Customer Reviews (3)

Ultimately Worthwhile.
Robert Blake's 'A History of Rhodesia', or as the reviewer prior has pointedly noted, mostly Southern Rhodesia, has earned its place in Rhodesian historiography. There are works which are better suited for those whose grasp of Rhodesian history is cursory. The various works authored by Gann (whom Blake rightly considers to be authoritative heavily relies upon in this book), for example, amongst others would likely be better suited.

Blake tends to be rather longwhinded, and at times even tedius, a concern which fortunately he is highly conscious of, and in turn he is often compelled to keep this in check, sparing the reader even deeper tediums (if anything, certainly a testament to his vast knowledge in this historical field). Blake also displays sometimes a lack of tact (i.e. "Africans are not the best servants"), though never racialism (he is not one, I strongly suspect).

This book by the well-known British Conservative historian, in spite of its often somewhat tiresome emphasis on the constitutional political-legal (and even procedural) dimensions of Rhodesian history, also provides us with poignant insights into the economic and class; sociological and demographic;anthropological and cultural facets of the chartered company -turned- self-governing colony -turned- federation- -turned- UDI-Republicanist.

In one instance, Blake juxtaposes and synthesizes between Australia and New Zealand, the United States and Canada, and the Republic of South Africa and Rhodesia (and, of course, the increasingly intermediatory role - though not irrelevence - of Great Britain in this respect). How Rhodesia differs and stands unique in this regard is one area which the author attempts to elucidate (often with some measure of success). As much as this mildly lengthy book is written in an often longwhinded and sometimes rather dreary fashion, it is also equally rich (content-wise as well as philologically) and engaging. It is, inspite of all its shortcomings, an insightful work, which is in no in shortage of poignant passages, both original and cited. This makes 'A history of Rhodeisa', ultimately, worthwhile notwithstanding some of the aforementioned drawbacks.

To sum up, Robert Blake's 'A History of Rhodesia' is not the first (nor even third) book I would recommend for those interested to learn about Rhodesian history from scratch, not to mention UDI-Rhodesia -turned- Zimbabwe era. Not as seminal as some might claim, nonetheless, it is a recommended read. Its flow, while sometimes somewhat prohibitive, is also often quite facsinating, and less freqently, even nearly-profound. Blake is informative, a talented writer and a compotent academician. It is, then, a work not so much essential, but nevertheless, one which those who possess some familiarity with the subject are likely to value, perhaps even cherish.

Excellent History
Robert Blake's History of Rhodesia is an expertly written account of Rhodesia's past.Blake artistically focused upon the European history of the former colony from the 1890s until the early 1960s.He briefly covers the UDI period of Rhodesia, but his best writing recounts the political events that defined Rhodesia before 1965.

Blake beautifully articulated the political history of Rhodesia, but perhaps, like other liberals, he missed the major point.He failed to account for the African perspective of Rhodesia's turbulent history and how it influenced the Europeans.If Blake had the advantage of today's historical perspective, his book would undoubtably have a different voice.

A History of Rhodesia is a well written book that provides a thorough acccount of (southern) Rhodesia's history.I recommend this book to those interested in detailed southern African history.

Excellent History
Robert Blake's History of Rhodesia is an expertly written account of Rhodesia's past.Blake artistically focused upon the European history of the former colony from the 1890s until the early 1960s.He briefly covers the UDI period of Rhodesia, but his best writing recounts the political events that defined Rhodesia before 1965.

Blake beautifully articulated the political history of Rhodesia, but perhaps, like other liberals, he missed the major point.He failed to account for the African perspective of Rhodesia's turbulent history and how it influenced the Europeans.If Blake had the advantage of today's historical perspective, his book would undoubtably have a different voice.

A History of Rhodesia is a well written book that provides a thorough acccount of (southern) Rhodesia's history.I recommend this book to those interested in detailed southern African history. ... Read more

Product Description
The economic history of developing countries, particularly the former colonies, has become polarized between two ideologies. The apologists for colonialism have emphasized the stimulus given to the indigenous economy by the introduction of foreign capital; the 'underdevelopment theorists' have turned this interpretation on its head and represented the relationship as being, particularly in 'settler colonies' such as Kenya and Zimbabwe, one not of stimulus but of rape and plunder. In this study, Dr Mosley considers the economies of colonial Kenya and Southern Rhodesia and argues, in the light of recently assembled statistical data, that the truth is more complex than either of these simple interpretations allows. At the level of policy, most white producers acknowledged that they could not afford to let 'white mate black in a very few moves': they needed his cheap labour, cattle and maize too much to wish to damage seriously the peasant economy that sustained them. ... Read more

Product Description
This book sheds light on the early colonial period of Zimbabwe when many of the current land disputes originated. In particular, the book examines the Rudd Concession, the seminal southern African land and mineral agreement signed in 1888 by Cecil Rhodes and Lobengula, King of the Matabele. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
East Coast fever is a lethal disease of cattle caused by a parasite. It affects and distorts lymph cells and causes them to behave like cells in leukemia and lymphoma. The disease was unknown to Western science or to veterinary practice until it was introduced into Rhodesia in 1901.It devastated the cattle-raising and ox-cart dependent transport systems of Rhodesia and South Africa and was not fully brought under control for some fifty years.It remains a serious problem in East and Central Africa.The book describes the social and economic impact of the outbreak, the scientific investigations into it, and the effort to control it. The scientific study of the disease was done in part by the famous bacteriologist, Robert Koch, whose many early errors retarded later investigations, which were far more sound.Much of the text is accessible to the nonspecialist reader and one chapter deals with the present-day understanding of the basic nature of the disease. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Published by: W. Blackwood and Sons in 1900 in 415 pages; Subjects: Zimbabwe; Zambia; Rhodesia; Rhodesia and Nyasaland; Malawi; History / Africa / General; History / Africa / South / General; History / Africa / South / Republic of South Africa; ... Read more

Product Description
This work shows how mission-educated Africans negotiated new identities for themselves and their communities within the confines of segregation. It examines strikes by students and parents, struggles over curricula, and efforts of African teachers to improve their professional status. ... Read more

Product Description
This book examines the history of the Anglican Diocese of Mashonaland/Southern Rhodesia (virtually co-extensive with modern Zimbabwe) in the period 1890-1925, when its institutions took shape and its religious character was formed. While work among indigenous communities is outlined, the primary subject is the church's work with white settlers. A fresh narrative is provided and an examination of clergy recruitment and finance relates events in Mashonaland to developments in global Anglicanism. Among the questions addressed are those of religion and empire, church and state and the complexities of relationship between the Church of England and her overseas extensions, particularly those covering areas of white settlement. Local developments in religious practice are also explored: most striking of these was the settler apprehension of the vast landscapes of South-Central Africa as a locus of the sacred and their custom of veld burial. ... Read more

Product Description

This book examines the mentalities of various communities within a district of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Focusing in particular on white administrators and missionaries in the Melsetter District, it combines linguisitc/lexical analysis with historical interpretation, in an attempt to reconstruct what whites and Africans actually meant by the words and practices they used in interactions with each other. Jeater provides a detailed study of translation work in Mt Selinda, an evangelical mission; it also examines formal and informal court hearings, to contrast the perceptions and meanings ascribed to cases by white adjudicators and by African participants. This leads into an initial attempt to map out the birth of ethnography in Southern Rhodesia and to contrast it with anthropology in South Africa. By the 1920s, Africans' expertise in their own languages and culture had been usurped by self-referential white linguists and ethnographers. This account suggests that there is a tendency among archive-oriented historians to overestimate how far white missionaries and administrators really understood what Africans said and did. In addition to making a contribution to our empirical knowledge of Zimbabwe's history, the book focuses on how and why investigators first began to make claims to such knowledge. It urges those studying African history to be self-reflective about their practice, examining the historical roots of their claims to expertise. such claims

Product Description
Originally formed as The Rhodesia Native Regiment during World War I, this fine regiment first saw action in East Africa, pitted against the wily von Lettow-Vorbeck and his army of German askaris. Disbanded and later reformed, the regiment was to distinguish itself during World War II in the Burma campaign. Using the counter-insurgency experience gleaned from the Malayan Campaign of the 1950s, the RAR provided the frontline troops in the battle for Rhodesia in that country s bittercivil war of the 1960s and 1970s. Commissioned by the RAR Association (UK).

Contents include:

The formation of the Rhodesia Native Regiment

RNR operations in East Africa during WWI

Armistice and the disbandment of the RNR

The formation of the RAR

The RAR in the Burma campaign

The RAR in the Malayan Emergency

The Nyasaland Emergency

The RAR in the Rhodesian bush war

Includes the award-winning documentary DVD 'Frontline Rhodesia' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Amazing

I have had three hours to digest the DVD that came with the superbly published book. It is different from the RLI book published by the same author and publisher. The text is cleaner and the diagrams are excellent. It is a very healthy digest of a great African Regiment. The tracing of the regiment from the First world war up to its disbandment in 1981. Great photos and illustrations. It is a good addition for anyone who is collecting or researching the COIN wars of southern Africa. ... Read more

Product Description