The Washing Of the Spears: The Rise and Fall Of the Zulu Nation: Amazon.ca: Donald R. Morris: Books

Product Description

Filled with colorful characters, dramatic battles like Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift, and an inexorable narrative momentum, this unsurpassed history details the sixty-year existence of the world's mightiest African empire—from its brutal formation and zenith under the military genius Shaka (1787–1828), through its inevitable collision with white expansionism, to its dissolution under Cetshwayo in the Zulu War of 1879.

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Filled with colorful characters, dramatic battles, and an inexorable narrative momentum, this unsurpassed history details the 60-year existence of the Zulu Nation, from its brutal formation and zenith under the military genius Shaka (1787-1828) to its dissolution under Cetshwayo in the Zulu War of 1879. 77 illustrations. 2 maps.

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
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Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book and history, April 9 2003

By

Robert (Syracuse, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Washing Of the Spears: The Rise and Fall Of the Zulu Nation (Paperback)

This book is an excellent text dealing with the rise and fall of the Zulu nation. Indeed, Morris does not judge neither the Zulu nor the British. Instead he shows both their strengths and weaknesses, their savagery and nobility. Starting from the beginning to the end of the Anglo-Zulu Wars of 1879, Morris's writing does not disappoint, but keeps one enraptured to the very end. Yes, one can get more updated information on the Zulu Wars, but they all owe Morris a debt of gratitude.
Sadly, Donald Morris passed away on December 5th,2002. Yet his memory, and the memory of the Zulu will remain, in "The Washing Of The Spears".

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5.0 out of 5 stars Still the best, Nov 5 2002

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Jay Hardaway (Abilene, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Washing Of the Spears: The Rise and Fall Of the Zulu Nation (Paperback)

It is true that this book is outdated. It is also true that the works of Ian Knight, John Laband, and Ian Castle may be more accurate. But for the general reader, or maybe someone who saw the movie Zulu and liked it, I would still recommend this book. It is the first book on the Zulu War that I ever read, and while I have enjoyed all of Mr. Knight's books, I generally refer anyone with an interest in the Zulu War to this one. It fills in the gaps left by Zulu, Zulu Dawn, and Shaka Zulu, and it does it with Ian Knight's attention to detail and James Michener's literary skill.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History of the Zulu Empire, Jun 26 2002

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Bobby Dillard (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Washing Of the Spears: The Rise and Fall Of the Zulu Nation (Paperback)

This book is truly sprawling, interesting chronicle of the history of the Zulu nation. It spans from the rise of warrior king Shaka Zulu to the final destruction of Shaka's empire at the hands of the British army. While the sheer size of the tome may be a daunting prospect for many to tackle, the book will reward those who read it with a knowledge of the most colorful portions of African history. For instance you will be acquainted with the largest defeat ever suffered by the British army at the hands of natives. You'll also learn about the incredible stand at Rourke's Drift of 103 British soldiers against 4,000 Zulus. If you liked the movies, "Zulu", "Shaka Zulu", or "Zulu Dawn", read this book. Or just read it to know how events well over 100 years ago impact today in modern southern Africa.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Zulu History
Excellent book, lots of information and well written.
Some of the battle descriptions get quite involved and can be a little tedious. Read more

Published on May 1 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Forget the movie(s)
If you're interest was sparked by the likes of screen adaptations such as "Zulu," "Zulu Dawn" and "Shaka Zulu," you should take the time to read The... Read more

Published on Dec 6 2001 by J. Vanore