The Great Boer War (1899-1902), in which British pioneers in South Africa fought to establish their independence from Britain, is sometimes seen as the beginning of the end of the British Empire. This book provides an unconventional history, emphasizing the human drama as well as military events and political issues. An introduction offers a brief review of the history of the region, the early republics, the first Anglo-Boer War, and events leading up to the Great Boer War. The book then traces the war's origins, describes numerous key battles, sieges, and guerilla warfare, and looks at conditions in the concentration camps for Boer families. B&w historical photos and drawings, maps, and a glossary are included. Farwell served in WWII and in the Korean War and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1964. This is a reprint of a book first published in the US by Harper and Row in 1976. Distributed in the US by Casemate. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)