The National Army Museum Book of the Boer War

by Michael Carver

The book quotes extensively from the Museum's unpublished archive of diaries, letters and documents, giving a depiction of Britain's first modern war through the authentic voice of the combatant, and a new perspective to the Boer War.

Genres: History, Military History, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1999

About the author

Field Marshal Richard Michael Power Carver, Baron Carver GCB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MC, was a senior British Army officer. Lord Carver served as the Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, and then as the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces. He served in the Second World War and organized the administration of British forces deployed in response to the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya and later in his career provided advice to the British Government on the response to the early stages of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Reviews

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not an history (narrative or analytical) of the Second Angl0-Boer War but an edited collection of first-hand accounts by mainly British soldiers of the conflict. There are lengthy and detailed eye-witness views of various battles. The book is valuable in making these accounts from the National Army Museum's collections accessible. But the book needs to be set alongside more balanced and deep discussions of this tragic and shameful conflict.

[Babak Fakhamzadeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It suffices to read the final chapter of this book, "Afterthoughts", since this is the only chapter whith some analyses of the war. The book is very factual and although the many personal accounts are interesting, they tire too quickly. Also, all accounts are from English soldiers, giving a rather one-sided view on things.