Try free for 2 months

A 2 month free trial (limited time offer).
1 credit/month—to buy any title you like, yours to keep.
Listen all you want to a selection of thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
AUD $16.45/mo after 2 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime.
The Great Anglo-Boer War cover art

The Great Anglo-Boer War

By: Byron Farwell
Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
Free with 2 month trial

AUD $16.45/mo after 2 months. Renews automatically. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $44.99

Buy Now for $44.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

The Great Boer War (1899-1902) - more properly the Great Anglo-Boer War - was one of the last romantic wars, pitting a sturdy, stubborn pioneer people fighting to establish the independence of their tiny nation against the British Empire at its peak of power and self-confidence. It was fought in the barren vastness of the South African veldt, and it produced in almost equal measure extraordinary feats of personal heroism, unbelievable examples of folly and stupidity, and many incidents of humor and tragedy. 

Byron Farwell traces the war's origins, the slow mounting of the British efforts to overthrow the Afrikaners, the bungling and bickering of the British command, the remarkable series of bloody battles that almost consistently ended in victory for the Boers over the much more numerous British forces, political developments in London and Pretoria, the sieges of Ladysmith, Mafeking and Kimberley, the concentration camps into which Boer families were herded and the exhausting guerrilla warfare of the last few years when the Boer armies were finally driven from the field.  

This audiobook is a definitive history of a dramatic conflict by a master story teller and historian. Byron Farwell served as an officer in the North African and Italian campaigns in World War II and also in the Korean War. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1964, and is the author of Queen Victoria's Little Wars.

©2017 Byron Farwell (P)2019 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

More from the same

What listeners say about The Great Anglo-Boer War

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    32
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant

Extraordinary story telling, with drama and humour, capturing the age and idiocy of the war, in gloriously descriptive and entertaining language. Best war story l have ever read. A very detailed account, with out fear or favour. A must read. Hoping for more of his work, will be produced on Audible. Hats off to the Narator Nigel Patterson also. A wonderful voice, and timed the sentences beautifully. Well read indeed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Absolutely loved this. The story telling of the author, mixed with the voice of the narrator were so engaging I didn't want to put this down. Excellent part of history. Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Epic in every sense. A truly great book.

Great resource for reconciliation. Every Afrikaner should read/listen this account. A great and Proud Heritage!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well researched

Clear narrative, intriguing and balanced. Kept me engaged through the whole book. Provides helpful context to the following 100 years

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great narration

Well narrated, I never got bored, good balance of views, a concise review of all stages of the second boer war , recommended for anyone with a keen interest in this part of our history ,

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

As good as an audiobook gets

Excellent, deeply researched, well read and spoken. Kept me enthralled and informed the whole time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

A fascinating objective account of the Anglo-Boer War. I am South African and have ancestors on both sides. I can't help but be proud of my Afrikaans ancestors who fought for what they believed. We make good soldiers that's for sure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing book!

I was hesitant to first purchase this book, however, after listening to it from beginning to end, I learnt a lot about why South Africa took the path it did and I thoroughly enjoyed every word.

if you're interested in history of any kind, I highly recommend this read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Shows it’s age

It is hard to imagine that a book so sympathetic to fundamental racist nature of Boer could have been written until you understand it was published in the Apartheid era.
The conclusion takes us from the end of the war to the 1960 referendum and makes no mention at all of apartheid.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pure Excellence

Farwell’s masterly account of the 2nd Anglo-Boer war is richly packed with references from a wide and very deep pool of sources. Dense enough for the scholar to chew on yet written and narrated in a wonderful, personable style that takes a novice along for the ride without alienating them.
This volume is essential for anyone with a serious interest in one of the most fascinating and overlooked conflicts in recent history. The 2nd Anglo-Boer War was an enigmatic conflict, that was formative for both sides. Deeply engaging and important history.
I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.