Rorke's Drift

Rorke's Drift

by Adrian Greaves (Author)

Synopsis

On 22nd January 1879 a force of 20,000 Zulus overwhelmed and destroyed the British invading force at Isandlwana, killing and ritually disemboweling over 1200 troops. That afternoon, the same Zulu force turned their attention on a small outpost at Rorke's Drift. The battle that ensued, one of the British Army's great epics, has since entered into legend. Throughout the night 85 men held off six full-scale Zulu attacks at the cost of only 27 casualties, forcing the Zulu army to withdraw. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for bravery shown on that night, the largest number for any one engagement in history. But as Adrian Greaves's new research shows there are several things about the myth of Rorke's Drift that don't add up. While it was the scene of undoubted bravery, it was also the scene of some astonishing cases of cowardice, and there is increasing evidence to suggest that the legend of Rorke's Drift was created to divert attention from the appalling British mistakes which caused the earlier defeat at Isandlwana.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 448
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Orion
Published: 11 Jul 2002

ISBN 10: 0304359602
ISBN 13: 9780304359608
Book Overview: An epic story of a clash that produced 11 Victoria Crosses The author's research has uncovered a host of often shocking revelations which have lain dormant over the last 120 years There has been no truly new account of the battle for over 20 years A brand new look at the battle made famous by the film ZULU, starring Michael Caine

Media Reviews
The DAILY MAIL ran an extract from RORKE'S DRIFT by Adrian Greaves on Saturday 22nd June. Adrian Greaves will be interviewed on BBC RADIO WALES's 'Good Morning Wales' (their equivalent of the Today programme) on Thursday 11th July. '...this account of the legendary battle of Rorke's Drift is highly recommen
Author Bio
Dr Adrian Greaves lectures on the Zulu Wars both in the UK and abroad, and is the editor of THE JOURNAL OF THE ANGLO-ZULU WAR HISTORICAL SOCIETY. He has written several books on the Zulu Wars, including the volume on ISANDLWANA in Richard Holmes's Fields of Battle series.