Blood on the Veldt - James Grant

A contemporary account of disaster and retribution in South Africa

This account of the Zulu War has the advantage of being written just five years after the events it describes took place, which enabled the author to consult participants and refer to recent documents in the most immediate way. It also contains references to personalities and many details of events which have been omitted from more modern texts. Many quotations by those who served in the campaign are also included, including from the Zulus who took part in the fighting. However, this account was written by an English author at a time when the British Empire was at its most powerful. He held unashamedly imperial sentiments so this is not the place to expect a balanced political view by contemporary standards. Nevertheless, Grant's text is riveting and deserves the attention of all those interested in the subject. Grant also includes a full account of the operations against Sekukini which took place after the capture of the Zulu monarch, Cetewayo. Illustrations which accompanied the original text have been retained and enlarged. The text originally appeared in 'Recent Battles on Land and Sea' (1884).

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.