The Boer War Generals

(Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball Publishers, 1999) 1868420906. 8vo; original blue boards, lettered in gilt on spine; laminated pictorial dustwrapper; pp. xiii + (i) + 274, incl. index; plates; maps. Earlier owner's book label to front pastedown; occasional fox spot. Very good condition. "The Boer War (1899-1902) witnessed the professionals of the British Army pitted against the gifted amateurs who led the Boer commandos. For the Boers, it was a struggle for their independence; for Britain, an attempt once and for all to assert her political supremacy in South Africa. While sheer weight of numbers and ruthless tactics eventually secured a British military victory, the extraordinary Boer effort won respect worldwide. The Boer War Generals is an in-depth study of the principal commanders on both sides, in a conflict that was both 'the last of the gentlemen's wars' and the first modern one. ... Peter Trew's detailed narrative examines each personality separately, highlighting the differences between the command styles of the experienced, professional British generals and the natural ingenuity of the 'amateur' Boers. Fully illustrated with photographs and maps, this book provides a compelling insight into a war that provoked strong feelings not just from the protagonists, but across the world." .