The Boer War

By: Winston Churchill

Narrated by: Ric Jerrom

Length: 18 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

As a young, ambitious soldier, Winston Churchill managed to get himself posted to the 21st Lancers in 1899 as a war correspondent for the Morning Post - and joined them in fighting the rebel Boer settlers in South Africa.

In this conflict, rebel forces in the Transvaal and Orange Free State had proclaimed their own statehood, calling it the Boer Republic. Perhaps the most riveting personal account is found in London to Ladysmith via Pretoria, where Churchill is captured in Pretoria not long after he arrives to join the British forces - and is frustrated not by the conditions in the prison but by the fact that he was missing the action.

Churchill tells the story of how he escaped and made a daring overland crossing, travelling only at night to avoid detection.

Over a 64-year span, Churchill published over 40 books, many multivolume definitive accounts of historical events to which he was a witness and participant. All are beautifully written and as accessible and relevant today as when first published.

During his 50-year political career, Churchill served twice as Prime Minister in addition to other prominent positions - including President of the Board of Trade, First Lord of the Admiralty, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Home Secretary.

In the 1930s, Churchill was one of the first to recognise the danger of the rising Nazi power in Germany and to campaign for rearmament in Britain. His leadership and inspired broadcasts and speeches during World War II helped strengthen British resistance to Adolf Hitler - and played an important part in the Allies’ eventual triumph.

One of the most inspiring wartime leaders of modern history, Churchill was also an orator, a historian, a journalist, and an artist. All of these aspects of Churchill are fully represented in this collection of his works.

©2013 Winston Churchill (P)2015 Audible, Ltd

Lots of fun for war enthusiats.

Beautiful example of anecdotal correspondence. Churchill used his name and connections well, and gives us a cool perspective from inside the British camp. Considerate of Boer performance, personalities and perspectives, his writing gives a multi-faceted look at and feel of the conflict. Ric Jerrom may like to laugh more than Churchill intended, but this is a good stylistic difference. Free from romantic or sexual content and conspucuously exhibiting clean language, yet fully pithy and meaningful for adults; this work exemplifies pre-Progressive era literature, and is therefore a must for young readers to see how it is done.

fascinating

I now know why Churchill was so persuasive as a world leader. He writes like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of Sherlock Holmes famd.

A fun listen to learn about the Boer War

The performance of the reader was excellent, perhaps the best I have heard for an audiobook. The book comprises two different pieces by Churchill. The first one was definitely better, but the second part was good too especially when it converged with the story in the first part at points. Overall, I would recommend it to anyone interested in military history.

BECAME BORING

One reviewer said best in small doses and I agree. This is not a Churchill book per se but his articles written as a journalist during the Boer War collected under one cover. As such the hyper-patriotic boys' own view of the conflict wears a bit thin after the seventh celebration of death by battle and the not so hidden agenda that self-sacrifice in the name of whatever misguided and mismanaged political expedient is in vogue is the highest form of personal integrity. However interesting to know that the saber-rattling hero of these essays became the defender of the realm against tyranny when his own country was attacked.

Best taken in small doses

I love history, especially military history. The Boar War, Crimean, Indian sub-continent and African campaigns of the British Army are all fascinating. Churchill is a great writer, but this book is a collection of newspaper posts written for the selling of papers and the political buildup of the author. One has to dig out the history from the storytelling.

Interesting first person account even if biased

The British generals of the 2nd Anglo-Dutch Boer war were a particularly useless bunch first of which was Sir Redvers Buller. Churchill describes the events but presents minimal unbiased critique of the generals as doing so would have not done his young career any good. That is even assuming he could offer a professional critique as he was a total disaster as a military planner his whole life.He was no Marlborough. The reading is excellent.

Does Not Cut It

Would you try another book written by Winston Churchill or narrated by Ric Jerrom?

Churchill book yes but narration by Ric Jerrom no. Sadly the mispronunciation of the place names is both distracting and jarring.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Did little research into correct pronunciation.

Bringing history to life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This beats reading about history hands down. The narrator is superb, bringing to life an account of the Boer War from 1899. This book is so well narrated it is like listening to old Winston himself speaking to you down through time. The narrative is a product of its time and there is the use of words which we find, quite rightly, offensive today. That said, I cannot recommend this energetic, interesting account of the Boer War highly enough. A great starter piece if you want to begin your journey into the Boer War. You will not be disappointed.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Boer War?

Winston's escape from the Pretoria prison. I had never known that Winston had escaped from a prison. The account is so well narrated that your imagination runs riot picturing Winston strolling out the gate, hiding amongst the goods on the train, jumping off to avoid being discovered etc. Just fantastic.

What does Ric Jerrom bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Listening to someone recounting their experiences is always much more dramatic than simply reading words on a page. It really was like listening to Winston! Ric Jerrom put dramatic emphasis on words and phrases, as well as doing an Afrikaaner accent etc. He is brilliant.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

On more than one occasion it had me holding my breath in anticipation, and also laughing out loug.

Over-egged narration inappropriate and irritating

Jerrom's narration is invariably over-egged. Ok for novels but inappropriate (and occasionally absurd) when employed in a historical work of this weight and importance.

Utterly marred by pronunciation

Given that “Boer” is in the title and mentioned literally hundreds of times - why did no-one ask? It’s “boor” (as in boorish), not “burr” or “bow- er”. Seriously.

Good book but irritating narrator

Note to self… never buy an audio book narrated by this person. This narrator killed the Aubrey/Maturin stories for me too!!

Churchill’s view of the Boer War

Interesting to hear how the different troops were deployed in each battle or skirmish. The British Army learnt and change quite a bit during this Major Conflict and these Generals were to become the major players in WW1. Very interesting insight into the British Empire mindset, and you have to take your hat off to the Boers.