The Zulu War-by possibly its most authentic historians
Most written histories intend to be accurate, but they often suffer from the bias of perspective, and whilst this history of the Anglo-Zulu War is no exception, it is exceptional in that it is decidedly not a view of the conflict from an Imperial British standpoint. Francis Colenso was the daughter of Bishop Colenso, whose Bishopric included Zululand at the time of the war. She knew the Zulu nation well, had an affection for it and in company with her father was an ardent advocate in its cause. She was well aware of the many shameful calumnies perpetrated against it by the British including the bringing about of the war of 1879 itself. This history, written by an author who was on the spot, was originally published very shortly after the events themselves took place. It provides a very different view, far removed from a story of Imperial glory or folly. Ultimately the traditional Zulu way of life was destroyed by the war and the injustice and tragedy of that is painfully elaborated in these pages. 'Fanny' Colenso had a close personal relationship with Colonel Anthony Durnford, who fell at Isandlwhana and who became one of Lord Chelmsford's scapegoats for the disaster. For the military aspects of her history she called upon the assistance of Durnford's brother, Edward-also a soldier-to provide vital expertise, credibility, accuracy and authority. This is the first and possibly the most important history of the Zulu War and the events that bought it about and is an essential component of any library of the history of South Africa.

First published in 1880, just a year after the titular conflict took place, this account by Frances Colenso (1849 87) of the 1879 war between British settlers and the Zulu population in South Africa is remarkable in its defence of the Zulu people, a very unusual view for a British writer at this time. Colenso was the daughter of controversial bible scholar John William Colenso, the first Anglican bishop of Natal. This book was intended to support her father's criticism of British policy, but while she credits her father's influence and opinions in shaping her book, Colenso is careful to state that the work is her own. Beginning with the causes of the conflict, which she identifies as an unjust and barbaric British invasion, Colenso describes the Zulu war chronologically to its conclusion. The military details of the war were provided by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Durnford, a close friend of Colenso's.

The great work of Colenso and Durnford which is exceptional among contemporary histories in that it attempted to view the conflict from both sides. Frances Colenso was the daughter of Bishop Colenso, whose Bishopric included Zululand at the time of the war. She understood the Zulu nation was a sympathetic observer. This excellent study written by an author who was close to the events, was originally published very shortly after the war. Frances Colenso had a close personal relationship with Colonel Anthony Durnford, who was killed at Isandlwhana and who posthumously became one of the scapegoats for the disaster. Frances was therefore able to call upon the assistance of Durnford's brother, Edward who was also a soldier and who was therefore in a position to provide this excellent work with the vital military knowledge, authority and precision. This great work which resulted from their collaboration was the first, and remains the most significant survey of the Zulu War and the events that led up to it. It endures today and forms as an essential addition to any library encompassing the history of the Zulu Wars. The engravings and illustrations are contemporary and are reproduced exactly as they appeared in 1879 in the pages of the Illustrated London News and the Graphic. These wonderful engravings provide a direct link with the past and together with the Colenso and Durnford text to produce an absorbing account of the Zulu War through Victorian eyes.

The Zulu War-by possibly its most authentic historians
Most written histories intend to be accurate, but they often suffer from the bias of perspective, and whilst this history of the Anglo-Zulu War is no exception, it is exceptional in that it is decidedly not a view of the conflict from an Imperial British standpoint. Francis Colenso was the daughter of Bishop Colenso, whose Bishopric included Zululand at the time of the war. She knew the Zulu nation well, had an affection for it and in company with her father was an ardent advocate in its cause. She was well aware of the many shameful calumnies perpetrated against it by the British including the bringing about of the war of 1879 itself. This history, written by an author who was on the spot, was originally published very shortly after the events themselves took place. It provides a very different view, far removed from a story of Imperial glory or folly. Ultimately the traditional Zulu way of life was destroyed by the war and the injustice and tragedy of that is painfully elaborated in these pages. 'Fanny' Colenso had a close personal relationship with Colonel Anthony Durnford, who fell at Isandlwhana and who became one of Lord Chelmsford's scapegoats for the disaster. For the military aspects of her history she called upon the assistance of Durnford's brother, Edward-also a soldier-to provide vital expertise, credibility, accuracy and authority. This is the first and possibly the most important history of the Zulu War and the events that bought it about and is an essential component of any library of the history of South Africa.