The Boer War

Johannesburg & Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2004. Second impression, 2004 (first published in the UK by Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1979). Hardback. 660pp. Dust jacket. Thomas Pkenham has written the first full-scale documentary of the war to be attempted since 1910. His narrative is based on first-hand and often unpublished sources. This is a narrative as vivid and fast-moving as a novel. The war declared by the Boers on 11th October 1899 gave the British, as Kipling said, 'no end of a lesson'. The public expected it to be over by Christmas. It proved to be the longest (two and three -quarter years0, the costliest (over £00million), the bloodiest (at least 12,000 British, 25,000 Boer and 12,000 African lives) and the most humiliating war Britain fought between 1815 and 1914. The author exposes the crucial role of two of the 'gold-bugs' - the richest of the Rand millionaires - in precipitating the war. He throws light on the blunders of the British generals Sir Redvers Buller and Lord Roberts, revealing a personal feud between the two men and he writes movingly of the plight of about 100,000 black Africans who served both armies. He also explains the final political victory of the Boers - how they lost the war but won the peace - with far-reaching consequences for Europe and South Africa. 32 pages of black & white illustrations. Book in near fine condition and unread. The text block edges (mainly the lower region of the fore edge) have some staining which look rather like a mild coffee splash. The book is clean and unmarked internally. Dust jacket near fine and unclipped. Very small closed tear to foot of spine. A heavy book but no additional shipping costs to UK post codes.