Originally published in 1937 and written by De Kiewiet who in his lifetime was recognized as one of the premier historians of British imperial policy and African history, this book covers the years 1871-1885 in South Africa’s history, discussing racial, social and economic issues. These cover the initiation and collapse of Lord Carnarvon’s confederation policy, the annexation and the retrocession of the Transvaal, the Sekukuni, Zulu and Cape-Bastuto wars, the last of the nine Kaffir wars on the Eastern frontier of the Cape, the creation of the (then) Basutoland Protectorate and the development of the Kimberley diamond mines. Using original source material such as the Colonial Office Departmental minutes, he considers and explains the British policy.
CONTENTS:
Chapter I - Introduction;
Chapter II - A House Divided;
Chapter III - Quasi Crown Colonies;
Chapter IV - A Bundle of Sticks;
Chapter V - The Annexation of the Transvaal;
Chapter VI - Sir Bartle Frere;
Chapter VII - The Economics of War;
Chapter VIII - Politicians in Uniform;
Chapter IX - Land and Landlessness;
Chapter X - The Zulu War;
Chapter XI - Midlothian and Majuba;
Chapter XII - The Imperial Factor.
"This book has depended to a large extent on the original papers in the Public Record Office, including the Carnarvon and Granville Papers which are deposited there. Because of the destruction of a large proportion of the original official correspondence much material can be found only in the Confidential Prints in the Colonial Office. The permission to consult these, generously given, was most valuable, although for obvious reasons it has not been possible to refer to them.
The purpose of this book is to reach some explanation of British policy which will take into account the realities of South African history. In no part of the Empire has there been more history'. Yet in no part of the Empire have those realities been more persistently obscured or ignored. The last generation before the Boer War was already unhappily skilled in the game of make-believe, and versed in the pretence that a dangerous native problem was miraculously unrelated to the fortunes of the white population. These years of South African history were chosen because in no other period can the racial, social and economic issues be so clearly and conveniently studied. Because this is a study of these issues and not a detailed history the attempt has been made to dispense with the detailed references of a monographic work. Footnotes like friends should not be made to bear too much responsibility for a writer's judgments."
(From the "Preface" by the Author, February 1937)
Original publisher's green cloth with gilt lettering to the spine; Text in English; Collation complete - Title page, ix, 341 pages; Binding is tight and firm, with minor shelf wear, remains strong and secure, only little bumped to the extremities and slightly discolorated/dusty. Pages/text block clean and very bright, with a slight yellowing, no foxing or marks throughout. A well preserved copy.
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- Binding Condition: Very good
- Overall Condition: Near fine
- Size: 22 x 15 cm
