The Washing of the Spears: A History of the Rise of the Zulu Nation Under Shaka and Its Fall in the Zulu War of 1879

Rating:
Summary: Easy to understand why it all happened.
Review: People who may call Britain's imperialism harsh or obtrusive simply don't know history. This book goes into great detail about how the zulu's and neighboring tribes lived in all their primitive and barbaric savagery. It also demonstrates that the only way to prevent their savage and barbaric reign to spread was to crush their "empire" and remove their leader.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to understand why it all happened.
Review: People who may call Britain's imperialism harsh or obtrusive simply don't know history. This book goes into great detail about how the zulu's and neighboring tribes lived in all their primitive and barbaric savagery. It also demonstrates that the only way to prevent their savage and barbaric reign to spread was to crush their "empire" and remove their leader.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding history
Review: Quite simply, one of the best-written books I have ever read, in any category. Fully deserves to be a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Good start, falls off later
Review: The early parts of this book, covering the reigns of Shaka andDingane, was very well-done and interesting, making a decent history.The book gets very dull later on when it turns into a military history in the 1870s section - unless one is interested in military history, I recommend they stop as soon as this shift occurs, or else they might get bored to sleep. This is not, in my opinion, the best history of the Zulus out there - the more comprehensive Shaka's Children is more recommended.

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Summary: Sweeping historical review of the independent Zulu Nation.
Review: This book delivers a great deal of information on the formation, habits, beliefs, and ultimate destruction of the Zulu nation as an independent people. The migrations and mergings of the Bantu peoples of southern Africa are clearly explained. Some myths are deflated, such as the manner in which Shaga died. However, the momentous battles of Isandalwana and Rourke's Drift are presented highlighting the arrogance of British soldiery and the Zulu's mastery of field tactics. Excellent reading for anyone interested in the events leading to the formation of South Africa.

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Summary: Wonderful book and history
Review: This book is an excellent text dealing with the rise and fall of the Zulu nation. Indeed, Morris does not judge neither the Zulu nor the British. Instead he shows both their strengths and weaknesses, their savagery and nobility. Starting from the beginning to the end of the Anglo-Zulu Wars of 1879, Morris's writing does not disappoint, but keeps one enraptured to the very end. Yes, one can get more updated information on the Zulu Wars, but they all owe Morris a debt of gratitude.
Sadly, Donald Morris passed away on December 5th,2002. Yet his memory, and the memory of the Zulu will remain, in "The Washing Of The Spears".

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Summary: Excellent History of the Zulu Empire
Review: This book is truly sprawling, interesting chronicle of the history of the Zulu nation. It spans from the rise of warrior king Shaka Zulu to the final destruction of Shaka's empire at the hands of the British army. While the sheer size of the tome may be a daunting prospect for many to tackle, the book will reward those who read it with a knowledge of the most colorful portions of African history. For instance you will be acquainted with the largest defeat ever suffered by the British army at the hands of natives. You'll also learn about the incredible stand at Rourke's Drift of 103 British soldiers against 4,000 Zulus. If you liked the movies, "Zulu", "Shaka Zulu", or "Zulu Dawn", read this book. Or just read it to know how events well over 100 years ago impact today in modern southern Africa.

Rating:
Summary: The Washing of the Spears
Review: This book, in my estimation, is outstanding. This is the book that sharpened my desire for more information about Black African history. Since reading it about 5 years ago I have read every book I could get my hands on concerning this subject. This is a must read book for anyone interested in African history.

Rating:
Summary: The Washing of the Spears
Review: This book, in my estimation, is outstanding. This is the book that sharpened my desire for more information about Black African history. Since reading it about 5 years ago I have read every book I could get my hands on concerning this subject. This is a must read book for anyone interested in African history.

Rating:
Summary: Tales of the Zulu Nation
Review: Though written in 1959 Donald Morris's "Washing of the Spears" is in many ways a prescient work, in that it anticipates the demise of the Anglo-Boer elite and the renaissance of black South Africa. It begins as a celebration of the Zulu conquests of the 18th and 19th century under Shaka Zulu, the "Black Napoleon," and then retells the story of Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift and the other highlights of the Zulu wars. It is immaculately researched and extremely well-crafted. Inevitably, although it attempts to relate the story of the Zulus, the sources are lopsided, meaning that there is more discussion of the British side of the conflict than the Zulu. Thus we learn more of characters like British generalissimo Sir Garnet Wolsely, for instance, than we do of the great Zulu chiefs. But this does not detract from the book's essential excellence. The emotional climax of the book is the slaughter - on the field of battle - of the Prince Imperial, or Napoleon IV as some called him, the son of exiled Emperor Napoleon III, fighting for the British. A tragic loss but in some regards a fitting trophy for the Zulu.