Spanning four centuries, from the 1660s to the present day, FOLLOWING THE DRUM tells the stories of the wives, daughters and mistresses of British soldiers who followed their menfolk to some of the most treacherous places in the world and sometimes on to the battlefield itself. These brave and resourceful women often endured long marches and harsh sieges, were taken captive or forced to become fugitives in enemy territory and struggled to keep themselves and their families alive. Drawing on letters, journals and interviews, FOLLOWING THE DRUM pays tribute to the remarkable women who triumphed among the blood, battles and drama.

Author Biography

Annabel Venning is a freelance journalist who has written for THE TIMES, the DAILY MAIL and the INDEPENDENT. She grew up travelling from Brunei to Hong Kong, Germany and England and currently resides in Wiltshire with her husband, the writer Guy Walters.