The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation Under… (1965)

A huge great big book. Informative and fair minded as well as being able to write a pretty gripping battle. The account of the defence of Rorke's drift was alone worth carrying over 600 pages around for over a week. ( )

1374 The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation under Shaka and Its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879, by Donald R. Morris (read 20 Dec 1975) This is a truly excellent book. It tells the story of the Zulu nation, and is filled with fascinating material which I had not known of. The book tells the story of Natal, the first white settlements, and the rise of the Zulu nation, built by Shaka (who was killed 22 Sept 1828). The whole fascinating story of the Zulu War of 1879 is told, and of course the story of Isandhluana fought on Jan 22, 1879, and of Rorke's Drift. From this point on the account drags, except for the chapter on Napoleon's son, killed later in the year. The book ends: "The last independent king of the Zulus was now a homeless refugee without a throne, and his capital lay in ashes. His army had ceased to exist, and what remained of the regiments had silently dispersed to seek their home kraals. The House of Shaka had fallen, and the Zulu nation was no more." This is a truly outstanding book. ( )

This is the best history of South Africa and it is written by an American! ( )