Review of Brutal Valour: The Tragedy of Isandlwana

Post by **Fola Moni** » 11 Jun 2022, 13:45

[Following is a volunteer review of "Brutal Valour: The Tragedy of Isandlwana" by James Mace.]

3 out of 4 stars

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The year is 1879, and history is about to be made. On the one hand, we have the best soldiers from the most advanced country in the world with a vast empire. On the other, we have the primitive natives of an ancient kingdom with their strange rituals and customs. In the captivating book, Brutal Valour: The Tragedy of Isandlwana by James Mace, the war between Great Britain and the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa is about to start.

As Arthur Wilkinson and his friend, Richard, stepped off the train at Stratford-upon-Avon in England, they both heaved a sigh of relief. Having enlisted in Her Majesty’s armed forces two months prior, they had undergone rigorous training as required by their recruitment process. Now they are glad to be back home even though it is not as welcoming as it should be. Arthur’s father, in particular, wanted a different career for his son, but he had to give in to his wishes. Regardless, Arthur is glad to be home because of a special request he had to ask from his childhood sweetheart, Elisa. Unsurprisingly, she accepted, and there was no happier couple in England. However, fears of the future kept cropping up in their minds. What they didn’t know then was a terrible war was about to begin, and it would change their lives in ways they couldn’t even fathom.

I’ll start by saying how commendable the book is by its historical accuracy. I found myself researching all the names mentioned and the events that took place, and that was a separate thrill in itself. I also like that there were images to match the events and people in the book. There were appendices to clarify the main characters and their significance to the plot. The author’s writing style is conversational and simple to read. The scenes are vividly depicted and easy to visualize.

However, I have to say the book became long-winded after a while. It got to a point where I prayed the Zulus were found, and the war should start already. I can understand that the author was trying to show the readers what happened behind the scenes and explore the lives of the men involved, but it resulted in the book becoming a drag in some sections.

The characters were also a tad too many. I could pick out a few that really made an impact, like Arthur Wilkinson and Kwanele kaMandlenkosi, but the others were mostly a blur. The many typos in the book also affected my reading experience significantly. It could do with another round of professional editing.

Overall, I would rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. It makes for a good read, but it dragged on for too long in some sections and had many typos, even in reported speeches. It wasn't professionally well edited. This is an adult book with profanity and gory war scenes, so I wouldn’t recommend it to a younger/sensitive audience. Mature lovers of the historical drama/war genre would appreciate this book.

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Brutal Valour: The Tragedy of Isandlwana
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