Saul David's Zulu: The Heroism & Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879" is a fascinating look at the most controversial & brutal British imperial conflict of the nineteenth century. The real story of the Anglo-Zulu war was one of deception dishonour incompetence & dereliction of duty by Lord Chelmsford who invaded Zululand without the knowledge of the British Government. But it did not go to plan & there were many political repercussions. Using new material from archives in Britain & South Africa Saul David blows the lid on this most sordid of imperial wars & comes to a number of startling new conclusions. " Saul David's brilliant & magisterial account must now be regarded as the definitive history of the Zulu War". (Frank Mc Lynn " Literary Review"). " This meticulously detailed book.. .give[s] a fully rounded & judicious account of this dismal conflict". (" Guardian"). " Fascinating thrilling convincing.. .reads like a novel". (" Economist"). Saul David is Professor of War Studies at the University of Buckingham & the author of several critically acclaimed history books including " The Indian Mutiny: 1857" (shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature) " Zulu: The Heroism & Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879" (a Waterstone's Military History Book of the Year) & most recently " Victoria's Wars: The Rise of Empire"."