This text draws on letters and dispatches to bring to life the Anglo-Zulu war - a war which saw great acts of bravery and courage on both sides.

The Anglo-Zulu War was one of many colonial campaigns in which the British Army served as the instrument of British imperialism. The conflict, fought against a native adversary the British initially under-estimated, is remarkable for battles that included perhaps the most humiliating defeat in British military history-the Battle of Isandlwana, January 22, 1879-and one of its most heroic feats of martial arms-the defense of Rorke's Drift, January 22-23, 1879. While lasting only six months, it is one of the most examined, studied, and debated conflicts in Victorian military history. Anglo-Zulu War, 1879: A Selected Bibliography is a research guide and tool for identifying obscure publications and source materials in order to encourage continued original and thought-provoking contributions to this popular field of historical study. From the student or neophyte to the study of the Anglo-Zulu War, its battles, and its opponents to the more experienced historian or scholar, this selected bibliography is a must for anyone interested in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War.

It was meant to be a quick knockout blow: the British firmly believed that their rifles and artillery would make short work of the Zulus and then they would be home to London for tea. In an atmosphere of breezy arrogance, three columns of British soldiers marched into Zulu territory. But before long, the Zulus caught one column by surprise and wiped it out. Though the epic resistance by one company at Rorke's Drift temporarily restored British pride, the war wasn't yet over. Much more fighting and many more deaths occurred before England's final victory at Ulundi. A superb collection of period photographs, supported by a vivid account of the campaign, reveals the truth behind the wars that inspired the popular film Zulu! It was meant to be a quick knockout blow: the British firmly believed that their rifles and artillery would make short work of the Zulus and then they would be home to London for tea. In an atmosphere of breezy arrogance, three columns of British soldiers marched into Zulu territory. But before long, the Zulus caught one column by surprise and wiped it out. Though the epic resistance by one company at Rorke's Drift temporarily restored British pride, the war wasn't yet over. Much more fighting and many more deaths occurred before England's final victory at Ulundi. A superb collection of period photographs, supported by a vivid account of the campaign, reveals the truth behind the wars that inspired the popular film Zulu!

The story of Isandlwana, the battle that shocked the British empire at its zenith, and Rorke's Drift, which immediately followed it and went some way to restoring wounded British pride: how they were fought, how they have been remembered, and what they mean for us today.

A very rare and important publication - this is the handbook issued to British Staff officers on the eve of their invasion of Natal and the ensuing Zulu War in 1879. It gives a detailed picture of Zulu society, individual chieftains, military tactics, warriors' dress and history 'compiled from information obtained from the most reliable sources'. It includes a diagram of the famous Zulu attack formation, based on the horns of cattle, in which the enemy was enveloped on both wings by two horns, while the body of the 'bull' was held in reserve. The detailed intelligence that the British had built up on their potential enemy listed in this eye-opening little book is quite staggering. However, in the campaign that followed, much of that intelligence was not utilised thanks to the incompetent conduct of the campaign.

The battle of iSandlwana was the single most destructive incident in the 150-year history of the British colonization of South Africa. This title shows that the brutality of the battle was the result of an inevitable clash between two aggressive warrior traditions.

The Anglo-Zulu War was a defining episode in British imperial history, and it is still a subject of intense interest. The Zulu victory at Isandlwana, the heroic British defence of Rorke's Drift and the eventual British triumph are among the most closely researched events of the colonial era. In this historical companion, Ian Knight, one of the foremost authorities on the war and the Zulu kingdom, provides an essential reference guide to a short, bloody campaign that had an enduring impact on the history of Britain and southern Africa. He gives succinct summaries of the issues, events, armies and individuals involved. His work is an invaluable resource for anyone who is interested in the history of the period, in the operations of the British army in southern Africa, and in the Zulu kingdom.