One hundred years after the Boer War, the British continue to debate what went wrong, while the war has significant nationalist overtones in today's South Africa. This book examines changes in interpretations of the war and provides a bibliography of major sources on the Boer War, now sometimes called the South African War. The bibliography focuses on the military history, but also includes some historical accounts of the political debate. The first part of the book provides an extended historiographical essay, while part two provides an annotated bibliography of the titles discussed in part one. Historiographical questions concerning the Boer War are numerous. Discussions of military operations focus on the early use of modern weaponry and the effect of guerrilla tactics on a traditional force, while other historians debate the question of British military leadership and organization. Questions also revolve around British imperialism and the scramble for Africa. Frequently called the second war for freedom by South African authors, the war was the reason that South Africa, unlike other British colonies, gained independence without majority rule. This makes the war of continuing relevance to the turmoil in South Africa, the collapse of the minority government, and the continuing problems of the current government. This book will provide a useful tool for those wishing to research the war.

With the hundredth of anniversary of the South African (or Boer) War of 1899-1902 fast approaching, the campaign is receiving increased attention from military enthusiasts of all types. R.G. Hackett's bibliography goes far beyond the bare listing of author, date, contents, etc. that one so often encounters, to become a unique evocation of the era. The original covers of over a hundred books of the period are shown, with several dozen in full color, often showing regimental badges and colors. Most books published before 1920 are covered, with the author drawing not only on previously published bibliographies, but the private records of London rare book dealers and individual collections such as that of the British actor Kenneth Griffith. With a more just society now prevailing in South Africa, the sympathy felt at the time for the Boers by some can once again be appreciated. In addition to many British regimental accounts, this compilation also contains accounts of women in the Boer war effort, Richard Harding Davis' shrewd observations, and the memoirs of a West Point graduate in the Irish-American Brigade in Boer service. South African War Books not only belongs in any comprehensive reference library, but will also be treasured by anyone seriously interested in the period of the colonial wars.

"In 1979 A South African bibliography to the year 1925 (SABIB), compiled under the auspices of the South AFrican Library, was published in four volumes by Mansell of London. It was essentially a revision and continuation of Sidney Mendelssohn's South African bibliography (London, 1910), which recorded literature about South Africa from earliest times to 1909, regardless of place of publication. For the new bibliography the period was extended to 1925, but for practical reasons the scope was limited to the geographical area south of the Limpopo, and certain material, for example books in African languages, sheet music, maps and periodicals, was excluded."--Preface to Supplement.