Dead Was Everything: Studies in the Anglo-Zulu WarThe Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 still intrigues both scholars and enthusiasts alike more than 130 years after it was fought. Its story contains tragedy, high drama and the heavy loss of human life; it involved five major battles and two lesser fights; and led to the snuffing out of the direct male Napoleonic line of France. And all this in less than one year.
Reflecting on several years' research, Keith Smith presents a series of essays which explore hitherto unanswered questions and offer fresh insights into the key battles and protagonists of this epic conflict. He presents some surprising conclusions which differ, often radically, from more orthodox views.
He also sets out to reveal the characters of the men – of both sides – who might otherwise have been simply names on a page. They are not: they lived, loved, fought and died. Some were heroes while others were less than that. Most were ordinary men who chose a military career and did their best as far as they were able. White or black, British or colonial, they are all brought to life and their unique stories told. This is an important contribution to our understanding of this famous war and the men who fought in it. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
1st Battalion 22 January 2nd Battalion 2nd Division 3rd Regiment Anglo-Zulu War Anthony Durnford April arrived attack Barton battle battle of Isandlwana Bellairs bivouac Border Horse British Bulwer camp Cape Captain cattle Cetshwayo Chard Colonel Durnford Colonel Glyn Colonial column command Crealock Dennison despatch distance Durban Enclosure Eshowe evidence February firing force Frere George Shepstone Hamilton-Browne Hlobane Isandlwana Ithusi Khambula kilometres Koppie laager Laband letter Lieutenant Lieutenant-Colonel Lieutenant-General London Lonsdale Lord Chelmsford Mabaso Major Clery Major Graves March Mbonambi memorandum miles military minutes Mounted Contingent Mzinyathi Narrative Natal Mercury Natal Native Contingent NCOs Newdigate Ngwebeni Nodwengu Norris-Newman ofNatal ofthe paper Pietermaritzburg plateau Pretoria Pulleine ravine ridge River Rorke’s Drift Royal Engineers Museum Secretary sent Shepstone South Africa staff officer TNA,WO Transvaal troops Ulundi valley vedettes wagons Weatherley Whybra Wolseley Wood’s Zulu army Zulu War Zululand