Byron Farwell Books

The Great Boer War (1899 - 1902), also known as the Great Anglo-Boer War, was a significant conflict between a determined pioneer people striving for independence and the British Empire at its zenith. Set against the desolate backdrop of the South African veldt, the war showcased remarkable acts of heroism, instances of folly, and a blend of humor and tragedy. Byron Farwell explores the war's origins, detailing the gradual escalation of British efforts to subdue the Afrikaners, the mismanagement within British command, and a series of bloody battles where the Boers often triumphed over the larger British forces. He examines the political dynamics in London and Pretoria, the sieges of Ladysmith, Mafeking, and Kimberley, and the establishment of concentration camps for Boer families. The latter years of the conflict saw exhausting guerrilla warfare as Boer armies were ultimately forced from the battlefield. This definitive history captures the drama of the conflict through the lens of a skilled storyteller and historian. Farwell, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1964 and authored several notable works, including Queen Victoria's Little Wars.