad, this work captures both the ambition and the miscalculations of imperial warfare.

What distinguishes this set is its authority. Written by Brigadier-General F. J. Moberly under the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence, it is effectively the Empire documenting itself—strategy, logistics, command decisions, and failures laid bare with institutional precision.

The inclusion of detailed folding maps—such as the operational plans around Mohammerah and the lower Mesopotamian theatre—transforms the work from narrative into a functional military record. These were tools of understanding, not decoration.

Complete sets are increasingly difficult to assemble in uniform condition. As a four-volume official history, this stands as one of the definitive primary sources for the Mesopotamian campaign and remains essential for collectors of military history, imperial studies, and Middle Eastern conflict narratives.

Official war histories occupy a unique position in the rare book market—they are both primary sources and institutional narratives. This set provides direct insight into British imperial military operations in the Middle East, a region whose geopolitical significance continues to resonate today. Complete sets, particularly with maps intact, are increasingly scarce in the trade.