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Accurate; written in a brilliant and entertaining style.
There can be no doubt that, of all the books written on Zulu history, this is the kingpin of them all. It is doubtful that any author will exceed thework done here by Laband. The book is painstakingly written, with anincredible eye for detail, and it remains at all times entertaining andabsorbing. There are also shortcomings, although these cannot be construedas downfalls. The most striking is that while Professor Laband is theultimate expert on the reign of Dingane and beyond, he does not dedicatenearly as much attention to the early years of the Zulu kingdom,particularly from 1787 to 1828. This is regrettable, but understandableconsidering that there is so much that remains unknown and mired inmythology with respect to Shaka's era. Lastly, Laband's attention todetail, particularly noticeable in the Notes section and in the index,makes this a book no self-respecting Zulu scholar can be without. ... Read more

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At last, a look at the men behind the Zulu kings.
It is easy to be suspicious of the way in which Ian Knight churns out books on the Zulu, as if he were a machine rather than a hard-workingauthor. But that would be an unfair assumption. Knight researches his booksthoroughly, and give or take the odd minor error, he excels at what hedoes. This latest offering is my favourite Knight book because, at last, weget something that looks beyond the Zulu kings (although there are chapterson Shaka and Cetshwayo)and examines some of the men who helped them buildthe Zulu kingdom. Some of Knight's choices as the ten great Zulu commandersare bewildering. He includes Ntshingwayo kaMahole, the Swazi prince MbilinikaMswati, Cetshwayo's rash and blundering half-brother Dabulamanzi and evenBambata (of Bambata Rebellion fame), but declines chapters on Shaka'sbrilliant general, Mdlaka kaNcidi; perhaps the most famous Zulu warrior ofall, Zulu kaNogondaya; and, to a lesser degree, Mpande's faithful oldcommander Nongalaza kaNondela, who ensured that Mpande defeated Dingane atMagqonga hills in 1840. That aside, one can't help but marvel at the mannerin which Knight has put this book together. It is a great read as thepersonal lives of the great Zulu warriors have been totally ignored by mosthistorians. ... Read more

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Mention of the Zulu War of 1879 inevitably conjures up images of the redcoats at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift; it is often forgotten that the limited number of Imperial troops available led to the raising of several thousand local troops from Natal, Cape Colony and beyond. Typified by hard-riding white frontiersmen and lightly armed African infantry, these units made up for the British Army's severe shortage of cavalry scouts and local knowledge. Ian Castle's concise study of their organisation, uniforms, weapons, and campaign service covers a far wider range of units than ever previously published; it is illustrated with rare photographs and vivid colour plates. ... Read more

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Zulu War - Volunteers, Irregulars & Auxiliaries
This book is very informative about the units from this era. I was very impressed with the uniform and insignia detail. It is well written and illistrated. I recommend it, as it is worth every cent. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

ExcellentOverview of Zulu Warfare
Ian Knight is probably the preeminent authority on Zulu History, and this is a fascinating account of a series of 10 different battles that occurred over the course of 70 years, featuring Zulus against the Boers, Zulus against the British, and Zulus against Zulus.Probably the best known Zulu battle is Rorkes' Drift, but that incident really deserves its own book, and Knight and other authors have already done so (see Ian Knight's "Campaign Series 42, Rorkes' Drift 1879", for a good overview, but he also has done a more thorough analysis of that battle in another book).If you want a more detailed study of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 then there is no shortage of other good books to read, but in terms of the development and showcasing of Zulu warfare after Shaka and into the early 20th Century, then this is an excellent and exciting piece of work.

An introduction to the Zulu Wars
A useful and informative introduction to the Zulu wars. Several major battles are covered in depth, and the general trends of the war explained. Overall tactics for the Zulu Nation are discussed in some length, howeverthe same treatment is not given to the British side. The reader is leftwith the overall impression that the main tactic of the Zulu Nation was tofield vastly superior numbers, and without this there was little chance ofvictory. There is a lack of detail on the weapons and equipment and dressused by each side which would have been an important and interestingaddition

Detailed descriptions, but ignores earlier wars.
An interesting and informative account of the Zulus' greatest battles is, unfortunately, not as comprehensive as it could have been. While Knighthas, once again, done his homework (his accounts of the battles of Thukelaand Blood River are vivid)there are some thrilling battles in earlier Zuluhistory which have been afforded little attention. For instance, the battleof kwaGqokli hill, which featured the young Shaka leading his men againstthe powerful Ndwandwe of Zwide kaLanga, lives in many an imagination as thefirst reckoning of the great Zulu empire. But while there are valid reasonsnot to include the aforementioned clash, the battle of izinDololwane hills,which saw Shaka, with the help of his white allies, shatter the powerfulNdwandwe kingdom once and for all, surely merits an inclusion. That aside,the book is typical of Knight: colourful, interesting, objective, factual. ... Read more

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Distant land, people and culture
As part of the Journey into Civilization series that helps youngsters study ancient civizatiions like The Aztecs, Ancient China, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, The Maya, The Mongols, The Vikings, The Romans and The Sioux this book serves as a good introduction to the cultures from the past. The books are relatively short(this one is 32 pages) and begins with a brief geography lesson that also explains the impact of the land. The book is full of rich, colorfulillustrations, maps and photographs that help the young learner travel to distant lands. The warriors and chiefs are highlighted along with their weapons and the significance of their historical roles. Religion is discussed with the introduction of their beliefs and their god. The use of herbs and divination is also discussed. All facets of the culture are explored with an emphasis on the crafts, the realationship to nature of the tribe, folklore, fables, wars and the Zulusrelationship with colonists.Since the Zulus are from a foreign culture to most youngAmericans there are many words that needfurther explanation for the young mind to fully absorb. The teacher or parent may use the includedglossary to achieve an expanded vocabulary for the student. Most of the words in the glossary are foreign with the exception of immigrant, snuff and folklore. This is a good picture book that is entertaining and useful for the young student to expand their perceptions of culture and the world. ... Read more