3 out of 4 stars
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Brutal Valour: The Tragedy of Isandlwana by James Mace is a Historical Fiction novel that relates the story of the Anglo-Zulu war that was fought at Isandlwana in 1879. The book alternates between various characters giving readers a clear understanding of the plot development.
The novel starts with a prologue in which the author gives a clear picture of the prevailing atmosphere in Zulu Kingdom. Since the reign of Shaka, Zulu kingships have been determined by violent wars,withheld or usurped with the blood of numerous people.
Arthur Wilkinson had left Stratford with Richard Lowe for Brecon without his father's knowledge. After completing his recruit training in Brecon, he was deployed to South Africa as a soldier to fight against the Zulus. After the invasion of Zulu kingdom and setting up the army base at Isandlwana, the misinformation of the scouts and over-ambition of the general left the base with insufficient soldiers and fire arms. This gave the enemy a chance to attack the base, thereby killing about 1,200 British soldiers. It is even more tragic that the first British soldier slain at Isandlwana was killed by their own cannon.
This book is a fascinating one. Moreover, it is dramatic ironic that while the British soldiers were fighting to protect their country honour, unaware that the war is not sanctioned by the British government, the Zulu warriors were also fighting aggressively with the mind that the Queen had betrayed them. Thus, the two parties were fighting, ignorant of the fact that the war is the mastermind of the General Officer Commanding, Lord Chelmsford and the British High Commissioner, Sir Henry Bartle-Frere.
Although with some typographic errors, the novel is fascinating enough to keep its reader going. In relevance to its title, the dominant theme in the poem is Violence and Brutality. I thus agree with Ian Knight [author of Zulu Rising] who said,
. Even if you have not heard about the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879, this book will relates to you how it looked like.Brutal Valour offers a vivid human cost of one of the most dramatic and intriguing incidents in Britain's colonial past in Africa
The part that amuse me the most is where Bill Johnson, the Lance Corporal of the C Company, is warning the new privates to avoid accepting things from the natives. He narrates to them how he had sent a voorloper[scout] to find him some shag only for the man to bring him feaces. The writer also write the book in a way that is easy to comprehend and understand.
I rate this book3 out of 4 stars. The author's skills at characterization and imagery is magnificient, likewise, his use of suspense makes the novel an interesting one. I would recommend this novel for Literature and History students, and all lovers of war stories.
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Brutal Valour: The Tragedy of Isandlwana
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