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John Wilcox
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Book
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ISBN | 978-075534562 | ||
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Susan
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Synopsis
This gripping new military adventure featuring Simon Fonthill brilliantly depicts one of the last and most tragic of all battles in the 'Scramble for Africa'.
1893. In the African Cape, recovering from the loss of their child, ex-captain and one-time subaltern Simon Fonthill and his wife Alice find themselves on tribal land and at the mercy of Matabele warriors. While being held under the orders of the Matabele king, Lobengula, Fonthill becomes aware of a Portuguese plot to undermine a valuable mining treaty between Lobengula and the richest man in Africa, Cecil Rhodes. When friction develops between Rhodes and the Matabele tribesmen Fonthill is forced to take sides and, together with comrade '352' Jenkins and Alice, he becomes embroiled in one of the bloodiest battles in British history, the Shangani River massacre.
Review
The story is set in 1889 as the great powers of Europe are scrambling for territory in Africa. The last territory is the kingdom of Matabele and Mashonaland, ruled by the benevolent tyrant King Lobengula and policed by his 20,000 warriors, Cecil John Rhodes wants the land at any price in order t0 extend the British Empire.
The main character Simon Fonthill, former captain and army scout, needs a new mission. He agrees to lead and expedition trek to King Lobengula's kraal to seek his agreement to land settlement. Accompanying him are his wife Alice and his comrade ‘352' Jenkins. What follows is the story based on a little known invasion of Matabeleland under the auspices of Cecil Rhodes. For all that the book is very well written and there are interesting segments on the African tribal way of life, fast disappearing by the 1890s. For those looking for lots of military action you will perhaps be disappointed, however when you realise the Matabele are a fragment of the Zulu nation there is that little bit more excitement.
Another in the Simon Fonthill series that once you start you don't want to put it down! This one was not about a historical event that I knew much about before I read the book but it was full of real characters as well as the fictional hero and was very informative. Full of suspense as well as some humour here and there.
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