'A fascinating read beyond the scholarly debate about who won the
battle.'
Sunday Times
The battle of Isandlwana - a great Zulu victory - was one of the worst
defeats ever to befall a British Army. At noon on 22 January 1879, a
British camp, garrisoned by over 1700 troops, was attacked and
overwhelmed by 20,000 Zulu warriors. The defeat of the British, armed
with the most modern weaponry of the day, caused disbelief and outrage
throughout Queen Victoria's England. The obvious culprit for the blunder
was Lieutenant General Lord Chelmsford, the defeated commander.
Appearing to respond to the outcry, he ordered a court of inquiry. But
there followed a carefully conducted cover-up in which Chelmsford found
a scapegoat in the dead - most notably, in Colonel Anthony Durnford.
Using source material ranging from the Royal Windsor Archives to the
oral history passed down to the present Zulu inhabitants of Isandlwana,
this gripping history exposes the full extent of the blunders of this
famous battle and the scandal that followed. It also gives full credit
to the masterful tactics of the 20,000 strong Zulu force and to
Ntshingwayo kaMahole, for the way in which he comprehensively
out-generalled Chelmsford.
This is an illuminating account of one of the most embarrassing episodes
in British military history and of a spectacular Zulu victory. The
authors superbly weave the excitement of the battle, the British
mistakes, the brilliant Zulu tactics and the shameful cover up into an
exhilarating and tragic tale.
