The Washing of the Spears Paperback – August 22, 1998

Morris is a master of his craft / this book is a classic and will never go out of dateauthor could make a weather report look like timeless literatureshould be in hardback only as the bulky 700 plus pasges in my da capo edition want to seperatefrom binding -- 5 star without a doubt

This book launched years of study of not only the Zulu wars but the greater scope of "Victoria's Little Wars". The book itself is fascinating,evenhanded,and importantly,highlights not only the stategies both well begotten and misconceived,but also the impact of the mundane ..."for lack of ammo crate cutters,there was no ammo,for lack of ammo the line broke."The irony of battle and leadership was underlined for me in the the battles of Isandlwanda and Rorkes drift.In the former almost every rule of engagement was broken by a larger force and high ranking officers with the decimation of the entire regiment. Whereas at Rorke's drift we have two totally untested subalterns,knowing nothing of what to do but following the rule book and ultimately succeeding against tremendous odds. Ultimately my fascination was driven by entering the mindset of a different cultural mindset.While Victorian values are now the object of derision from the left,there really was a "thin red line",officers stood and died with their men,valor and honor were valued,gentlemen warriors who read Homer or Vergil really existed and the profession of arms and its values were held in respect by the citizenry.Fortunately,these values still drive our current military even if demeaned or ignored by the vast majority of those for whom they fought and died. A fascinating story,excellent military history and a peek into the midset of a different time.

Great book but in this paperback edition the photos are poorly reproduced.If you want clear photos you’ll have to ante up for a used hard cover.

Outstanding book, rich in detail and background yet still readable. The paperback version suffers from poor printing. Text was occasionally blurred, the illustrations are so dark you can barely see what they're supposed to be, and the map at the beginning of the book is all but illegible. This book deserves better printing.

This is a very involved and detailed history of the 1879 Zulu War. An excellent history which outlines the culture, the policies of both the Zulu nation and the British Empire, the rise of the Zulu nation and the subsequent actions of the British government in the invasion and subjugation of the Zulu nation. Includes detailed battle histories of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift.

a great read, with amazing depth. However, the story is told from a biased perspective and that must be taken into account when reading the book. Still, this is truly one of the most detailed tellings of the rise and fall of the Zulus.The text is tiny and hard to read and it's written in a British accent, but the level of information and specific details is mind-blowing, It's a great read for anyone interested in the Zulus, imperialism, or how South Africa got to it's current state.

The author draws on extensive archives to provide almost an hour by hour description of the military conflict between the Zulu people and the British and Dutch settlers of what is now South Africa. The detail is sometimes overwhelming -- names of British officers, dates, etc., are not always readily kept in mind.Because there are no Zulu archives, the material on which the book is based is British record of the campaign, a record that contains some interviews with Zulus who were in the battles.Not in the book: an explanation of the Zulu economy and society that supported their army. The reader learns of the politics and economic constraints that influenced and limited the British side of the war, but the Zulu army appears on hilltops, spears and rifles in hand. We learn little of how they were supported nor of how they were organized to fight.

I liked the detailed descriptions and good research which nevertheless managed not to make this a dry academic text-book. The author managed to cover a long period in sufficient detail and historic continuity and balanced accuracy; in spite of the limited existing historic sources.

A comprehensive view of the causes and events of the Anglo - Zulu War of 1879, a very good read

Unputdownable. I love this book. I haven't finished it, yet, but it is so well written and researched. Some of the characters involved in this history were just extraordinary people. And the description of the land, battles, skirmishes and how and why decisions were made are brilliant. Highly recommended.

Wanders a bit would be improved by better editing, Story line is strong and interesting. If you have enjoyed, Wilbur Smih or Haggard you will enjoy this rather meaty tale

Was a present for my son who has not red it yet. Arrived quickly and in good condition.

This is a brilliant history of Southern Africa and the Zulu nation. The detail is amazing.