Aug 18, 2008

The Great Boer War by Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle made his reputation as a novelist, but far stranger than fiction is the creator of Sherlock Holmes' tale of the Boer War in South Africa. The then 40-year-old novelist wanted to see the war first hand as a soldier, but the Victorian army balked at having a popular author wielding a pen in its ranks. The army did accept him as a doctor and Doyle was knighted in 1902 for his work with a field hospital in Bloemfontein.

Doyle's vivid account of the battles is in part thanks to the eye-witness accounts he got from his patients. Doyle has thoroughly mastered the details of the campaign, and presents them in a form that can be easily understood. Furthermore, his descriptions of the various engagements are masterpieces of graphic writing.

"This sketch of the war is a masterly performance. It is hardly possible to over-praise it. . . . The experience, the artistic sense, and the creative powers of a great writer are seen in the achievement." - DAILY NEWS.

You can view more about this title at the CruGuru website. It is available from Amazon.com. ISBN: 978-1-920265-16-8

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