Boer War

Book Description

The Boers of South Africa responded to Britain's annexation of the gold-and-diamond-rich Transvaal region by declaring war on October 11, 1899. The English believed the fighting would be over by Christmas -- never dreaming they were on the brink of one of the longest, bloodiest, most costly and humiliating military campaigns in their history.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Thomas Pakenham has constructed a narrative as vivid and fast moving as a novel. In many ways he challenges the accepted views of historians. He exposes the crucial role of two of the "Gold Bugs" (the richest of the Rand millionaires) in precipitating the war. He throws new light on the blunders of the British generals, Buller and Roberts, revealing a personal feud between the men comparable to the one between Lords Lucan and Cardigan that led to the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. He writes movingly about the plight of the 100,000 black Africans who served both armies, and he 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.