Customer Reviews

Rorke's Drift 1879: 'Pinned like rats in a hole' (Campaign)

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This book is highly recommended for anyone who wishes to acquaint themselves with battles of Isandlwana, and especially, Rorke's Drift. The author gives a brief history of the British presence in South Africa that led to the events of 22-23 January, 1879. Knight gives a detailed and accurate account of the battle at Rorke's Drift using battlefield drawings showing the movement of both troups, British and Zulu. The author also does a good job of disspelling many myths that have surrounded the battle for years. An added plus is the vast array of vintage photos of many of the key players in the Anglo-Zulu campaign. For anyone that wants to get a short(96 pages), concise, detailed history of Rorke's Drift, you will never need more than this book.

Ian Knight did an excellent job in presenting the famous battle of Rorke's Drift which pitted 150 British and Imperial Soldiers against over 3000 battle trained and tested Zulu warriors. Knight describes the circumstances that led to the battle beginning with the British having posts far within Zulu territory (present day South Africa) and having failed peace treaties between the British Crown and Zulu Kings. These treaties between the British Empire and Zulu Nation began with the great King Shaka Zulu and newly crowned Queen Victoria, and as such previous times the British Empire wanted more land subjegated under their influence. Thus began the trouble. This book describes the background of this and also tells about the British loss at Isandlwana which is considered one of the worst defeats in British History. The battle at Rorke's Drift was fought due to one of the Zulu nobility wanting his warriors to fight and taste blood without realizing the tremendous loss of warriors would take place. The British and its Imperial Forces (Boers, and non Zulu tribesmen) did an outstanding job by defending the Rorke's Drift Outpost and thus gaining immortal glory. This is an outstanding book that is highly recommended to those who want to read about overcoming tremendous odds and bravery at all levels of both the British and Zulu Warriors.

This was a wonderful read, informative, concise and clear. The explanations of the cause of the war, the cause of this battle, the tactics used, the actual ebb & flow of the combat and the aftermath are all very well presented. The illustrations and photographs add quite well to the written information. If your only information on this battle comes from the movie Zulu, you really should pick this up and read it to get the real story, which is even more fascinating than the movie makes it out to be.

I wanted a concise history of Rorke's Drift, and this book more than fit the bill. Ian Knight is the undisputed expert on the Zulu War's, so that is a bonus, as are the wonderful illustrations and photographs that Osprey books are known for. You can't go wrong with this one. It is a wonderful, informative read.

The most famous engagement of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Rorke's Drift was an epic struggle against overwhelming odds. It pitted more than 3,000 zulus, fresh from their triumph at Isandlwana against the mission station's tiny garrison, a mere 150 British & Imperial soldiers.

Hardcover, illustrated with maps, diagrams, historic drawings & photos

Having read this book and enjoyed I feel I should pass on my thoughts. Firstly, and most importantly, this book appeared to me to be more of an overview of what took place hence it being only around 100 pages (minus many photos and maps ect...). If you are looking for a book that will give you an idea of what happened without the intricacies of the lead up and subsequent end to the wars then this will work for you. If you expect to read extracts from those who were there and a detailed account of the Zulu Wars then you will be disappointed. It mostly talks about Rorkes Drift, which is great and what many would like to read, but I felt like I had just read an introduction to the Zulu War campaign. This is probably a book that can whet your appetite for campaign before you find something with much more detail. As I said this still a good read!

I enjoyed the book as it corrected some of the inconsistencies shown in the movie and fact from hollywood's license.

Very insightful on that Battle