Book review – “Osprey Series: Isandlwana 1879” by Ian Knight

Isandlwana is one of my favourite battles mainly because it was such a spectacular stuff up – and I’ve always found it impossible not to be moved by the fate of the Brits as they get slaughtered by the Zulus. Ian Knight’s reputation as a Zulu War authority is deserved; he gets a little bogged down in technical stuff for most of this book, though, and it lacks the feeling and flavour most accounts of this battle have. Only when it comes to the last moments of the battle – the lone siege in the cave, the retreat of the British – and the aftermath does he start adding the little touches that really bring it home – British troops forced to sleep on the battle site and waking up drenched in blood, etc. Good pictures and so on. Maybe should have referred to the movies esp Zulu Dawn as they are so well known.