English Summary/英文概要: A fascinating read beyond the scholarly debate about who won the battle. Sunday Times The battle of Isandlwana a great Zulu victory was one of the worst defeats ever to befall a British Army. At noon on 22 January 1879, a British camp, garrisoned by over 1700 troops, was attacked and overwhelmed by 20,000 Zulu warriors. The defeat of the British, armed with the most modern weaponry of the day, caused disbelief and outrage throughout Queen Victoria s England. The obvious culprit for the blunder was Lieutenant General Lord Chelmsford, the defeated commander. Appearing to respond to the outcry, he ordered a court of inquiry. But there followed a carefully conducted cover-up in which Chelmsford found a scapegoat in the dead most notably, in Colonel Anthony Durnford. Using source material ranging from the Royal Windsor Archives to the oral history passed down to the present Zulu inhabitants of Isandlwana, this gripping history exposes the full extent of the blunders of this famous battle and the scandal that followed. It also gives full credit to the masterful tactics of the 20,000 strong Zulu force and to Ntshingwayo kaMahole, for the way in which he comprehensively out-generalled Chelmsford. This is an illuminating account of one of the most embarrassing episodes in British military history and of a spectacular Zulu victory. The authors superbly weave the excitement of the battle, the British mistakes, the brilliant Zulu tactics and the shameful cover up into an exhilarating and tragic tale.
Chinese Summary/中文概要: ‘一部跨越了最终胜者的学术辩论的精彩文学著作。’《星期日泰晤士报》Sunday Times
伊散德尔瓦纳战役(Battle of Isandlwana),是南非祖鲁军对英国殖民军的一次伏击,是欧洲军队三个半世纪以来在非洲的最大败仗,英军阵亡上千人。1879年1月22日中午,有1700名英军士兵驻守的营地,被2万名祖鲁勇士击溃。英军装备了当时最为先进的武器,这场战事的失利引起了维多利亚女王所统治的英格兰国内人们的怀疑和愤怒。造成这一重大失误的罪魁祸首显然是此次战役的指挥官切姆斯福德勋爵中尉。为了回应公众的强烈抗议,他下令成立调查法庭。但随后,切姆斯福德小心翼翼地掩盖真相,切姆斯福德在死者身上找到了一个替罪羊,最著名的就是安东尼德恩福德上校。作者用从英国皇家温莎档案馆资料,到流传至今的伊散德尔瓦纳祖鲁族人口述的历史叙述,作者完美地将这场战役的高潮,英国的失误连连,祖鲁人精湛的战术和肇事者将,可耻的掩盖真相演变成一幕催人泪下的荡气回肠的悲惨故事呈现在我们眼前。这是英军历史上最为不堪的事件之一,也是祖鲁人抵御外强的一次壮观胜利。(Sandy)
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