Awarded for Valour: A History of the Victoria Cross and the Evolution of the British Concept of Heroism

Based on primary source research, Awarded for Valour is the most comprehensive history of the Victoria Cross available, tracing the evolution of the award from its inception in 1856 to the most recent bestowals in the twenty-first century. The study examines the evolution of the concept of heroism as well, analyzing the nature of the acts that won the VC and how the definition of heroism changed along with the nature of warfare.