The Fall of Rorke's Drift: An Alternate History of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879

by John Laband, Ian Kinght (Foreword)

It is January 1879, and the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom are at war. Lord Carnarvon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, who had successfully brought about federation in Canada in 1867, had believed a similar scheme would work in South Africa. But such plans are rejected by Boer leaders. Lord Chelmsford leads a British military expeditionary force to enter the Zulu Kingdom uninvited. A bloody battle ensues on 22 January 1879 at Isandlwana. The Zulus are the unexpected victors.

After that brutal defeat, the British Army are at Rorke’s Drift on the Buffalo River in Natal Province, South Africa. A few hundred British and colonial troops led by Lieutenants John Chard of the Royal Engineers and Gonville Bromhead face the might of the Zulu army of thousands led by Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande (CORR). Against the odds the British are victorious and this defeat marks the end of the Zulu nation’s dominance of the region.

The Defence of Rorke’s Drift would go down in history as an iconic British Empire Battle and inspired Victorian Britain. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to military personnel. But what if the Zulus had defeated the British at Rorke’s Drift and invaded Natal?

In the first ever alternate history of the Anglo-Zulu War, historian John Laband asks that question. With his vast knowledge of the Anglo-Zulu War he turns history on its head and offers a tantalizing glimpse of a very different outcome weaving a compelling and never-before told story of what could have been.

Genres: Alternate History, History, Africa

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 12, 2019

About the author

John Laband is a South African historian and writer, specialising in Anglo-Zulu and Boers wars. He is Professor Emeritus and Chair of History at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, and is a Life Member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University, England.

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a wealth of information about the Zulu and Boer in this book. Learned about John Laband on the Redcoat History Youtube channel.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgallery and Pen and Sword for the opportunity to read this fascinating book.

The Fall of Rorke's Drift An Alternate History of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 by John Laband

The title really does say it all what would have happened if Rocks Drift had fallen ? How much of history would have been changed. How would this have have affected High Commissioner Frere's and Lord Chelmsford's Zulu campaign what would have been the consequences of the 1879 war all are are addressed in this fascinating and very convincing book.

Historian John Laband deserves great praise for a wonderfully detailed and thought provoking account of what may have happened if Rorke's Drift had fallen to the Zulu army.

I would definitely recommend this if you have a interest in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, to these who enjoy philosophising over alternative history and to these who enjoy reading alternate history books you won't be disappointed.

[Magnus Godvik]

The text book example of how counterfactual history should be written. I was taken aback by how throughout Laband has been in crafting a believable account. Letters, newspaper extracts, diary entries, complete with an invented reference list! And like in his earlier books, he reminds us how the British policies for South Africa largely were shaped by concerns about protecting India. Ok this book might be best suited for military history buffs, but Laband excel in integrating military history in a larger socio-cultural context. Laband once again shows himself as a deeply humane writer, like his depictions of Cetshwayo and Chelmsford, showing how ambiguity is in the heart of the humam condition.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting idea, but I felt that it would have worked better were the ‘imagined’ history clearly delineated from the fact, with an analysis of why the author - an expert on the subject - believed that would have been the outcome were history to have been different.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victorian War fans will devour THE FALL OF RORKE'S DRIFT Professor John Laband turns history on its head in this compelling !