South African War, 1899-1902 -- Bibliography

This study provides students, historians, other academics and scholars, as well as other researchers and anyone interested in the history of the Anglo-Boer War, with as comprehensive a list as possible of all postgraduate studies completed on any conceivable aspect of the war, as well as any other postgraduate studies which refer, to some extent, to the conflict.

One hundred years after the Boer War, the British continue to debate what went wrong, while the war has significant nationalist overtones in today's South Africa. This book examines changes in interpretations of the war and provides a bibliography of major sources on the Boer War, now sometimes called the South African War. The bibliography focuses on the military history, but also includes some historical accounts of the political debate. The first part of the book provides an extended historiographical essay, while part two provides an annotated bibliography of the titles discussed in part one. Historiographical questions concerning the Boer War are numerous. Discussions of military operations focus on the early use of modern weaponry and the effect of guerrilla tactics on a traditional force, while other historians debate the question of British military leadership and organization. Questions also revolve around British imperialism and the scramble for Africa. Frequently called the second war for freedom by South African authors, the war was the reason that South Africa, unlike other British colonies, gained independence without majority rule. This makes the war of continuing relevance to the turmoil in South Africa, the collapse of the minority government, and the continuing problems of the current government. This book will provide a useful tool for those wishing to research the war.

"The devastating war that raged on the South African veldt between 1899 and 1902 -- the first of the 20th century wars -- was small in comparison with the world wars. Yet it reveals many facets of military, political, and social issues. The conflict between the British Empire and the Boer settlers was in ways a precursor to what was to come. It saw vast changes in the organization, tactics, and weapons used by the British Army; had far-reaching effects on the white political structure in the country; and stimulated Afrikaner nationalism, which might partly explain the introduction of apartheid. Historical dictionary of the Anglo-Boer war presents the history of this conflict -- also known as "the South African War", "the Boer War", and "the Transvaal War"--Through a chronology, introductory essay, bibliography, and more than 600 cross-referenced dictionary entries covering a wide range of military, social, cultural, and political topics"--Page 4 of cover.