By Ron Lock and Peter Quantrill. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2002. ISBN 1-85367-505-9. Maps. Photos. Illustrations. Appendixes. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Pp. 336. $39.95.

This book is definitely not the conventional view of Isandlwana, the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, and its effect on the Zulu Nation. Zulu Victory is very different this book will generate much future research into the Anglo-Zulu War.

The objective of Zulu Victory is how did the disaster happen and the subsequent cover-up. Zulu Victory is organized into three parts: “The Conflict”, “The Battle”, and “The Cover-Up”. “The Conflict” contains five chapters that discuss events from “The Ultimatum” given to the Zulus by Sir Bartle Frere, the opposing armies, the penetration of Zululand by British army columns, and the camp at Isandlwana. The authors make extensive use of personal accounts, contemporary interviews and letters of the survivors in Part Two “The Battle” that contains two chapters that details Lord Chelmsford’s movements and the Zulu attack at Isandlwana on 22 January 1879. Finally, “The Cover-Up” in two chapters discusses the deception and cover-up by Chelmsford”s staff, particularly Col. Crealock, and the court of inquiry held by the Horse Guards.

The Horse Guards investigation found that there was over confidence by commanders in the ability of British Troops equipped with the Martini Henry rifle, a lack of knowledge of Zulu warfare, disregard by Chelmsford of his own orders in defending his camp at Isandlwana and at Rorke’s Drift, lack of proper reconnoitering, and disregard of non-Imperial reports that the camp was under attack. I would hope the discussion of the Horse Guards inquiry as well as the Ammunition Controversy (Appendix C) finally puts to rest some of the controversy and that there were many more important occurrences, or lack thereof, that cause the British defeat at Isandlwana.

I have only one objection, which is the lack of notated quotes. However, the authors state that they did not want to disrupt the flow of the text by notes. Whether they would disrupt the flow or not is dependant on the style used, but the authors are not academics and neither is their intended audience. Regardless the text is a model of clear writing and is definitely a good read. The authors obvious first hand knowledge of the terrain surrounding Isandlwana is of immense value to understanding Imperial, Colonial and Zulu military maneuvers and the battle.

For gamers there is loads of material here, especially the terrain descriptions, account of the battle itself and much more.