Enquiry About A New Colonel Durnford Biography

Guest

Seeing Julian Whybra is now a member of the forum, being the only person I'm aware of with knowledge of this forthcoming title in a couple of years, please can I ask Julian himself or anyone else if they have any more details about it ? Thanks.

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

I would also be interested in this title. The more I read about the AZW the more intrigued I am with Colonel Durnford.

Guest

Have you got R.W.F. Droogleever's book The Road To Isandhlwana, or A Soldier's Life And Work.... by Edward Durnford ? Both good reads.

Guest

All I know or have heard about the new biography is that it appears to be a female author who does not wish to be identified at the moment. If that is the case, you can score out the usual - Ian Knight, Adrian Greaves, etc. Meantime, we have a mystery on who is the writer of this future publication. No names really come to my mind. A new author would be goods news, as that is what is needed lately.

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

Colin J. wrote:: Have you got R.W.F. Droogleever's book The Road To Isandhlwana, or A Soldier's Life And Work.... by Edward Durnford ? Both good reads.

Yes I have both in my collection.

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

Colin J. wrote:: All I know or have heard about the new biography is that it appears to be a female author who does not wish to be identified at the moment. If that is the case, you can score out the usual - Ian Knight, Adrian Greaves, etc. Meantime, we have a mystery on who is the writer of this future publication. No names really come to my mind. A new author would be goods news, as that is what is needed lately.

Maybe it is Elizabeth Hogan. She is a forum member who writes book reviews.

Guest

I'd like to think it might be one of Durnford's descendants.

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

Well I can assure them of my pre-order of the book as soon as it is listed on amazon.co.uk

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

Deleted.

CTSG I feel it's time to give you a cooling off period. I have suspended your membership. If you wish to contest this decision please feel free to contact me. You have my E-Mail address.

Guest

Eric, me too ! Idea

Subject: Enquiry about a new Durnford Book. Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:55 am

Hi Eric / Colin J.
I too would / will be purchasing it as well ! . There's 3 copies sold ! . :lol!: . I see you both have ' A Soldiers Life ' can you tell me
if there is a reprint about ? . All I've located is the first edition and its costs plenty !!!!!!.
cheers 90th. Idea

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

The Royal Regiment of Wales online shop has a complete list of reprints of virtually every book on the AZW. The reprints are about 30 quid each but are very well done.

Subject: Enquiry about a new Durnford Book. Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:41 am

Hi Eric.
The last time I checked the online shop at the RRW that book wasnt on the list !. I will head there now , thanks in Advance .
cheers 90th. Idea

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 61 Location : UK

I'm trying to work out what else can be written about Col: Durnford that we don't already know. We have has mentioned already, the book by his brother and then we have the publication by F Colenso. What more could we be told that we don't already know, by two people who knew him personally.

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

The new author, may have discovered some documents that shed further infromation on his life. Who know's.

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

I would welcome a new biography on Chelmsford as well.
The man who needs a biography urgently is Shepstone.
However the man best suited to have done this is Jeff Guy and he detests Shepstone and all he stood for so is unlikely to undertake the task. There is some more research about the Colenso's. According to todays Witness a distant descendant is looking at the family's activist role on behalf of a minor chieftan called Beje. The Colenso's were great social activists. I like to think they were the frist of a long line of brave people of integrity who spoke out against injustice. People like Trevro Huddlestone, ArchBishop Hurley, the Black Sash, Ruth First etc.

Guest

I was tempted to get a book about Bishop Colenso called The Heretic I think, as well as a recommended book called something like Llangabile and the Natal Carbineers, which apparently goes into some detail about the Bushman's Pass incident. Don't remember who the authors of these titles were though.

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

Jeff Guy wrote the Heretic. It is a biography of Colenso.
Be warned Jeff is an old style historical materialist (Marxist) so you will pick that up very quickly.
Langalibalele and the Natal Carbineers was published in 1973 by the Ladysmith Historical Societry.
It was edited by Pearse ( an expert on the Drakensberg) Dr J Clarke, PR Barnes and Mrs G Tatham

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Why can I not find any reference to this book being in the making. Or are we talking years to come.

Guest

It seems to be traced back to a post in another forum by Julian Whybra, but I could be wrong, as it may have been first mentioned by someone else, as I read about it a year or so ago.

Guest

However, Julian appeared to know who the author of the new biography is.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Don't think he's been on the forum since he registered. scratch

Guest

I'm sure I saw a few posts by Julian, but he is a historian and will probably be a busy man, only managing to view and post on the forum every so often. Hopefully, he will see my request for details and can advance further info on the biography's progress, albeit not actually identifying the author until they so choose to be known.

Guest

Quote :: Maybe it is Elizabeth Hogan. She is a forum member who writes book reviews.

Not me I'm afraid.

EH.

Guest

Eric, not a biography, but do you have Little Bighorn & Isandhlwana Kindred Fights Kindred Follies by Paul Williams ? A book which compares Col. Durnford with Gen. Custer.

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

I do not but it seems the Little Big Horn forums are even more divisive over that battle than any AZW forum.
I will look it up.

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Hi all,

About a new colonel DURNFORD biography:

In "Isandlwana 1879" by Edmund YORKE (Battle Story / Ed. Sword / 2011)

See p. 92 "S. COLERIDGE:Life of Colonel Anthony DURNFORD-forthcoming 2012"

Regard

YMOB

Guest

ymob, very well done ! This information is hugely appreciated. I don't have Yorke's Isandhlwana book, but will now. Thanks again !

Posts : 2268 Join date : 2010-10-22 Location : France

Hi Colin J.

Thanks for your reply (happy to help you).

Just for information, in my opinion (i am not a specialist) "Isandlwana 1879: Battle Story" (E. YORKE) is not very interesting (less than others books on the battle of Isandlwana:Ian Knight, Peter Quantrill and Ron Lock, Mike Snook, Ian Beckett, Adrian Greaves or David Saul).

Regards

YMOB

Guest

I've got Yorke's other book about Rorke's Drift, but I'll get his Isandlwana title due to its mention of the new Col. Durnford biography, more than anything. At least I'd then have confirmation in print of it's existence, should I forget the source where it is listed. Again, thanks for your assistance, as I've been stuck for any details for over a year. I was beginning to think I imagined it ! scratch

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

His book on Rorke's Drift did not get very good reviews.
I thought his book on Islandwana was still on pre-order.

Guest

I tend to buy books if they interest me enough, as I've sometimes been disappointed by titles recommended by others. Yorke is just one of a few authors whose books I purchased, more so to get away from always getting the same authors. His Isandlwana book appears to have been available from 1st September 2011, perhaps only online from the net. I'm hoping to order it this weekend. I wonder which publisher will be releasing Durnford's biography ?

Guest

Got Yorke's Isandlwana book which is a small hardback. Sure enough on page 92 on a page about Durnford including his famous portrait photo at the top, mentioned on the bottom of the page is the biography. At least now I've got something in print that says so. Thanks again ymob !

Guest

This is from the acknowledgements on page 8 in Yorke's Isandlwana book - 'Mrs Susan Coleridge , currently working on a major reappraisal of the life of Colonel Anthony Durnford, has been a most useful source of information, especially on Durnford's still controversial role at Isandlwana.' I don't think I've ever seen this author posting in any forums on the net, so a new Zulu War 1879 writer can only be good news. Now I'm really looking forward to the biography being released !

Subject: Enquiry about a new Durnford Book. Thu Oct 06, 2011 3:46 pm

Hi Colin J.
I dont know of her either , should be an interesting work , especially if previously unpublished items see the light of day .
cheers 90th.

Guest

I've had a little bit of a search round the net seeking information about the author Susan Coleridge, finding some details, including a photo, but whether this is this same person I don't know. Apparently, the author I found with this name appears to be mainly a novelist, no details as yet of any published historical non-fiction books. Also, in 2008 was a Mentorship winner in Australia ? I'd be curious to how Susan first became aware of Col. Durnford, who is actually to many, quite an obscure historical figure compared to others of his time. Related through family perhaps ?

Posts : 116 Join date : 2011-06-17

A new author would be welcome.

Guest

Droogleever's book, which was pretty much a biography of Durnford was published about 15 years ago, so a new up-to-date highly-detailed biography would be truly welcomed. I've always hoped such a book would appear, good enough to break through the barrier which I felt prevented him being included alongside other commanders involved in famous battles throughout time, which although tragic and horrific for the participants, showed heroism by many in its truest form as well as activating the minds of many military enthusiasts and historians. An in-depth well-written book also stands the chance of being noticed by the powers-that-be in the film industry, that could eventually lead to our own Durnford's Last Stand big screen epic, competing with the likes of the several Custer's Last Stand films loved so much by LBH fans.

Guest

On the subject of female authors, I recall reading an article on another forum about Colonel Durnford called Redemption by Dawn Grant. I've not seen any posts by her for a very long time, but I do know she had a fictional work based on the Anglo-Zulu War 1879 in progress. An author and book to watch for ? Idea

Colin. I have read some of Dawn's work, and agree. An author to watch out for.

Subject: Enquiry about a new Durnford Book. Sun Oct 09, 2011 6:11 am

Hi all.
So I take it that D.Grant writes Fiction & Non - Fiction ? . Similar to some of those in higher positions back in 1879 . Suspect

.
cheers 90th.

Guest

Bit of info I seem to recall. Dawn expressed an interest in Frances Colenso's book My Chief And I, so maybe is a kindred spirit with Nell when dealing with the subject of Durnford, as Redemption does show quite an understanding of the man, albeit in story form.

Guest

ymob, you're right, Yorke's Isandlwana book isn't very good, being full of mistakes. So, it appears its worth to me is indeed the mentioning the Col. Durnford biography, as for the rest of it, well.... scratch

Posts : 2008 Join date : 2011-08-01 Age : 27

Anyone got any more info on this??

Cheers

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