The Last Horseman

by David Gilman

Dublin, 1899. On a foul night in a troubled city, lawyer Joseph Radcliffe watches the execution of a young Irish rebel. Radcliffe, together with his black American comrade Benjamin Pierce, has made a living defending the toughest cases in Dublin, but is haunted by the spectre of his defeats, the loss of his wife and child and his difficult relationship with his surviving son, Edward. While Ireland smoulders with rebellion, war breaks out in South Africa and when, after an argument with his father, Edward runs away to join the Irish forces fighting there, Radcliffe, accompanied by Pierce, sets out to find him and bring him home.

South Africa, 1900. Both Radcliffe and Pierce have known war. Former cavalrymen in the US army, they have seen enough killing to last them a lifetime. But eight hundred miles north of Cape Town, amid the trackless veld, they experience the bloody brutality of a conflict that the British generals are shocked to discover they are losing. Under fire from Boer snipers and artillery, distrusted by the British forces, the two old soldiers will find their survival skills tested to the hilt as they search for the missing boy in this epic tale of heroism and treachery, love and loyalty.

Genres: Historical Fiction, South Africa, Fiction, Historical, Military Fiction, Adventure

369 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

David Gilman was raised in Liverpool and educated in Wales. By the time he was 16 he was driving a battered 1946 Ford, ferrying construction workers in the African bush. A variety of jobs followed in different countries: fire and rescue, forestry work, JCB driver, window dresser and professional photographer in an advertising agency. He served in the Parachute Regiment’s Reconnaissance Platoon and then worked in publishing. In 1986 he turned to full-time writing. He has written many radio and television scripts including several years of ‘A Touch of Frost’. In 2007 his ‘Danger Zone’ trilogy for YA was sold in 15 countries. The first in the series – The Devil’s Breath was long listed for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and won the French Prix Polar Jeunesse. He also writes for younger children. MONKEY and ME has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal. ‘MASTER of WAR’ is the first in a series of HF for adults that follows the fortunes of Thomas Blackstone during the 100 Years’ War. The 7th volume - 'SHADOW OF THE HAWK' is published in February 2021.
A new contemporary thriller series - THE ENGLISHMAN - was published in 2020 to critical acclaim. The second book in The Englishman series will be published in early 2022.

Reviews

[Margitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of a father and son who had to endure war to finally find a bond that would forever bind them to honor and pride.

Joseph Radcliffe, a lawyer from Dublin, Ireland was unpopular as a defender of the Irish resistance fighters, losing more lucrative cases, but believing in his work to defend those who could not afford a defense otherwise. Together with his black American comrade Benjamin Pierce, they fought a battle in the courts of Dublin, against the British occupiers of their country, trying to save the lives of many Irish men. The two law partners had a history together in the American wars, serving as 'Buffalo Soldiers' in the Civil- and Indian Wars.

When Edward Radcliffe, Joseph's only surviving son, runs away to join the Irish forces in the Anglo-Boer War of 1889 - 1904 in South Africa, Joseph and Benjamin set out to find him. A journey of brutal war, hardship and suffering awaits them. Heroism, treachery, love and loyalty become their fighting partners until the very end.

The soldiers did not know what awaited them in the far-off land. "You’re going to South Africa to fight God-fearing Dutchmen in their own back yard and you will die like soldiers not the pox-ridden scum you are!’ Mr Thornton’s voice boomed."

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's words were yet unknown to them:

“Take a community of Dutchmen of the type of those who defended themselves for fifty years against all the power of Spain at a time when Spain was the greatest power in the world. Intermix with them a strain of those inflexible French Huguenots who gave up home and fortune and left their country for ever at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The product must obviously be one of the most rugged, virile, unconquerable races ever seen upon earth. Take this formidable people and train them for seven generations in constant warfare against savage men and ferocious beasts, in circumstances under which no weakling could survive, place them so that they acquire exceptional skill with weapons and in horsemanship, give them a country which is eminently suited to the tactics of the huntsman, the marksman, and the rider. Then, finally, put a finer temper upon their military qualities by a dour fatalistic Old Testament religion and an ardent and consuming patriotism. Combine all these qualities and all these impulses in one individual, and you have the modern Boer—the most formidable antagonist who ever crossed the path of Imperial Britain. Our military history has largely consisted in our conflicts with France, but Napoleon and all his veterans have never treated us so roughly as these hard-bitten farmers with their ancient theology and their inconveniently modern rifles.” ~ Excerpt From: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. “The Great Boer War"

At the end of the war, five hundred thousands British troupes, and fifty thousand Afrikaner farmers have lost their lives, with thirty thousand women and children killed in concentration camps set up by the British. The Boere commandos gave up to stop the killing of their women and children in the terrible camps. Their farms and homes were already burned down, their families forced to flee or die in the camps.

Mrs. Charteris, an Irish lady in the book, might probably be based on the life of Emily Hobhouse, an English woman who reported in the British press the horror and suffering of the Afrikaner women and children in the concentration camps. It was never suppose to be known to the world. The embarrassment urged the British government to bring the war to an end. The war against women and children to get what they want, was not suppose to be added to the victory medals hanging against the walls of the rich in Britain. They wanted the gold and diamonds. It was all that mattered.
Ms. Hobhouse was laid to rest by the Afrikaner families in a cemetery for the fallen women and children. She saved thousands of lives.

What initially thought of as a fool's war against a bunch of farmers, a storm in a tea cup, as it was regarded in England high society, turned out to become the biggest shameful blotch in England's history.

This book describes the battle fields and objectively observe the events in which a father had to find his son and take him home.

"A war in South Africa would be one of the most serious wars that could possibly be waged... it would leave behind it the embers of a strife which, I believe, generations would hardly be long enough to extinguish." ~ Joseph Chamberlain, British Colonial Secretary in 1896.

"England must not fall. It would mean an inundation of Russian and German political degradations... a sort of Middle-Age night and slavery which would last until Christ comes again... Even wrong – and she is wrong – England must be upheld. " ~ Mark Twain, writing in 1900.

It is one of the wars that had to be swept under the carpet as quickly as possible. It did not succeed. However, it would take more than a hundred and thirty years to fade away in collective memory. Yet, there are still too many people who remember and refuse to forgive or forget.

Heartbreaking.

PS. What a gorgeous cover!

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with a free copy of this book by Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.

In the 1900s, Joseph Radcliffe is a liberal American living in an Ireland under British rule and acting as lawyer to many Irish Republicans (Fenians) set to hang. When his son runs away to South Africa to attempt to join the British army and fight in the Boer War, Radcliffe goes after him, accompanied by his American army comrade Ben Pierce.

I ended up really enjoying this. It was well written with a gripping story, a well researched tale in history and an excellent setting. Going into this book, I basically knew nothing about the Boer War and I can safely say now I definitely know a lot more than I did. I never knew there were so many Irish on both sides of the Boer War - Irish fighting with the ‘Ductchies’ in a simple attempt to kill some Brits, and the Irish who joined the British Army. I really enjoyed a lot of the book that was set in Dublin, Ireland and all the dialogue from the Irish characters was really apt and fitting from the way some things were pronounced, to the crude joviality of the characters and the certain phrases and slang which are still used in Ireland today.

One of the journeys within this book that I enjoyed the most was that of Ben Pierce. Pierce fought alongside Joseph Radcliffe in the American Civil War (I think) and is African-American. The way he was treated in South Africa as a black man riding alongside a white with equal status was interesting to follow, as was the reaction to some of the native Africans seeing him. The fact that he had to get all sorts of documents signed by a Colonel to grant him temporary ‘white man’ status was just crazy but again, a complete education for me. The way he lost his freedom when he was separated from Radcliffe was again an interesting bit to follow - the fact that he had to suddenly pretend to be an African helping out the troops and none of them recognised him as Radcliffe’s companion.

[Glenn Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Horseman is my first book by this author. This is a work of historical fiction about the Boer War around 1900. It is clear the author has carried out extensive research in writing this book. I found it quite educational although at times was a bit confused as to who was on whose side given so many nations were represented. The war itself was brutal and mostly fought on horseback with rifles and swords as weapons. Another senseless war from our history with hundreds of thousands of tragic deaths from the fighting itself or sickness from poor conditions and insufficient supplies. Within the historical setting the fictional story was terrific and followed a father, himself an experienced American soldier, who is attempting to find his 16yo son who has inexplicably found himself mixed up in the Boer war after an altercation with his father. The character development was excellent. I loved the epic and very tense final scenes.

[Nigel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this an enjoyable read. It is primarily a military and historical read focusing mainly on the Boer War. Radcliffe is an ex US cavalry officer but now practices law in Ireland. The story is about him, his son and companion, Pierce again ex US cavalry. It works well as a simple military tale however there are deeper levels to this book too. War, the lives of coloured people, families and their secrets, principles all get an airing.
In particular the fact that Irish fought on both sides of the Boer War is used well. There is a feeling of kinship as well as the enmity. Pierce, who is coloured encounters what it was like for people like him in South Africa at that time. Well researched and very well written this is another good book from David Gilman.

Lousy wifi at present will hopefully add to this!

[Richard Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes historical fiction can give a more keen and concise picture of what happened during a war than hours of pouring over the reports and comments made by field commanders or looking through reams of newspapers and letters written by reporters and individuals who themselves may not have seen or understoon the whole picture of a battle or conflict.
Author David Gilman, an historian in his own right, has given us this kind of a picture of the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa. A conflict which took place as the dawn of the 20th Century began to refine the tactics of trench and guerilla warfare along with modern weaponry to superceed the role of horse cavalry and mass frontal assaults in battles throughout much of the 19th Century.
The tale pits the brute force of the Empire of Great Britain against the fast moving, small bands of Boer horsemen who were able to initially stymie the massive troops of British foot soldiers marching in rangs to their slaughter. These ragged horsemen were joined by numerous Irish separatists who longed to throw Britain out of their own native Ireland. As the expected quick British victory is brought to a halt, our story begins in Ireland where the British are readying large numbers of Cavalry to join the conflict and seventeen year old Edward Radcliffe longs to be one of their number, despite his father's refusal to let him join the conflict.
Making his own decision, despite his father's opposition, Edward sails to South Africa and attempts to join up with the Irish separatists who are out in the field. wounded and captured by the British Cavaly, he is taken prisoner and held for trial and probable hanging.
Meanwhile his father, a former U.S. Cavalry officer, having realized what his son had done, proceeds to the front lines with his former comrade in arms, a Buffalo Soldier named Benjamin Pierce. The two men are able to initially assist the British troops in action, despite the fact of Benjamin being treated as an equal by Radcliffe in the face of a country and its traditions which place African blacks in the role of slaves and servants. The two men discover the plight of young Edward and infiltrate the British military compound in which he is being held while healing from battle wounds. They then are faced with trying to extricate Radcliffe's son from his predicament which is going to result in his being hanged for shooting several British soldiers while helping the Boers.
The story illustrates the racial and cultural conflicts of the times, explains the concentration camps that Boer women and children were interned within once their farms had been destroyed, and gives a picture of the corruptness within the British Officer ranks themselves in dealing with their own cultural caste system.
The entire book will keep your attention throughout and in addition to having a jolly good read of action and intrigue, you will learn a lot about the Anglo-Boer War which you would otherwise not have known. I recommend this as an excellent introduction to understanding the hatreds and conflicts within this part of the world which led to the establishment of apartheid and the eventual African rebellion beginning in the 1960's that culminated in modern Black African rule of The Republic of South Africa.

[Hester Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Gilman writes about the Anglo-Boer War between 1899 and 1900 in “The Last Horseman”. Irish-American Joseph Radcliffe and his close friend and butler, Ben Pierce, travel to South Africa to search for Radcliffe’s seventeen-year-old son, Edward, who has run away from home. Edward thinks he is heading for adventure, but soon realises he is facing disaster.
Joseph must mend bridges between himself and Edward, who has grown up without his mother, a fact for which he blames Joseph. While there is much more to the backstory it is the grit and action of war that takes centre stage in this novel. Gilman’s descriptions of horses and horsemanship are beautiful.
A war story presented as history is bound to raise questions. David Gilman has tried to present both sides, but I have reservations about some of the information and predominantly English sources used. The statement that the Boers were made up of Dutch peasant stock is also incorrect. The fact is they consisted, amongst other nationalities, of Dutch, Germans and French aristocracy who fled France at the time of the French Revolution.
I rate this book 3.5 stars.

[Joe Stamber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Horseman takes the reader to the end of the 19th century where an eclectic cast of characters are all involved in the Irish troubles in one way or another. David Gilman has come up with a great cast, spread across all divides. For a variety of reasons, the characters then find themselves in South Africa and embroiled in the Boer War. There are many threads running through The Last Horseman, but Gilman's skill as an author and straightforward style mean that there is never any confusion. It should be remembered that this is Historical Fiction and Gilman admits in his notes that some liberties have been taken, which is perfectly acceptable in a novel. Still, this is a great taste of that era, full of personal stories woven into a fascinating theme.

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

As a rule i tend to avoid books that touch on the troubles in Ireland, too close to home, and a bit modern. But this book was always much more than that, it may start in Ireland and the Irish element but its the Boer War that is the core of this book, and the Boer war is something that interests me. A war that is on the cusp on the changes from cavalry warfare to something more mechanised, smokeless gunpoweder, magazine fed rifles and SLR rifles, providing a war where the death toll starts to go to sickening levels. One misconception that has long been in my head as a British invention (the concentration camp), turns out to be a Spanish / American contribution to the modern world (proving you can always learn something new), the american version from the civil war being labeled POW camps, but were in effect the same thing, Spain having the first true “Reconcentrado” (concentration camp) to control the Cuban people. Its these and the more powerful guns and rifles, coupled with the “Kommando” tactics of the Boer that start to change the face of modern warfare and provide a powerful backdrop for the author.

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[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story begins on the eve of 1900 in Dublin, the hub of the British Army in Ireland. The Royal Irish Regiment of Foot is being prepared for deployment to fight the Boers of South Africa. Also, a young Finian is being submitted to British justice by hanging. "

Subsequent to the hanging and deployment of the Royal Irish Regiment of Foot, a young teenaged boy of privilege runs away from his father and Dublin home to join his friends in the Regiment. He has no plan and is captured by a Boer unit with a large contingent of foreign fighters, e.g. Irish with one or two Americans. The boy is not killed.

The boy's father, together with a friend of long standing, manage a legal practice in Dublin that often centers on the defense of Finians. Upon learning of the boys action, his father and his friend set out to repatriate the boy. Both men are veterans of the Civil War and are experienced Indian fighters.

I found the repatriation of the boy to be the least interesting part of the story. Instead, the most interesting story thread involves the peripheral characters. Examples include: an English woman providing succor for the Boer women and children imprisoned in "concentration camps"; a Zulu hired as a laborer; and a ruthless, courageous, and competent British cavalry office who later meets "the father" on the field of battle. The term "concentration camp" was first used by the British.

In my mind neither the Boers or the British come off as the good guy. The fighting was fierce and of a guerrilla "take no prisoners" kind of war. The native peoples were ignored and abused, and did not care which usurper was the victor.

The story's depiction of the facts, both in warfare and politics, is credible; but It offers only a small peek into the Boer War and the relationship of Great Britain to the Irish. If this story whets the reader's appetite for stories about the Boar war, then I suggest Stuart Cloete's "Rags of Glory" and James A. Michener's "The Covenant". The 1980 movie "Breaker Morant" is also a good option. Also, "Tinity" by Leon Uris is a good book about the "Irish Toubles".

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has so many threads at the beginning of the story, that it is difficult to keep track of all the characters. However, the author does manage to pull these threads together as the book progresses.
Joseph Radcliffe; who is an Irish/American lawyer defending the Fenian youths imprisoned in Dublin for terrorist activities, and his friend Pierce; a black American, set off to find Joseph's son who has fled to South Africa after a disagreement with his father. This teenage boy hopes to find his close friend, Lawrence Baxter, recently sent to fight in the Boer War. Radcliffe and Pierce miraculously manage to find their way unaided and unharmed to the site of several battles in their search for the boy. In the various camps they come across many of the characters they knew in Dublin, including a cavalry officer, Captain Belmont, with whom Radcliffe has an axe to grind.
I live in South Africa and found it strained the bounds of credulity to imagine that the middle-aged Americans survived the arid landscape of the veld on horseback in the middle of the Boer War with so little trouble, even given the fact that they were both survivors of the Indian Wars in their home country.
The battle scenes were bloody, raw and well-written, but I felt more sympathy for the horses than their riders. The love angle between Radcliffe and Evelyn Charteris; as well as the instant friendship between the two Americans and the African, Mhlangana, were very contrived, as was the Hollywood ending. Edward Radcliffe presumably was "always smiling", as he lived happily ever after.
A mixed bag. As a war story it was fast-moving and well researched, but there were sections which verged on fantasy and just did not convince me. Hence the 3 stars.

[Sangita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discovered David Gilman's books in the last week of 2021 and have devoured two books since. The Last Horseman is one of these books.
The Second Boer War / South African War of 1899 forms the backdrop of this story, and was fought between Great Britain and the two Boer (Afrikaner) republics—the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State. The Boer Wars were significant in defining modern South Africa. The peace treaty in 1902 brought the British and Boers together in an uneasy alliance, allowing the formation of a unified South Africa.
The main protagonist of this novel is Joseph Radcliffe, an American Civil War veteran, a lawyer who had married an Irish woman and had come to Dublin, accompanied by his friend and fellow veteran Benjamin Pierce, who is black . Radcliffe defends the Fenians, and this is often a one of the contention with the authorities in Dublin.
When his younger son, Edward runs off to the Boer War to prove himself, Joseph and Benjamin follows.
What follows is an adventure, a thrilling journey as they all get caught up in the South African maelstrom and the conflict between the British and the Boers turn bloody and dangerous, with the native Africans caught in a pitiful situation.
Gilman is famous for his historical novels, and I loved his style of writing - detailed, compassionate with apt provision of a vast historical background. The characters are interesting and offer us an understanding into the choices that they made, however wrong they were.
Highly recommended!

[S.E. Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a book I can honestly say I enjoyed in the conventional sense. Not a fan of war fiction and the Boer wars were brutal for all involved. The Boers impoverished and desperate, the British terribly led, (no surprise there given WW 1 came next) using absurd anachronistic tactics against guerrilla warfare. It was only overwhelming weight of numbers that eventually led to the British success in defeating the Boers, that and the Germans and Dutch staying neutral.

However if you enjoy a fast moving, thoughtful and balanced narrative, well researched and imagined, which shows the weakness and problems of both sides then I'm sure you'd like it. Also you have to accept the violence that is intrinsic to warfare and male derring do, then of its kind this novel is excellent.Very much a boy's book.

It lost a star because of an annoying nonsensical cliche, in terms of the hero's wife. Can't say what as spoiler. Almost irrelevant to story line however, so if there were half stars I'd give 4.5.
I read it because I wanted to understand more about an ancestor who served in SA. Only partly successful in fact, as this was set in 1901 and he left in April 02 and a peace treaty was signed on 31st May, so he was sent back by the end of October.

[Simon Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader of Anglo-Boer war history, it was with some uncertainty that I took on a fictional book set during the war. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth and breadth of knowledge by the writer David Gilman. It was an exciting story set at a time of limited warfare, depending on rifle, sword and horse, on the cusp of the new century when war changed to a new technological level. The underpaying theme of Father and son conflict during adolescence was well developed during the story, as were the historical links between the American Civil War and this war with regard to native and their respective roles. Clearly well researched and taking appropriate license where needed to enhance the story telling, it was a delightful read, and I would recommend to any Boer War buff or avid reader alike.

[Ted P · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high expectations for The Last Horseman since I really liked Night Flight To Paris by David Gilman and gave it 5 stars. Also I like historical fiction because I like how I learn something I didn't know about history by reading the book. This one did not teach me much. I had heard of the Boer War but knew nothing else about it. I was confused thru most of the book about who was fighting with the British army and who for the Boers and even who they were. The Irish were mentioned. The dutch, etc. About 2/3 of the way thru the book I finally looked up The Boer War on Wikipedia to find out some history. That helped but I feel I shouldn't have had to do that. It's like the author assumed I already knew all about it.

[Robert Tostevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing read centered around the unrest in Ireland at the turn of the 19th century and later on the Boer war in South Africa.

An enjoyable read although some parts seemed to read a little like a film script, with uneccessary pathos. To be fair there aren't too many parts like this its just somethiong that struck on a few occasions.

The first part of the book I felt that the story line could go anywhere and it certainly piqued my curiosirty but as the story unfolded it became a little too inevitable as to where the story line was heading.

That said it was a very enjoyable read, quite a different story to his "Master of War" series (which are all equally as enjoyable)

[Peter Hendrycks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many of Mr. Gilmans books, and really like his writing style. It makes for entertaining, and enjoyable reading! I have never read any book about the Boer War, so this was new ground. Even though the war seemed foolish to me, I guess it was Britains need to control the Gold and Diamond mines that was the root of it. I felt sorry for the Boers, being uprooted from their homes and placed in camps that were riddled with health and hygeine problems. Survival rates were very low. This story is less about the war itself, but about a father trying to save his son, in a foreign land, while a war rages around them. I highly recommend this book!

[Joy Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learnt a little t about the boer war and told through a relevant time between two friends one white one black. I was surprised at the way they treated Pierce and often Radcliffe because he supported Pierce who was black. Prejudice against a colour always surprises me although I'm sure that's I'm prejudice to something. A great friendship between these two men and the promise to bring back Radcliffe son by Pierce to Dublin At the cost of Radcliffe who lays down his life for his son. A great story and loved bed the historical notes at the end of the book

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boer War and its consequences.

Joseph Radcliffe and an emancipated black American Benjamin Pierce had fought together in the American Civil War and the Indian wars. When Joseph married an Irish woman, Benjamin decided that he wanted to stay close to his friend so moved to Ireland with the family. Joseph’s wife has not been around to watch her son Edward grow up, but thanks to Benjamin’s presence and help, Joseph has managed to open his law practice and give Edward a stable home life.

Joseph, has been kept busy defending members of Fenian brotherhood, or as we know it today; The IRA. He took on the work because he felt that regardless of their beliefs, they were entitled to the best defence lawyer fighting to save them from the gallows. This work brings its own problems as the English who occupy Ireland, resent the fact that anyone would bother to defend people who they all too quickly call traitors and unfortunately Joseph’s work affects the way that Edward is treated by English soldiers and officers. After a particularly bad incident involving a British officer, Edward decides to run away to join his friend Lawrence Baxter who has been sent to South Africa to fight in the Boer War. Joseph is devastated when Edward disappears and together with Benjamin, decides to travel to South Africa to trace Edward and return him to his home in Ireland. But the Boer War was not going to give up a mere lad like Edward without a fight.

David Gilman had me hooked from page one. By setting this story in Ireland at the beginning of the IRA’s attempts to overthrow the British occupation plays a major part of the story, because while there are people only too willing to join the militants, there is the other side of the Irish, men who are signing up to join the Royal Irish Regiment, who are about to leave to fight against the Boers (many were Fenian sympathisers, but realised that the only way they could feed their families was to join the army).


When they started fighting the Boers, they discovered that there were many Irish rebels who had joined the Boers in their fight to keep the English from gaining full control of the gold and diamond mines. I found myself wondering how many men came face-to-face, during these battles, with their brothers or friends?


The second part of the book had particular bearing on my own family history. My grandfather was the manager of the horses, donkeys and mules used in the mining at Kimberley Diamond mine. When the British started to burn down the Boer farms, his was spared because of his connections to Cecil John Rhodes. However, he was also faced with the dilemma that some of his sons had joined the Boers and some the English and he had to keep this information hidden in case his farm was spied on by either side “looking for traitors”.

David Gilman has actually remained neutral in telling the story, a feat that shows what a truly great author he is, but even he couldn’t hide the fact that the British use of concentration camps for holding the Boer women and children resulted in thousands dying from the disgusting conditions they were kept in. The conditions for the children was especially bad as they were exposed to every type of disease, which, under normal circumstances they would not have come in contact with. The British (in my opinion) also used what can only be described as ethnic cleansing. It didn’t get this name ‘til much later, but by destroying not only the crops but also all the Boers’ livestock and burning their houses still filled with all their possessions, the British made sure that any Boer man, woman or child returning to their former dwellings, would need to start from scratch. (And believe me, these people returned to their lands filled with hatred of all things British, something that remains amongst some South Africans to this day! The other major change it brought to the Boers was that no child of theirs would ever be called uneducated again. Education, Education, Education became the by-words of all Afrikaners)

David Gilman also shows his neutrality in his descriptions of battles that took place between the Boers and the English. They were vicious battles where the Boers often wiped out entire British regiments as the Boers had invented the art of guerrilla warfare, something that the English had never come across before. The author manages to temper the evil of both sides by bringing in some very compassionate people who will help regardless of whether they are dealing with their own people or those they were fighting against.

Over the years, not just because of my own family’s history relating to this war but also the subsequent effect it had on the Boers who survived it, I must say that reading this book by an author who has managed to stay neutral in telling a riveting story, I somehow got more information and more insight than through any other book on the subject. Thank you David Gilman, for portraying the country of my birth through its very darkest times. What people don’t realise is that the Boer, or Afrikaner rose from the ashes and gained control of the Government and thanks to this, the birth of apartheid and all the damage it managed to cause this beautiful land’s people.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, Smith, Cornwell, Shaara, Igguldon and many others. I now will add David Gilman to the list. I haven’t found many Boer War novels but this one is well written, colourful characters and a great story line. A solid four stars. Any other recommendations from others on BoerWar novels would be appreciated.

[Ioannis Petrakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite 5/5 book.

I will keep the review brief but, to summarise, this book was exceptional in its character development and brutally realistic descriptions of a war in which there is no good.
This probably is the only book to have given me goosebumps at one pivotal scene at the end.
Emotionally involved, unpredictable and descriptive - a brilliant book.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent Author, not a bad read.

Read this book after the Master of War series of books by the author.

Well written and captivating as always but the book lacked a little depth in my opinion. The early chapters in Ireland set the book up well but the story in South Africa was a little weak.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written and researched tale of war, whose characters are involved in wars on three continents - America (the Civil War and the wars against the Indian tribes), Ireland (the struggle between the Republicans and England) and South Africa (the Boer-English War of 1899-1902).

[teresa smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling book about a war I knew little about ,thoroughly enjoyable.


Characters believable and likeable. I was also torn in my loyalties as I could not support Boers because of their treatment of the native people.

[RICHARD C MAZZARELLA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A monumental story

I have never read a book of this genre before and it will stay with me a long time. Historical fiction and even more. A story of courage, honor and bravery. I highly recommend this book!!

[Bosra Lazzola]

57:10 Those among you who have spent and fought before the victory and not equal: those stand higher in rank than the ones who spent in fought later on. God has promised each one the very finest. God is informed about whatever you do.

[Rudi Opperman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional journey from Dublin through to the Anglo Boer war. A sweeping journey.

[Mark Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good action scenes and good story

[Paul Cowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story - very well written and his depth of South African knowledge couldn't be faulted.

[Malcolm.Starrs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read.

A good story well written, full of emotion with a nice mix of believable characters and historically sound. I would certainly recommend it.

[Novelle Novels · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I really struggled to connect with this book