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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 968.4045
EAN num: 9780304366415
ISBN number: 0304366412
Label: Cassell
Manufacturer: Cassell
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 448
Printing Date: 2004-06
Publishing house: Cassell
Sale Popularity Level: 194965
Studio: Cassell
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Product Description:
On 22nd January 1879 a force of 20,000 Zulus overwhelmed and destroyed the British invading force at Isandlwana, killing and ritually disemboweling over 1200 troops. That afternoon, the same Zulu force turned their attention on a small outpost at Rorke's Drift. The battle that ensued, one of the British Army's great epics, has since entered into legend. Throughout the night 85 men held off six full-scale Zulu attacks at the cost of only 27 casualties, forcing the Zulu army to withdraw. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for bravery shown on that night, the largest number for any one engagement in history. But as Adrian Greaves's new research shows there are several things about the myth of Rorke's Drift that don't add up. While it was the scene of undoubted bravery, it was also the scene of some astonishing cases of cowardice, and there is increasing evidence to suggest that the legend of Rorke's Drift was created to divert attention from the appalling British mistakes which caused the earlier defeat at Isandlwana.
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Rated by buyers 
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Perhaps the most important thing that I earned from this book was that much of the detail in the 1964 movie 'Zulu' was fictional.
On the other hand, I personally found the book quite disappointing in its portrayal of the Battle of Rorke's Drift.
Key to my disappointment was the fact that the story actual siege comprised but two or three chapters. The rest of the book - easily half to two thirds - was made up information to be sure but that was of varying importance to the matter at hand. While I have no issue with a book providing background to the topic, Mr. Greaves seems to have either imported data from other sources or not stopped to plan out what he was attempting to say. The result is a somewhat muddy narrative of the people and incidents leading to the battle where names and sparse information are thrown about like water splashed on a wall.
Greaves also seems to have written this section without a very thorough editing process. For example, Lord Chelmsford is referred to by his peerage title and his actual name in a more-or-less sproadic manner through successive chapters and within each chapter.
Additionally, the text is somewhat dense and hard to follow when describing the movements and often has seeming non-sequitors thrown in relating to the actions of specific individuals. Finally, there is - in my opinion, someone who knew nothing about these events or the decades long series of clashes refered to in a casual manner as the Border War - a shockingly superficial description of the Battle of Isandlwana, which set the battle for the events at Rorke's Drift.
As mentioned, the actual description of the battle is breezed through. Admittedly, the battle took less than 18 hours, but I came away feeling that the author either could not find much information on the battle itself or simply wanted to get on to the second part of the book which is a virtual laundry list of incidental information. Here we are treated to a listing of awards given; copies of the reports of several of the notable leaders; a biography of key participants and, finally, a report on archeological work done at the site.
Most of this simply simply presented on the page with little or no endeavor to analyze the information or relate it to other pieces of information.
All in all, it was very much like a report I did in high school on the very first Arab Israeli war where I included the text of the Israeli declaration of independence to make the report thicker.
Rated by buyers 
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I would have to echoed the previous reviewer on this book. I really appreicate the amount of research presented in this book. Greaves wrote a virtual complete companion book on this battle. The entire scrope of the battle is presented here. The very first 98 pages consisting of background information to the Zulu War, which also includes information on the Zulus themselves. There is only 30 odd pages relating to the battle and 70 more on the aftermath of the battle. Rest of the 425 some odd pages are devoted to historical tidbits, trival and little known facts that proves to be both informative and educational. The author put in many biographical sketches of the men involves at Rorke's Drift, citations of the Victoria Cross winners and copies of reports written by Chard and Bromhead (as well as others).
Just about every bit of information you wanted to find on the battle lies within its covers. It even got a modern visitor guide and archaeological discoveries made at the Drift. Like the previous reviewer though, I was bit surprised at the shortness of the account of the battle. That ironically remains the weak point of this book. Maybe a bit more insightful analytical description might have been in order.
The author also take pains to seperate the actual battle from the well received movie that came out in 1964. That movie, ZULU created certain myths and iconic perceptions that the author did his best to dispelled.
But overall, if there is one book to get on the battle at Rorke's Drift, this is the one to buy. This book got everything you want to know about the battle and a wee bit more. Its well written, easy to read and superbly researched. One of the best books of this subject published so far.
Rated by buyers 
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Adrian Greaves new account of the legendary battle at Rorke's Drift between a few thousand brave Zulu warriors and a small force of equally brave British soldiers is bound to be the definitive book on the subject for some time to come. Over 450 pages in length with a number of grey and white photographs and 10 maps the author presents the full picture of this epic stand and places it in the context of the British campaign into Zulu Land.
The book is set in two parts, the very first half (202 pages) offers the reader a narrative of the events leading up to the British invasion, the battle at Isandlwana, the final battle at Rorke's Drift, and then the events leading to the end of the campaign. The second half of the book (over 240 pages) is taken up with numerous chapters and appendices dealing with a host of material in relation to the people involved and the battle itself.
Subjects covered include the medical treatment of the wounded, personalities involved, an examination of the Roll of Rorke's Drift, medal citations, history of the 24th Regiment, archaeological investigations at the battlefield, and a visitor's guide to Rorke's Drift. Seven appendices that provide a host of other information follow these chapters. This part of the book is a researchers gold mine and offers the amateur historian a wealth of information on the battle.
Overall it's a very interesting book to read and very well presented. The narrative was easy to follow and I enjoyed the accounts of the fighting at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. However, although I was amazed at the amount of information offered and I appreciate the research that has gone into this book, I wanted more of the narrative to be concentrated on the actual battle at Rorke's Drift. In all only about 30 pages is dedicated to the actual fighting at Rorke's Rift with another 30 pages covering the aftermath of the battle.
I am sure much more could have been written about the fighting at Rorke's Drift but what was offered was still quite good and I was fascinated by the information supplied on some of the main characters involved at Rorke's Drift. I am pretty sure that most people who loved the movie `Zulu' or who have a passion for this period of history will enjoy this book as much as I did. I intend to watch the video again soon just to compare the book to the movie. Well done to the author, maybe he could write a similar account on the Battle of Isandlwana?
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