| Date | Original Topic |
| 22nd May 2005 | Isandlwana book
By The inkhosi
Was anyone else left disappointed with Adrian Greaves' book on Isandlwana? Personally I felt it had many flaws. Perhaps I am being a bit anal about this but it kept referring to Younghusband's company as 'E' and not 'C' company. I freely admit that I am nowhere near as learned as Mr Greaves and many of this site's contributors but how could Melvill have attempted to save Coghill without any weapons when it was Coghill who still had both his sword and revolver? In one of the diagrams the uVe are completely missing from the battlefield. Not quite sure who Mr Greaves is referring to when he mentions the carrying of the colours by Melvill when he states that one noted author wrote then Melvill 'placed the staff across his saddlebow, saluted, wheeled his horse' etc. Isn't this entirley possible and is he referring to Mr Knight? |
| Date | Replies |
| 23rd May 2005 | Mike McCabe
In Nimes/Arles bullfighting circles, you would definitely be considered as a 'sortilliste'!
MC McC |
| 23rd May 2005 | Paul
Regarding your first point, if you use the site's search facility you will find that Adrian Greaves' books have been discussed at some length!
Best wishes
Paul |
| 23rd May 2005 | Paul
P.S. steel yourself: it's not for the faint-hearted ... |
| 23rd May 2005 | Michael Boyle
Might I suggest using the google search (this site) found on the home page rather than the search function found on the discussion page as you will get many more hits ( 85 on Adrian Greaves). As Paul alludes to above,"it ain't pretty"!
Mike,
Okay, I'll bite. Can't find the definition of 'sortilliste' or 'sortille' in my French/English dictionary or any that I've tried online. Would it be one of those chaps who torments the bull with those pointed stick things?
Best
Michael |
| 23rd May 2005 | Mike McCabe
A 'sortilliste' is a young and vigorous bull that dashes very rapidly, straight into the arena and immediately charges the matador, or whichever of his assistants is closest.
Sometimes, the individual bullfighter is caught unawares and badly injured. More often than not, they all rapidly regroup - giving the 'sortilliste' a very tough time before its (certain) death. Now read on.
MC McC |
| 24th May 2005 | Michael Boyle
Thanks Mike, I do kind of like the torreador analogy too though! (Can't read now, after the first pint I'm too easily distracted.)
Inkosi,
By now you know your reservations are shared! (Though not yet by me as it will be quite some time before I get around to reading Dr. Greaves' book.)
In his defence though he did bring us "The Curling Letters" and a number of interesting articles. (See "Redcoats and Zulus".)
(For want of a proof-reader....)
Best
Michael
|
| 24th May 2005 | Julian whybra
Interestingly enough David Jackson was offered the Curling Letters back in 1987 by the then owner. Although he took a copy and quoted from them once in an article he never really saw them as groundbreaking enough to warrant a whole book to themselves (perhaps the popular market was not yet ready for them). |
