Alan Gardner Biography. Rifle and Spear with the Zulu

Good afternoon all.
Just a quick post to let you know my Biography of Alan Gardner is now for sale. I was hoping to have a web page for it but this is not up and running yet so have popped some copies on E-bay. This is the description from the E-bay advert for your perusal.
"Born in 1842 Alan Gardner was a professional soldier in Queen Victoria’s Army for 22 years serving both in India and Africa. He then went on to become a famous big game hunter and Liberal Member of Parliament.
During his time as a soldier  he would carve his name into the annals of military history  as one of only five Imperial Officers to survive the disastrous Anglo-Zulu War battle of Isandlwana in South Africa on 22nd January 1879.  Responsible for writing the note warning the garrison at Rorke’s Drift of the impending arrival of 4000 Zulus, which ultimately lead to its survival and the award of 11 Victoria Crosses to its defenders, he would  go on to fight at two other major battles of the Zulu War: Hlobane and Kambula. A controversial figure during the campaign,  this book explores in great depth his relationship with his fellow officers, the press  and why he was seen by some as a coward who ran away.  It is the first complete in-depth biography of an Isandlwana survivor to be published since that fateful day 139 years ago.
After leaving the army he returned to his family who lived at Stansted Hall, Essex and married a local girl, Nora Blyth, from Blythwood House.  Along with his wife (a fascinating figure in her own right) they traveled the world in search of big game, and both became  renowned hunters . This book  looks at these  foreign travels, hair raising encounters with the local wildlife and later political campaign trail when  Alan would become a Member of Parliament  for Ross in Herefordshire.
The Gardners were a fascinating family who became ingrained into the aristocratic families of the time and this  book looks at Alan’s life from when  he was a boy through to his death.  It also looks at the Gardner family and its relationship within Victorian high society. There are chapters on Alan’s grandparents, parents and brothers and sisters, the very people who moulded Alan into the sort of man he was to become.
The author has been  privileged to speak to Alan’s direct descendants, as well as those of his brothers and sisters, and has been allowed access to private family photographs, letters and correspondence.
Using photographs and letters from such private collections as well as museums, archives and libraries that have never before been published, this is an  essential book for anyone interested in the Gardner family, the Anglo Zulu War, big game hunting, local history  and Victorian high society.
The book is presented in a  luxury, hard back format containing 412 pages and over 230 illustrations and photographs in full colour throughout.  This is a  limited print run publication of only 350 copies, many of which have already been reserved.
The author has been studying the Anglo Zulu war for over thirty years and has walked the battlefields of South Africa many times.  Responsible for having Alan’s headstone restored as well as additional memorials being put in place in his memory, she is an authority on the Gardner family and  often  gives presentations not only about them but also about the Anglo  Zulu War."

The E-bay advert can be found here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alan-Gardner-Zulu-War-Rorkes-Drift-Hunting-Rifle-and-Spear-with-the-Zulu/162924859347#shpCntId
Thank you
Kate

Well done, Kate

Kate,

What is the GTP price?

Well done!

JY

Hi Kate,

...after whom Gardner Street in Durban was named.
Well done Kate.

regards

barry

Thank you everyone for your kind words and support.
Mr G. really is a fascinating character when you get to know him.
Kate

Well done Kate.

Such is the world of modern technology that I am sitting at Kingsmead watching South Africa v Australia and buying a book at the same time.
Looking forward to reading it Kate. Hope its autographed and numbered ?

Thanks Frank for your kind words.
Yes this technology business is rather scary. Some of the things we are doing now would have had one burnt at the stake 400 years ago!!!
I will sign your copy for you and get it off to you as soon as I can find my car in the snow......if you get my drift
Kate

And here I am, 30 odd degrees with an ice cold beer in hand, no justice in this world Kate.

The  website is finally up and running if anyone is interested in buying Alan's lifestory. The book contains lots of interesting letters written from Zululand about the campaign to his father, mother and sister.

http://www.alangardnerbook.com/

Thank you
Kate

Hi Kate,

Would there by any chance be a SA distributor for your book. If so who is it?

regards


barry

I have heard nothing but great things about this book.

Definitely one for the list.

Neil

Hi Barry
Thank you for your enquiry. Unfortunately there is no distributor in SA. Its only available in dear old blighty.
Neil thank you so much for your kind words. Alan is indeed a fascinating character. I've just spent a couple of weeks in Zululand  and took a copy of his biography with me. It was lovely to read some of his private letters which he wrote home to his mother and sister, actually where they were written.
I also think I managed to identify where George Williams was shot during the assault on Hlobane as he was talking to Alan at the time.
Kate

Signed edition's would be a welcome.

Well done Gardner 1879 .
Chin chin ...90th

Thanks Gary
Glad your back safe from your recent Naval Brigade excursion.

If anyone on the forum who buys a copy would like it signed  just drop me a PM and I will be more than happy to oblige.

Kate

Hi Kate just to say i have just bought your work, i'm looking to read
it so much. so c'mon postman don't be slow, very well done you. Les

Hi Les
Thanks for the order. Just been down to the post office.
Your book is on its way as I type.
Kate

Many thank's Kate.

My copy is waiting for me at home. Looking forward to the read.
Wife sent me a photograph of the cover, certainly a good looking book.

My copy is somewhere between UK and Cape Town

Bloody hell Kate.. talk about quick stick's!. your book
arrive at 10.00 this morning. first impression after a
quick flick through.. sumptuous. lavishly illustrated, i'm
looking forward to getting to grip's with it over the weekend.
thank you for the dedication, very kind. i hope it rightly
goes on to sell out. highly recommended by me. Les.

Mines only been in the post for 5 weeks, ho hum 10 to go, weeks that is.

Had a quick flick through, certainly covers his familey history.
Kate thanks for the signing.

Hi Les and Pete
I'm glad you have your books and I hope you enjoy reading about him.
Thank you for the kind words.
Frank it will be nearly 5 weeks since I sent yours off. Nobody else in SA seems to have got theirs either (I sent 3 others off at the same time as yours)
Thats a worse delivery time than 1879 !!!!!

Kate

Kate,

I still haven’t a chance to get in your book as yet, the Major is keeping me busy with other matters.

However for the benefit of the members of the forum who haven’t invested in a copy as yet, I will say a few words.

Kate’s book is obviously a labour of love written by a keen enthusiast. It is a lavishly illustrated tome produced in a luxury format on quality paper.

I think it sets the standard that any future Zulu War biographies will have to follow.

JY

Thanks John for your positive review.
Kate

I've mentioned the Alan Gardner book on another thread and think I should also mention it here as well , my copy was waiting for me when I got home tonight , sitting on the doorstep , I've only had a quick look but from what I can see it's an excellent piece of work , no scrimping in regard to the paper and anything else to do with the book , it's certainly first class . Agree with JY , the BENCHMARK has been set ...make no mistake . I know for a fact that the print run of only 350 is nearly sold out , I urge anyone who's thinking of getting one , do so , much sooner than later , this book won't be available again . Here is the ebay link .


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alan-Gardner-Zulu-War-Rorkes-Drift-Hunting-Rifle-and-Spear-with-the-Zulu/162959377361?hash=item25f122c3d1:g:Cl4AAOSwr85amC2r


90th

My forked stick deliver man has finally beaten a path to my door with Kates book. Very impressive indeed from first glance. If the quick skim is anything to go by then this book will rapidly become a collectors item. Congratulations Kate you must, very rightly so, be very content in what you have done for Alan Gardner.
I'm rather proud to have a Birbeck in my library.

Cheers

Huzzah at long last.  
I'm glad it got to you Frank and thank you so much for your kind words above.
I'm pleased t say it is selling well at the moment and by being out there will finally put the record straight about the sort of man Alan was.
I gave a presentation to a history group last week about the Gardner family which went down really well and I sold out all the books I took with me as well as taking orders which was very encouraging.
I  hope you enjoy it.
Kate

Kate,

Here’s one I have picked up through my e-mails:

The new book on the market RIFLE AND SPEAR WITH THE ZULU by Kate Birbeck is a breath of fresh air to the plethora of books on the Anglo-Zulu War.

Its uniqueness lies in the fact is that superb account of the life and times of Captain Alan Gardner, one of the few survivors of Isandlwana, and who later served in the battles of Hlobane and Khambula.

Digging deep and researching every corner of Gardner's life, the result is a book in a class of its own.
More than that, it's a revelation of dedicated work since the authoress discovered Gardner's grave near her home and deserves a place right of the line on any Zulu War historian’s bookshelf

Sierra Bravo 20.

Thank you might like to see that one.

JY

Kate will be thrilled JY .
90TH

WOW.
Thanks for that John.
Thrilled indeed Gary....thrilled indeed.
Can you thank the author of that review for me please John. Its lovely that people take the time to 'put pen to paper'
I'm sure in the photograph of Alan I have by my lap top he is now wearing a sly smile, happy that the record is finally being set straight.
Kate

That's not a smile Kate its gas, a common affliction with cavalry men. Happened at the Queens birthday parade in Sennelarger as we rode passed the dias the entire front rank farted in unison, all on the down post. Quite impressive really although the Duke was heard to mutter something about bloody Cherrypickers should all have been shot at Sevastepol.

Kate,

Yet another one via my e-mails:

What a magnificent book!

What a tale you have woven  together, not only the story of a gallant man, a man of a breed like the Empire he fought for, long since gone.

Your research and passion for the subject gives the reader both a whiff of and a glance into, Queen Victoria’s England, and the people who administered, guarded and extended a domain on which the sun never set.  It is also a damn good read.  Thank you so much for my copy.  I am proud that I could contribute, and more so that I got a mention.

Best wishes,

Ron Lock.

Kate has done a wonderful job , I'm a third of the way through it , thoroughly enjoying it . Well done Kate
90th

Quote :

What a magnificent book!

What a tale you have woven  together, not only the story of a gallant man, a man of a breed like the Empire he fought for, long since gone.

Your research and passion for the subject gives the reader both a whiff of and a glance into, Queen Victoria’s England, and the people who administered, guarded and extended a domain on which the sun never set.  It is also a damn good read.  Thank you so much for my copy.  I am proud that I could contribute, and more so that I got a mention.

Best wishes,

Ron Lock.[/b]

WOW!!!
That is praise indeed coming from one of the 'big guns' of the Zulu war literary world. I' really really chuffed. Thanks John for posting that up. Glad your enjoying the book Gary:Salute:
Kate

Good day....I was wondering where I can find a copy in South Africa ?

Hi 61Mech
Its a shame, I've just got back from SA after a five week trip and took three copies over with me.
If you want a copy there are a couple for sale at the Rorke's Drift Hotel. Just contact Shane or Ross.
They are really lovely and am sure will be able to help you.
https://www.rorkesdrifthotel.com/
Kate