The Great Boer War [Hardcover]

Arthur Conan Doyle (Author), 1stWorld Library (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 20, 2006

Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots who gave up home and fortune and left their country for ever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon earth. Take this formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances under which no weakling could survive, place them so that they acquire exceptional skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman, and the rider. Then, finally, put a finer temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual, and you have the modern Boer - the most formidable antagonist who ever crossed the path of Imperial Britain. Our military history has largely consisted in our conflicts with France, but Napoleon and all his veterans have never treated us so roughly as these hard-bitten farmers with their ancient theology and their inconveniently modern rifles.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Arthur Conan Doyle is one of the best loved writers in the English Language, mainly for his Sherlock Holmes character, but he also wrote historic non-fiction, adventure, other detective and mystery, and personal stories, all to great acclaim. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 736 pages
• Publisher: 1st World Library - Literary Society (February 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421808099
• ISBN-13: 978-1421808093
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,908,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good history from the period. But definite slant., June 20, 2010

By 

M&PK (GA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Great Boer War (Kindle Edition)

From the files of Sherlock Holmes to the history of the transvall..... I didn't know Doyle had done this piece. Nor did I realize he made multiple revisions as more "facts" were revealed to him.

A great read in the beginning, and I want to stay away from any political stance for one party or another, but after a short period, it becomes overly clear that Doyle is writing as an Englishman first, and an historian second.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Queen, and Empire, February 26, 2011

By 

Janus2424 "Janus2424" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Boer War (Paperback)

The creator of Sherlock Holmes was definitely for the Empire first, England second, and history third. That being said, it is on the whole a good read although it drags at times. The writing style captures a certain late Victorian imperial mindset, not unlike the Sherlock Holmes novels, that is itself fascinating and historically valuable. I recommend the "Great Anglo Boer War" by Byron Farwell, which is both more readable and accurate than Doyle's lengthy work.