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Milner: Last of the Empire Builders
Alfred, Lord Milner was a brilliant public servant and one of Britain's most celebrated – or notorious – empire-builders, who left an indelible imprint on the history of South Africa.
Sent to southern Africa to bring President Paul Kruger's obstreperous Boers to heel, Milner was primarily, though not solely, responsible for the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), a conflict that marked the beginning of the end of the British Empire. In the aftermath of the war, a determined Milner set out to reconstruct the former Boer republics, but his policies stoked resentment among Afrikaners, particularly in respect of language and education. He left behind a coterie of young administrators, the so-called Kindergarten, who contributed significantly to the unification of South Africa and the fostering of imperial ideals through the Round Table Movement.
In this biography, the first by a South African, Richard Steyn argues that Milner's reputation should not be defined by his eight years' service in South Africa alone. Despite his controversial stance on the issue of Irish Home Rule, Milner's legendary administrative ability made him the obvious choice for War Secretary in Lloyd George's five-man War Cabinet, and Milner did much to shape the Allied victory in the First World War.
If his personal qualities and beliefs made him the wrong man to send to South Africa, where he failed to accomplish the over-ambitious goals he set himself, he was the right man in a far greater international conflict.
Sent to southern Africa to bring President Paul Kruger's obstreperous Boers to heel, Milner was primarily, though not solely, responsible for the Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), a conflict that marked the beginning of the end of the British Empire. In the aftermath of the war, a determined Milner set out to reconstruct the former Boer republics, but his policies stoked resentment among Afrikaners, particularly in respect of language and education. He left behind a coterie of young administrators, the so-called Kindergarten, who contributed significantly to the unification of South Africa and the fostering of imperial ideals through the Round Table Movement.
In this biography, the first by a South African, Richard Steyn argues that Milner's reputation should not be defined by his eight years' service in South Africa alone. Despite his controversial stance on the issue of Irish Home Rule, Milner's legendary administrative ability made him the obvious choice for War Secretary in Lloyd George's five-man War Cabinet, and Milner did much to shape the Allied victory in the First World War.
If his personal qualities and beliefs made him the wrong man to send to South Africa, where he failed to accomplish the over-ambitious goals he set himself, he was the right man in a far greater international conflict.
508 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 20, 2022
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About the author
Richard Steyn
13 books18 followersA graduate of Stellenbosch University, Richard Steyn practised as a lawyer before switching to journalism. He edited the Natal Witness in Pietermaritzburg from 1975-90, was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 1985/86, and editor in chief of The Star from 1990-95.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 17, 2022
Another recent superb book from Richard Steyn on one of South Africa’s most loved and hated historical figures. Surely a man of great intellect, selflessness, and a huge capacity for work, Steyn’s writing nevertheless makes it clear that Milner almost single-handedly provoked the second Boer War, although he did ensure that the colonies he governed in the peace afterwards were built on solid administrative foundations, and put on the road towards a united self rule. Steyn also points out how Milner’s appointment to David Lloyd Jones’ war cabinet in the Great War helped bring about a speedy end to hostilities. In addition to all this, he fills his book with fascinating insight into many of the characters and issues over the lifetime of Alfred Lord Milner: certainly a colossus of his time, however unpopular he may have been amongst many. Richard Steyn further establishes his reputation as a consummate biographer in this book after equally superb books on Jan Smuts, Louis Botha, and Churchill’s friendship with Smuts.
December 12, 2022
Another very book by Richard Steyn. Alfred Milner was a complicated man of high intelligence and incredible capacity for hard work who was loved and hated. Steyn explains the reasons for those emotions and illustrates the fact that politicians start wars but rarely have to fight them. Imagine if they had to. For one, I think there would be less wars!
Arthur Milner was the type of ideologue, who believed so strongly in his views even though being very intelligent it must have been obvious to him that those views lacked merit. Some countries could already foresee the end of the style of 18th and 19th century imperialism which he tried valiantly to perpetuate for Great Britain. He had the foresight, and perhaps, just the simple hope, that the Kindergarten might continue with his mission. Yet as we all know the two world wars put paid to that, and with the benefit of hindsight we can see that in particular, the end of World War II heralded the beginning of the end of the British Empire.
But Milner was a very determined and results-orientated man who was committed to a cause. Yet I think he underestimated the Boers , whose real leader, in my opinion was Louis Botha- the subject of a slightly better book by Richard Steyn. Botha saw round the corner and agreed an armistice with the knowledge that overtime the Boers would be able to obtain a much better deal than that which would have been achieved by prolonging the war. He was right. But let's not take away anything from Milner, in the main he achieved his objectives. But to what end? and could that have been achieved more efficiently?
One part of the book that made me think was, if caning was being regularly meted out in the mines as punishment for Chinese immigrant miners, what kind of horrendous punishment did the local indigenous miners suffer?
This is a very good book about a difficult man in a diffcult time in the history of South Africa.
Arthur Milner was the type of ideologue, who believed so strongly in his views even though being very intelligent it must have been obvious to him that those views lacked merit. Some countries could already foresee the end of the style of 18th and 19th century imperialism which he tried valiantly to perpetuate for Great Britain. He had the foresight, and perhaps, just the simple hope, that the Kindergarten might continue with his mission. Yet as we all know the two world wars put paid to that, and with the benefit of hindsight we can see that in particular, the end of World War II heralded the beginning of the end of the British Empire.
But Milner was a very determined and results-orientated man who was committed to a cause. Yet I think he underestimated the Boers , whose real leader, in my opinion was Louis Botha- the subject of a slightly better book by Richard Steyn. Botha saw round the corner and agreed an armistice with the knowledge that overtime the Boers would be able to obtain a much better deal than that which would have been achieved by prolonging the war. He was right. But let's not take away anything from Milner, in the main he achieved his objectives. But to what end? and could that have been achieved more efficiently?
One part of the book that made me think was, if caning was being regularly meted out in the mines as punishment for Chinese immigrant miners, what kind of horrendous punishment did the local indigenous miners suffer?
This is a very good book about a difficult man in a diffcult time in the history of South Africa.
May 19, 2023
An authoritative, comprehensive and detailed biography of Milner, and one that is, as far as I can tell, truthful and balanced. I believe some have disagreed, but that judgement is beyond my competence. I appreciated learning about the man and his times, although on a personal level sometimes found the book tedious as I wasn't really invested in the politics that were the mainstay of Milner’s life. However, that’s me and not the fault of the book, which was clearly and accessibly written, and has been thoroughly and meticulously researched.
November 26, 2022
A nice account of a controversial figure in South African history. I found it interesting to build upon the story line covered in Richard Steyn’s accounts of Smuts and Botha.
December 30, 2024
An interesting insight of a key role player in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Say what you want he was driven and accomplished much in his own way… good and bad. I enjoyed the read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews