Waterstones Diamonds, Gold and War

Author: Mr. D. J. Walford

Rating: 5

Review: Three words which constitute a very astute description of South Africa's history; Diamonds, Gold and War!! In that order, this is an excellent title and an excellent study of how southern Africa's current regional superpower developed and evolved over a forty year history. I was mightily impressed with Mr. Meredith's work and found it to be both an easily readable and enjoyable account of how modern South Africa came into being. An exciting, depressing, rewarding and bleak tale of miners, natives, Afrikaners and Britishers, all trying to make fame and fortune in a land literally built on money. Glib that statement may be, but heartbreakingly accurate one nonetheless. This is predominantly a narrative history of South Africa covering the last 30 years of the Nineteenth century up until the union of the four main territories in 1910, forming the Union of South Africa. From the 1830s onward, Boer farmers migrated north of the Orange and Vaal rivers to escape British influence and rule. On the way they discovered diamonds then gold and by the 1870s vast tent towns of wealth seekers had been created around the so called diamond and gold fields of the Veld and Witwatersrand. Some got rich, some were broken both financially and physically. Either way, hundreds of private plots were dug in order to find the precious minerals. One of these tent towns was to become the infamous Kimberley, a town whose growth the author documents and describes in detail. Reminiscent of the Wild West of the United States, Kimberley became a den of crime and corruption before big conglomerates chased out the private prospectors, bringing some form of regulation to the place. Indeed, the Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State later faced significant anxiety regarding challenges to their independence from these ruthless diamond and gold hunter groups. The book also weaves in biographies of many figures of South African history with emphasis on two men of the time; Paul Kruger and Cecil Rhodes. Both were determined men committed to their goals of Afrikaner independence and British Empire building respectively. They clashed, they agreed, they led their respective peoples and did their damnedest to prevent the other from reaching their goals. However, both were wily, clever, duplicitous and successful, yet both met unfortunate and lonely ends, feeling aggrieved at their own perceived personal failures. I considered these biographies to be a highlight of Meredith's work as they greatly enhanced my understanding of two of histories influential figures not to mention the country of South Africa itself. I found the life of Kruger to be especially interesting as it gives an insightful view into the mind of the Afrikaner. The author documents the interaction the British/Boers had with the native tribes of southern Africa. The search for mining concessions in lands such as Matabeleland and Bechuanaland, plus the settling of new areas such as Griqualand East and West by the British and also Stellaland and Goshen by the Afrikaners are covered and bring to life the murky dealings and trade offs which were to the detriment of the native peoples of Africa. A fair amount of the author's work is dedicated to this area and is significant in emphasizing the impact it was to have later in South Africa's history, both to 1910 and beyond. The final sections of the book relate to the Boer War of 1899-1902 and the reconciliation which led to the creation of the Union in 1910. The new British chief of the Cape Colony in 1897, Lord Alfred Milner, was Hell Bent on claiming South Africa in the name of the Empire. With obvious contempt and disdain for the Afrikaner peoples, he blatantly provoked both the Transvaal and Orange Free State into conflict, leading to a vicious and painful war. Ironically, Afrikaner nationalism was to receive a huge boost from the conflict with Britain and led to the creation of nationalist organisations such as the National Party and Afrikaner Broederbond, both of whom were to play no small part the formation of the Apartheid movement later in the Twentieth century. Mr. Meredith's book is a joy to read. He covers the build up of the South African nation with in depth descriptions and real enthusiasm. This is a bleak, ruthless portrayal of how capitalism influenced the formation of a nation that was to be plagued with deep psychological divisions and undisguised racism, the impact of which can still be felt today. The author clearly identifies how a racist and nationalist Victorian imperialistic vision was to ultimately trigger the pride of a people, only for it to backfire decades later and be the catalyst for a repeat of much pain and deep racial division.

Author: Niel Black

Rating: 4

Review: Meredith, a prolific writer about African (mostly post-colonial) history, covers southern Africa from the discovery of diamonds through to 1910 and the Union of South Africa - and so packs in a fasinating chunk of events and people - diamond and gold rushes, Zulu and Boer wars, Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger. It focuses on what is now South Africa, but covers most of British-ruled southern Africa, including the founding of Rhodesia. The books greatest strengths are a great topic and readability. I got through the 523 pages pretty fast, helped by plenty of quotes from contemporaries and lively detail - like the decoration of Rhodes Capetown mansion of Groote Schuur. I found him particularly good on Rhodes', and later Milner's, political manoeuvrings designed to expand British influence, against Bower opposition and scepticism in London - and to the great cost of the black population (don't buy it if you want to feel good about British colonialism). I bought the book about South African after a holiday in South Africa, feeling ignorant about its history. This book addressed that perfectly. It's perhaps not ideal for someone who knows the subject well. Packing so much in means that each topic is covered pretty swiftly, and there is more narrative than analysis. But as an introduction it is great.