The Boer War

De: Martin Bossenbroek, Yvette Rosenberg - Translator

Narrado por: James Langton

The Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) is one of the most intriguing conflicts of modern history. It has been labeled many things: the first media war, a precursor of the First and Second World Wars, the originator of apartheid. The difference in status and resources between the superpower Great Britain and two insignificant Boer republics in southern Africa was enormous. But, against all expectation, it took the British every effort and a huge sum of money to win the war, not least by unleashing a campaign of systematic terror against the civilian population.

In The Boer War, winner of the Netherland's 2013 Libris History Prize and shortlisted for the 2013 AKO Literature Prize, the author brings a completely new perspective to this chapter of South African history, critically examining the involvement of the Netherlands in the war. Furthermore, unlike other accounts, Martin Bossenbroek explores the war primarily through the experiences of three men uniquely active during the bloody conflict. They are Willem Leyds, the Dutch lawyer who was to become South African Republic state secretary and eventual European envoy; Winston Churchill, then a British war reporter; and Deneys Reitz, a young Boer commando. The vivid and engaging experiences of these three men enables a more personal and nuanced story of the war to be told, and, at the same time, offers a fresh approach to a conflict that shaped the nation-state of South Africa.

©2012 Martin Bossenbroeck (P)2017 Recorded Books

An excellent historical record.

Very well written, but as a South African, it was at first amusing then just irritating to hear the narrator stumbling over Dutch and Afrikaans names and towns. A South African narrator would’ve made all the difference. A very good book though.

Narrative ruined by Moralising

What would otherwise have been an interesting history of the Anglo-Boer War, told from interesting perspectives, is ruined by an introduction and epilogue that preaches the modern, progressive mantra.

Great detail on a very little know war.

good book, great detail from multiple view points, leant a great deal of European politics of the period, would love to read more about 19th century European and Afican history after listening to this.

An excellent history on a relevant subject

The narrator was excellent. Accurate and well-researched writing. Highly recommend. Fifteen word minimums suck.

Excellent overview of the Boer War

First of all, I thought the book was very well narrated. I felt that this book did a good job of explaining the players involved in the Boer War, what led up to the war and the repercussions that were felt by self Africans for generations afterwards. I would highly recommend this book.