The Washing Of The Spears: The Rise And Fall Of The Zulu ... (ISBN 0306808668)

The Washing of the Spears:
I first bought this book in the early 70s and found it both a fascinating read and a "ripping yarn". I am on my fourth edition of this book (the others have been borrowed and not returned or worn out on campaign). The book gives an excellent history of the "people of heaven" written before the era of political correctness that characterises much of the modern work on this emotional subject. Contrary to much popular opinion it is not a one sided book, British and colonial officers and officials are critiscised when necessary and I do not believe anyone can take offense at the "noble savage" depiction of the Zulus. The book covers the origins of the Zulu nation from the very start up until the defeat at Ulundi and the political consequences thereafter. The battles are described in some detail and still set my heart racing whether they are describing inter tribal wars or those between the Zulus and their British or Boer enemies, the defeat (or victory depending upon your point of view) at Isandlwana is a particularly exciting read. One reviewer has said "if you only buy one book, this should be it" I agree entirely, it is without doubt the most interesting and entertaining book I have ever read (about 20 times) and would strongly recommend it to anyone with an interest in history, colonial or otherwise

Brilliant book:
This is the classical and ironically still the best history of the Zulus ever written, authorative and not dated after all these years. The Zulus were a tribe of Bantu speakers who immigrated sometime in the 1500-1600s from what is today Tanzania and Mozambique into modern SOuth Africa. THere they came up against the Xhosas, Swazis and Sotho as well as other tribes. The Zulu were something of the Romans of Africa, inventing a new fighting style that led them to crush other tribes. In fact the period of Zulu hegemony is known as the 'crushing' to this day. As the Zulus expanded in the mid 1800s they came upon the Dutch speaking Afrikaaners who were fleeing British rule at the Cape and war resulted. LAter in 1879 when the Zulus had been pushed and hemmed into eastern south Africa they defeated a number of British columns until finally being overwhelmed. Their hereditary chiefs run the tribe to this day and Chief Buthelezi, who ran Zululand until 1994 and led the Inkatha Freedom Party in SOuth Africa since, penned an introduction. This is a book from the Zulu point of view but nevertheless a brilliant account proving that the 'racism of orientalism' is a complete fabrication. The British loved and admired the Zulus. Seth J. Frantzman

None Better:
This is the "gold standard" for histories on the Zulu nation and its' wars. The writing is excellent, easy to read and very informative. Excellent research allows the author to document facts. This is the place to start and might be the book that you want to read as a review after your studies are completed.

Culture Clash:
Mr. Morris' African epic is a case study of human relations on a cultural level and goes to great pains to explain the cause and effect relationship between one civilization's notion of "progress" and another's desire to maintain its identity. As was the case with the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the character of the Zulu nation and the courage of its constit- uency was unable to prevail in the presence of a modernized military power bent on self-aggrandisement. Via the application of exhaustive research, eclectic prose and outstanding historical detail, Mr. Morris has opened yet another window into our understanding of human strength and frailty as it exists within the reality of cultural justification and the arro- gance that drives it.

A different form of civilisation:
When I first read Washing of the Spears many years ago I was enthralled with the way in which it was written, I couldn't put it down. I loaned it to a friend but he never returned it, so it was 'lost'. I have now bought another copy and am, again, reading it and finding it is having the same effect. The book gives an insight into the manner in which the tribes were run. They had their own culture, their own system of punishments - which were accepted for whichever wrong had been done. In a way this was their form of civilisation until we encouraged our way of life onto them in an attempt to reform them. I'm afraid I take their side and feel we were the perpetrators of wrongdoing in their country, and had we left them to their own devices they would have 'survived' for a much longer period of time, and perhaps slowly considered and accepted our form of civilisation. Who can really say what was the right way and wrong way of life? It is a history book that I consider is written in an understandable and interesting way.