The Steps to Glory Volume 1

British officer commissioning reveals how class, selection, and training shaped leadership across centuries.

The Steps to Glory is the definitive first volume in a landmark study of British Army officer commissioning. From the Restoration to the Great War, it explores how class, conflict, and changing doctrine shaped the leaders of Britain's land forces - and what that reveals about the enduring nature and demands of military leadership.

Have you ever wondered what kind of people seek a commission in the British Army - who they are, where they come from, how they are selected, and what training they undergo? Perhaps you've held a commission yourself! How do your experiences compare with those of your predecessors, or differ from those who will follow?

The Steps to Glory traces the evolution of British officer commissioning from 1660 to 1914. It examines all routes into Britain's Land Forces, from purchase in the Regular Army to patronage in the East India Company and competitive exams in the British Indian Army, as well as officer entry through the reserves and cadet forces.

Drawing on an exceptional, and expansive, range of sources from across the UK and abroad, the authors blend established scholarship with previously unpublished material from The National Archives, National Army Museum, and Imperial War Museum. Their research is further enriched by personal accounts and access to multiple regimental, school and regional collections - including full use of the Sandhurst Collection and the library of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Volume Two carries the story forward from the outbreak of the First World War to the present day.