History of the Zulu War and Its Origin

First published in 1880, just a year after the titular conflict took place, this account by Frances Colenso (1849–87) of the 1879 war between British settlers and the Zulu population in South Africa is remarkable in its defence of the Zulu people, a very unusual view for a British writer at this time. Colenso was the daughter of controversial bible scholar John William Colenso, the first Anglican bishop of Natal. This book was intended to support her father's criticism of British policy, but while she credits her father's influence and opinions in shaping her book, Colenso is careful to state that the work is her own. Beginning with the causes of the conflict, which she identifies as an unjust and barbaric British invasion, Colenso describes the Zulu war chronologically to its conclusion. The military details of the war were provided by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Durnford, a close friend of Colenso's.