Zulu

While I learned a lot from reading this book, it was a tough slog to get through it.I agree with reviewer Ian Knight that the amount of detail (and depth) is 'mind blowing'. I found that there were far too many characters to keep track of. If this had been the 2nd or 3rd book I had read on the Zulu War, I probably would not have felt so overwhelmed with detail (that was new to me).I have mixed feeling about the maps. On the one hand, I love having maps in historical books so that I can envision where events took place. On the other hand, these maps have some imperfections:+ Some of the locations mentioned do not appear on any of the maps. I found this out several times after scouring all of the maps.+ One of the maps has no distance scale+ There was a LOT of flipping back and forth between text and maps. It's too bad that at least some of these maps were not provided in fold-out format, which would have reduced the excessive flipping back and forth.While I am not a Zulu War scholar, an apparently highly-qualified on the subject, again Ian Knight (http://www.ianknightzulu.com/ian-knight) wrote in his review of this book, "there are errors and omissions aplenty".Minus one point for (apparent) inaccuracies, and minus one point for excessive (for me) detail.

Not as good as I'd hope that it would be. Not bad, but not great either IMO.But, does help fill a niche.I'd say a solid 4-star rating.I would like to provide further textual content on that Rating as part of this Review, however am unable to do so.The ACDLT has restricted my ability to Comment or Reply (and doing so without any prior warning, any specific notification, any identification of specific alleged problems or appeal).That being so, an inability to respond to Review comments by others (positive, negative, indifferent) would be unfair to myself and others. I would therefore request no Comments (or, if so, recognize that I do not have an ability to respond to same).But it is a solid 4-star book in this genre.

Do not be intimidated by the book's thickness. Though it has 467 pages, 76 of those are appended material. And the pages are thick with large font and wide spacing--formatted for quick reading. The narration, however, is full. Quotes and archaic diction evoke the South Africa of 1879. Background is enough and not too detailed, investing you with an emotional presence that makes the battles suspenseful.The colorful dust jacket is from the National Army Museum in London. Depicting the ferocity of the Battle of Isandlwana, it is a foretaste of the book's best parts. Three portfolios of photo plates and the selection of war maps will sharpen your understanding. But a map of all of South Africa should have been provided. And, as usual with a history, not all the locations in the text are on the maps. So you may want to refer to a dictionary or an atlas for places like Brighton, Dartmouth, and Lake Maggiore. The appended material includes references, bibliography, chapter notes, and index.The Zulu War starts and ends in less than a year. Yet it is one of my favorites. With British rifles against Zulu assegais (stabbing spears), you might think it will be a turkey shoot. But when 20,000 warriors sneak up on and charge at 2,000 soldiers.... Even armed with modern breech-loading Martini-Henrys, the lives of British redcoats are doubtful.

Saul David's "Zulu" is an accurate, informative, and well-researched account of the Zulu war of 1879. However, I have to admit that I found this book to be extremely dry and a very exhausting read. I greatly appreciated Saul David's efforts to tell the real story, but it could be that he may have gone a little too far with needless details. I must confess, I eventually shelved the book and never finished it.

Saul David's "Zulu" is a meticulously researched must-read for fans of last stands. Custer? Try the arrogance of the British Empire caught up short by spear-wielding indigenous armies. Written like a novel and documented like evidence, "Zulu" is my kind of history.

I highly recommend this book as it is an extremely interesting story written by someone who knows how to keep a reader awake way past his bedtime! You can't beat this one for action, irony and character study all wrapped around accurate history. The author weaves his tale in good order never letting one part of the story get too far ahead of the rest. It is a BIG subject which he manages to condense without losing anything in the process. If you like to read about military disasters and are fascinated by the "How and Why" this is right in your wheelhouse. I absolutely loved this one.

Very well written and informative book. It truly brings the reader to the times and provides keen insight to everything from the politics to the the tactics employed during this period. The included maps are of great benefit for those who are not familiar with the region (as I am not), and the descriptive text helps the reader to visualize the environment the British Army, Native Contingents, and the Zulus operated in.A good read for those with an interest in the history of this region or for those who wish to learn more about this time period and the Zulu wars.

If you like details and you want the truth then this riveting but dry history of the 1879 Zulu war and the aftermath is for you. I could not put it down. The comparison with the movie Zulu (Stanley Baker and Michael Cain) and Zulu Dawn (Peter O'Toole) show how distorted movie version of history are to the realities of the events. Great book, it explained the machinations of the various players that culminated in the war and huge human and monetary cost associated with it.

There are few people who have not heard of Rorkes Drift; most will have heard of Isandlwana. However, very few will know how they are related to the main events of the 1879 Zulu War. What a stunning story is revealed by this narrative: the heroes who deserved that accolade and those who did not; the victims not only of bloody fights to the death but also those who were the victims of political intrigue - including the Zulus themselves. The politicians, the Generals, the Reigning Monarch and her family the cavalry and the poor bloody infantry. Farce builds on incredible self interest with the necessary and relevant inclusion in this story of the death of the heir to the French empire. His death at the hands of the Zulu is pure theatre complete with a scapegoat who reveals the depth of hypocrisy and privilege in Victorian England. You couldn't make it up......

Well written and intriguing, David's insights into the motivations of the key players is fascinating. Durnford's reputation and the blame he posthumously took for Isanslwana wasn't fully proven until the 1960s.Questions are asked about the heroism of Melville and Coghill at Fugitives Drift (were they just running away?). Chard and Bromhead are dealt with sympathetically but with honesty and Dalton finally gets the credit he deserves. Those who love the film 'Zulu' may be disappointed to discover that Rourke's Drift was largely inconsequential and the eleven VC's awarded a massive over-reaction but the Zulu Wars were actually far more interesting and indicative of the attitudes of the Victorians than has previously been told.

Bought this in advance of visit to battlefield sites in South Africa. Found it immensely interesting - enough detail to be a serious work but not too 'anorak'. Brings out characters of key participants and the political intrigue behind the campaign. Good read.

Very detailed book,contains a lot of details I haven't read before.

This is the best book I've read from this period.Highly recommended the