Clive Ponting explodes many of the romantic myths to do with the war, and recounts the heroism of ordinary men. Eye-witness accounts include war correspondent William Russell of The Times, and Leo Tolstoy who was caught up in the action while visiting his brother.

The reason why -- Strategy -- The Baltic: 1854 -- The war in the East -- Varna to the Alma -- Alma and after -- Balaklava -- Inkerman -- Crimean winter -- Crimean winter: the response -- Peace rejected -- The wider war -- The Baltic: 1855 -- Crimean spring -- The fall of Sevastopol -- Stalemate -- The road to peace -- The peace of Paris -- The impact of the war.