Zulu Rising: The Epic Story of iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift

Ian Knight, “Zulu Uprising: The Epic Story of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.” And rather more than that. A history of the British in southern Africa and their interactions with the Boer’s and with the indigenous population -- emphasis on the machinations of local colonial administrators – administrators who, one way or another, want more land for white settlers without regard to the locals. The colonial apparatus in southern Africa lusted after the lands of the independent Zulu kingdom and, without the approval of, or even the awareness of, London, launched an invasion into Zululand. The local British general mucked it up, split his army, took half the army searching for Zulus, and had the other half destroyed – massacred, annihilated – by the Zulus at Isandlwana. A large (maybe five thousand strong) late arriving Zulu contingent, angry that they missed the slaughter, went rogue and, against all instructions, attacked a small (maybe two dozen – half of them in the on-site infirmary) British outpost at Rorke’s Drift. Drift is local jargon for ford: In southern Africa it would be Ham’s Drift; in the Bronx it would be Rorkeford. The British, led by two lieutenants, held off the Zulus, killed or wounded half of them, and became national heroes. The British, to salvage their honor, invaded and destroyed the Zulu kingdom. Knight tells the detailed seven-hundred-page story, in passable prose. The only other book I recall reading on the nineteenth-century British experience of imperialism is “Bengal Mutiny,” by George Dangerfield. That was a masterpiece; this is okay. The story of Rorke’s Drift is told – with many changes – in the movie “Zulu.”

unavoidably large book / very complete / well written / a joy to read / in same class as Washing of the spears be Morris / highly recommended / great seller with super service

Ian Knight has written a very researched and in-depth book. As a AZW historian, this is a must for your bookshelves. Only negative is when he writes about multiple Zulu tribes and leaders, it gets confusing. But I'm American so this is not Mr. Knights fault.

I have read many history books before but this one is one of the best. I got hooked by it from the beginning and could not stop reading at any chance I had. It took me only 2 weeks to read this 700 plus pages book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of South Africa colonial past and the British army of this time. Lots of details, interesting and exciting reading from the beginning to the end, the author does not leave anything behind. This is the kind of books that when you are done, you have that strange feeling that it was too short!

Zulu Rising is definitely epic. A good read but in my humble opinion about 250 or more pages too long for a reader who just wants a comprehensive look at what took place at Isandlwana. The section on Rorke’s Drift was probably shorter than it could have been. Too much information, way too many African names that were similar. It could also have used a few more maps placed into the text rather than at the beginning of this large book. That said, it was a worthwhile read but at over 700 pages something I won’t be re reading.

All you need to know about two of the most incredible battles in military history. Knight's assessment is from a modern perspective BUT gives you the Victorian attitudes and beliefs. At Isandlwana, The British totally underestimated the Zulu War Machine. At Rorke's Drift, you understand the why and how of the victory. Amazing, informative and eye opening! Highest recommendation!

I own and have read Washing of the Spears at least twice and for me it was the classic treatment not only of the Zulu War but also of the Zulu Empire since Shaka made it so. Zulu Rising imo has replaced Washing of the Spears as the definitive work on the subject for a number of reasons. For one I think Knight tells the story a bit better so the volume almost reads like a well done historical novel without the nonsense. Second, and I think better research since Washing of the Spears was published Knight does away with much of the mythology surrounding Isandlwana. For example, "the running out of ammo" myth popularized by the movie Zulu Dawn, "the crucified drummer boys" myth and the myth that Trooper Hookie was a malinger at Rorke's Drift. Knight treats both sides with respect in a war that should never have been.

The beginning is tedious with unfamiliar names/pronunciations, locations and historical backgrounds. It does require paying attention to details and using the maps to understand how events unfolded. It is very informative and does not deal with gruesome details about how individuals were killed, but does provide enough detail to understand what happened. The book is well-written, but could be improved with more maps and footnotes rather than endnotes.

Firstly, ignore all the negative comments about Ian’s work because all such comments are total nonsense. Unfortunately we live in a world where people complain and moan about anything and everything. It’s easy for those to sit behind a keyboard and criticise Ian’s work but why don’t they go and write a Zulu book if they think they know better or are experts? Ian isn’t one of those lazy authors who just sits at home searching the internet about the Zulu war, he actually travels regularly to South Africa to further his research and knowledge.Some of the reviews on Amazon claim that Saul David’s Zulu book is better than Ian’s book, really? This is quite laughable, by way of an example in his book, Saul David, when discussing Isandlwana, highlights how Lord Chelmsford on the 22nd January, split his force but did not take a reserve supply of ammunition with him. Then during the fighting at isandlawana David is critical of quartermaster Bloomfield in respect of his distribution of ammunition but the important point that David does not mention at all, is that Bloomfield remained behind at the British camp at isandlwana and was in charge of the very reserve supplies, which Chelmsford had given clear orders to be made ready in case he (lord Chelmsford) needed them.Ian’s book is superb, as a British person myself, you have you feel total sadness, disgust and sorrow in respect of how shameful British colonial policy was in South Africa in destroying the Zulu kingdom and should never be forgotten etc. Yet in reading Ian’s book I see modern parallels in the recent Iraq war in 2003. Were not Tony Blair and George bush both modern day versions of Sir Bartle Frere in wanting Iraq destroyed (like bartle frere wanted zulu land destroyed) behind the lies of weapons of mass destruction? The Zulu king and his Zulu people were no threat to the British and saddam Hussain was certainly no threat to the British or to the Americans.I learned lost of new information as Ian goes into so much detail which I hadn’t come across before, for example, before the Zulu army left to confront Chelmsford, the army had various ceremonies such as vomiting and we also learn about meat being tossed in the air and Zulu warriors catching it with their mouths and sucking on the juices. We learn about after the battle of isandlwana how the whole Zulu nation was mourning with so many warriors having been killed. We learn about the great horror of what the British and lord Chelmsford saw on return to the devastated battle field at isandlawana etc.If I was nitpicking, the book could do with some of the excellent battle diagrams that can be seen in some of Ian’s other books produced by osprey.Ian is very good at producing Zulu testimony which is often ignored by modern authors.It’s a wonderful book and I was slightly disappointed that I had finished reading it all, it’s simply that good.Perhaps Ian can write a similar sort of volume(s) about the other battles of the Zulu war?

I have just returned from a visit to the battlefields at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. I had the pleasure to be joined by Anthony Coleman. His narrative bought the story of events that happened there to life and I found the whole experience very moving. Sitting under the summit of Isandlwana and looking across the valley towards the conical hill in the direction of the Zulu advance I was fixed on his every word. More so when we moved on to the Mission at Rorke's Drift and paid a visit to the museum there. Towards the exit is a model that depicts the events that occurred there. The small enclave of British Soldiers totally surrounded by at least 4000 Zulu warriors made me wonder how the fate of these soldiers wasn't the same as those at Isandlwana. So many brave men on both sides, the futility of War in all its glory. It furthered in me a quest for more knowledge on my return to the UK. Using what I had learnt from my experiences and the knowledge imparted to me by Mr. Coleman of Battlescenes, I started looking for suitable reading material. I found it in this gripping book. The narrative is superb and builds up the story leading to the events in marvelous detail. When reading it I was taken back to the battlefields and local area, it's like being there all over again and listening to Mr. Coleman. Ian Knight gives an accurate feel of the places concerned and clearly explains the history of the country in the events that lead to War. He shows the big picture as well as the finer details. The book a must read, one that I found difficult to put down as every page imparts knowledge and information that makes just reading the next page a given. Visiting the battlefields started a fire inside me and the flames have been fanned by Ian Knight and Zulu Rising, telling an epic story in a truly epic book.

As a lover of history of all sorts of places I was looking forward to this book, however I have had to give up on this one. I has so much detail in it that it had my head spinning. I would need to read the earlier chapters over several times to get things clear and I just don't have the time. It goes a great deal into the history of the zulu nation and other people groups of the area, which is interesting and would have been good on its own, however I thought I was buying a book about ISandlwansa and Rorkes Drift. I the end this book did not grap me so I gave up.

Although the book is over 700 pages long, I felt it was too long. My main gripe with the book was that you had to get halfway through the book before the battle of Islandwana is described in any detail. The majority of the first 300 pages are wasted on the politics and causes of the war. After Islandwana there didn't seem to be as much about the defence of Rorkes Drift. Overall I was disappointed with this book and felt that Saul David's earlier book Zulu from 2003 was much better, as it also covers the entire war rather than the first 2 battles.

Zulu Rising is a very comprehensive and well put together book - it has provoked extreme reviews perhaps because it focuses on the British interests of the two battles Isandlwana and Rourke's Drift and as such is selective and popularist. However, it is well told and well written. Detailed but fascinating. For me, it is an comprehensive understanding of these two battles that I seek and the book succeeds at this level. The negative reviews demonstrate that there is also far more to the story of the British exploits in Africa and readers may wish to explore other texts to gain a greater perspective as to the injustices of the British occupation and the tremendous spirit and integrity of the zulu nation. I enjoyed the book and amazon buyers who are looking for a detailed account specifically outlining the two major battles that form a significant chapter in British military history will be suitably impressed.Impressive research and authoritive - but there is so much more to the story (hence check out the authors other fine books).