I Shall Not Die: Titokowaru's War New Zealand, 1868-9

by James Belich

Straddling the Maori and European worlds of the 1860s, Titokowaru was one of New Zealand's greatest leaders. A brilliant strategist, he used every device he could to save the Taranaki people from European invasion. When peaceful negotiation failed, he embarked on a stunning military campaign against government forces. His victories were many - before the battle he lost. Although he was 'forgotten by the Pakeha as a child forgets a nightmare', his was a vision that would endure.
'I Shall Not Die' has been written not only for scholars but for anyone willing to be excited by the past. It is a narrative history at its most compelling.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History

323 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

About the author

James Belich is a historian and academic whose writing has focused on reinterpreting nineteenth-century New Zealand history, particularly the New Zealand Wars. His scholarship on Maori and Pakeha relations has received critical recognition and his book, The New Zealand Wars and the Victorian Interpretation of Racial Conflict (1980), won the international Trevor Reed Memorial Prize for historical scholarship. He is a Professor of History, and in 2006 he was made an Officer of New Zealand Order of Merit.

Reviews

[Angela Campbell]

James Belich is a Professor of History at Victoria University of Wellington and his writing often leans towards the academic as in his “The New Zealand Wars” but this account is compelling and a great insight into an aspect of those wars.
Titokowaru is brought to life in Belich’s readable biography as a complex character. At the end, his place in history is somewhat uncertain but his exploits were worthy of respect. From time to time I wished for more detail on the social aspects of life or background rather than details of military encounters but maybe it’s just that the writer is primarily a military historian.
This book is an excellent source of understanding of New Zealand and its early colonial history.

[Harry Martin]

You may have seen the N.Z movie , “the river queen “, which was based on this story. This is the story of Titokouru , Told in letters diaries and news reports ect , as well as notes /references by professor James Beliche. Before following the hau hau war gods , Titokauru followed a path of peaceful resistance. When all else failed , he turned to armed resistance .Titokawarus fortunes were always against him , outnumbered and out gunned , low on ammunition, With only 70 warriors,he waged a guerilla war and out generaled the first punitive expeditions sent out after him by the settlers . ,Prussian trained , Major von tempsky , met his end here. After victory, Tito has nearly 300 warriors , and now an even larger colonial force is coming for him ….compelling , moving true story . Meet soldiers , missionaries ,settlers , warriors and even renegades. I’ve read the book twice about 20 years ago .

[Richard]

Provides the backstory to:
http://www.marianmaguire.com/2011-tit...
http://www.marianmaguire.com/titokowa...

[Ang]

A rich, rewarding historical read; layered with period information to great detail. A very well rounded, respectful account.

[Chris]

A first rate account of an absolutely fascinating individual.