I was done a great disservice.......

[Mr. 16 gauge]

.....in my youth.
In elementary school, I learned about American history, some European history, and Australia (why Australia, as opposed to somewhere else, I'll never know).
In high school, I had several other choices, and being a history buff, I took most of what my school system had to offer: European history to 1625, European history from 1625 to present, Japanese History, Chinese history, Ancient history, Art history, American history, Native American history, etc.
In college, I was a science major, but I took history courses as well (as electives): ancient history, art history, medievel history, etc.
Not once was I EVER offered a course on AFRICAN history!!!! I don't even remember there being any such courses in the course catalog!
.....as a matter of fact, the first time I EVER heard about the Boer wars was when I was reading an article in a Gun Digest (I think I was a sophomore in college) on the gedes rifle.

So prior to going on safari last year, I visited the local history section of my local Barnes and Nobel bookseller and you know what I found???

.............ABSOLUTELY FREAKIN' NOTHING ON AFRICAN HISTORY!!!!!!!! As a matter of fact, the only books I found on Africa was "Death in the Long Grass" by Capstick and various atlas/map books.

I did eventually find a book on Stanley's search for Livingston.......the subject was interesting, but the book, for the most part, was rather dry.....

SO!!! All you Africanhunting.com members......I appeal to you for recommendations on some good books with re: to the history of the continent of Africa. I am interested in not only general history, but the history of the Boer war and the African bush wars as well.

Thanks!!! Looking forward to your recommendations!

 

[CAustin]

16 I found exactly what you did....nothing. There was one travel guide for Southern Africa that told a few short blurbs on history here and there but not much. Given that the book was $35 I let them keep it.

 

[stug]

See if you can find something by Frederick Courtney Selous. Not really history books but records of his safari's
/ hunting through southern africa in the 1890's.

 

[Hank2211]

Africa's a big and diverse continent, as you know Mr. 16 Gauge (why can't we get 16 gauge shells in Canada anymore? But that's for a different thread). Because of that diversity, and the fact that, unlike Europe for the last two thousand or more years, people weren't in constant (or much, if any) contact with people in other parts of Africa, the history of southern Africa is much different than the history of North Africa, or East Africa, or West Africa, etc. so I'm not sure there's really such a thing as a book on "African history", or at least, not a very good one.

Having made my (somewhat pedantic, I admit) point, there are good books on the history of different parts, and different periods. My son, on his first trip to Africa this summer, brought something called "South Africa: History in an Hour." I read it while waiting on the back of truck for him to find an animal he shot badly. Got through the whole thing before he got back. Well written and best of all, concise. It's available on Amazon as an E-book. Not even sure it's published in hard copy.

There are also great books published in the 18th and 19th centuries by the various Europeans who explored Africa. Most were there for their own reasons, but any of the books by Sir Richard Francis Burton on Africa also delved into the history, as well as the geography, and some of the more interesting practices of the locals.

As Stug mentioned, Selous did some interesting writing, and for a brief history of some of the then recent Zimbabwe history, "Sunshine and Storm in Rhodesia", which is a history of the second Matebele rebellion (with lots of stuff about the first, and the causes of the second, is good. Lots of action too.

You mentioned you found Stanley's book "How I found Livingstone" to be somewhat dry. In it's day, it was a runaway bestseller, since everyone was looking for Dr. Livingstone, and most thought him dead. I can recommend "Through the Dark Continent" and "In Darkest Africa", both by Stanely. Neither is primarily a history book, but like all good Victorian writers, he likes to throw it at you from time to time.

Some of the best history surrounds the exploration for the source of the Nile. Burton's "First Footsteps in East Africa" is good (if misguided), as is Speke's "The Source of the Nile." Any of the books by the great writer Sir Harry Johnston about Africa are excellent, though in particular I would recommend "The Nile Quest". In a more recent vein, "The White Nile" and "The Blue Nile," both by Alan Moorehead, published in 1960 and 1962 respectively, are great reads and more traditional history in nature. If they don't get you interested in Africa, you should give up on life.

Lastly, don't forget the great historical novelists who wrote or write about Africa - Wilbur Smith being likely the best known. You can learn a lot of history while having great fun. In the same (but longer, if you can believe it), James Michener's "The Covenant" is well-researched while also being thoroughly entertaining.

I could go on, but I'm starting to bore myself . . .

 

[Redruff]

Africa's a big and diverse continent, as you know Mr. 16 Gauge (why can't we get 16 gauge shells in Canada anymore? But that's for a different thread). Because of that diversity, and the fact that, unlike Europe for the last two thousand or more years, people weren't in constant (or much, if any) contact with people in other parts of Africa, the history of southern Africa is much different than the history of North Africa, or East Africa, or West Africa, etc. so I'm not sure there's really such a thing as a book on "African history", or at least, not a very good one.

Having made my (somewhat pedantic, I admit) point, there are good books on the history of different parts, and different periods. My son, on his first trip to Africa this summer, brought something called "South Africa: History in an Hour." I read it while waiting on the back of truck for him to find an animal he shot badly. Got through the whole thing before he got back. Well written and best of all, concise. It's available on Amazon as an E-book. Not even sure it's published in hard copy.

There are also great books published in the 18th and 19th centuries by the various Europeans who explored Africa. Most were there for their own reasons, but any of the books by Sir Richard Francis Burton on Africa also delved into the history, as well as the geography, and some of the more interesting practices of the locals.

As Stug mentioned, Selous did some interesting writing, and for a brief history of some of the then recent Zimbabwe history, "Sunshine and Storm in Rhodesia", which is a history of the second Matebele rebellion (with lots of stuff about the first, and the causes of the second, is good. Lots of action too.

You mentioned you found Stanley's book "How I found Livingstone" to be somewhat dry. In it's day, it was a runaway bestseller, since everyone was looking for Dr. Livingstone, and most thought him dead. I can recommend "Through the Dark Continent" and "In Darkest Africa", both by Stanely. Neither is primarily a history book, but like all good Victorian writers, he likes to throw it at you from time to time.

Some of the best history surrounds the exploration for the source of the Nile. Burton's "First Footsteps in East Africa" is good (if misguided), as is Speke's "The Source of the Nile." Any of the books by the great writer Sir Harry Johnston about Africa are excellent, though in particular I would recommend "The Nile Quest". In a more recent vein, "The White Nile" and "The Blue Nile," both by Alan Moorehead, published in 1960 and 1962 respectively, are great reads and more traditional history in nature. If they don't get you interested in Africa, you should give up on life.

Lastly, don't forget the great historical novelists who wrote or write about Africa - Wilbur Smith being likely the best known. You can learn a lot of history while having great fun. In the same (but longer, if you can believe it), James Michener's "The Covenant" is well-researched while also being thoroughly entertaining.

I could go on, but I'm starting to bore myself . . .

Thank you Hank. I now have my reading list for the next while. If you can suggest more please PM them too me. Thanks again.

R.

 

[Wheels]

Will agree with Hank regarding source of the Nile. The Moorehead books are probably a better read than the books by Speke, Grant, Burton regarding the White Nile. Baker's book on the Blue Nile is pretty good as I remember.

Not sure what your interests are but here are some thoughts:

- Europe's colonialisation of Africa. "The Scramble for Africa" by Thomas Packenham
This is a good book.

- You mentioned the Boer War. "The Boer War" by Thomas Packenham . Packenham does a good job on most all the histories he writes.

-"Gordon of Khartoum" by Paul Charrier. A short easy read. There are others more indepth. Google Gordon of Khartoum to see if you are interested.

-"The Zulu War" by Michael Barthorp.



Not history but good info on Kenya in the 20th century. Google to see if you may be interested.

-Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen

-White Mischief by James Fox this deals with Happy Valley and the death of the Earl.

- White African L.S.B. Leakey

-The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley





-The Last Empire by Stefan Kanfer. Rhodes and De Beers. South Africa and Rhodesia. Good Read.

-My Reminiscences of East Africa. by General von Lettow-Vorbek. WWI good military history. An Amazing General. With 15,000 men down to 5,000, he keeps 300,000 British/South African troops occupied in Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia.

-Africa Explored by Hibbert

-Travel and Adventure in South East Africa. F.C. Selous


If you get through with these feel free to ask. I can give you more stuff regarding British colonial Africa. East Africa and southern Africa especially.

 

[JustinC]

Sorry, I see Hank already mentioned this book but it may be of interest.

 

[ActionBob]

Not a book but on our first trip we visited a couple out of the way museums in Port Elizabeth. Very informative and interesting.

 

[petrusg]

Read Wilbur Smiths books on the Courtney Series (not on published date, check Wiki for reading order).

There is allot of history in his books along with loads of hunting and some great fiction to keep you reading.

Start with "When the lion Feeds" and end with "Assegai".

It will give you some great insight.

 

[spike.t]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Trek-Uncut-British/dp/1908916281

 

[petrusg]

Not sure if you are into Audio Books (Audible.com), they great when you are driving or sitting in a blind: "White Hunters: The Golden Age of African Safaris" its just awesome.

 

[adgunner]

Would have to second the Courtney Series as a way to brush up on your South African history while being entertained at the same time, especially if you detest dry history books. Having studied the Boer War, due to my Regimental affiliations it is quite close to the history books.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

The list provided by Wheels is quite good. I would add the book I am currently reading, "The Founder: Cecil Rhodes and the Pursuit of Power" and the next book on the nightstand is "The Zulus and Matabele: Warrior Nations." I bought both of these books on Amazon for less than $20.

I recently read "A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa...." by Frederick Courtney Soulus. Interesting, but not exactly a classic and doesn't put a lot of emphasis on history.

 

[Rob404]

I sure any History Book of African History Printed in the USA today would smell of Liberalism

 

[gizmo]

Amazon is the place to go, I have a very interesting book on the Boer war. It's titled exactly that, I will try and get the author for you. It's a SA book though I bought while there. I've had great luck on Amazon finding books from there. Capstick wrote several historical books and did many reprints of historical books. You might do an Amazon search for him and you will find all of them. I'd recommend the book about Mienertzhagen first. Excellent read.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Another book on my to-read list is:
King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa

In the 1880s, as the European powers were carving up Africa, King Leopold II of Belgium seized for himself the vast and mostly unexplored territory surrounding the Congo River. Carrying out a genocidal plundering of the Congo, he looted its rubber, brutalized its people, and ultimately slashed its population by ten million--all the while shrewdly cultivating his reputation as a great humanitarian. Heroic efforts to expose these crimes eventually led to the first great human rights movement of the twentieth century, in which everyone from Mark Twain to the Archbishop of Canterbury participated. King Leopold's Ghost is the haunting account of a megalomaniac of monstrous proportions, a man as cunning, charming, and cruel as any of the great Shakespearean villains. It is also the deeply moving portrait of those who fought Leopold: a brave handful of missionaries, travelers, and young idealists who went to Africa for work or adventure and unexpectedly found themselves witnesses to a holocaust. Adam Hochschild brings this largely untold story alive with the wit and skill of a Barbara Tuchman. Like her, he knows that history often provides a far richer cast of characters than any novelist could invent. Chief among them is Edmund Morel, a young British shipping agent who went on to lead the international crusade against Leopold. Another hero of this tale, the Irish patriot Roger Casement, ended his life on a London gallows. Two courageous black Americans, George Washington Williams and William Sheppard, risked much to bring evidence of the Congo atrocities to the outside world. Sailing into the middle of the story was a young Congo River steamboat officer named Joseph Conrad. And looming above them all, the duplicitous billionaire King Leopold II. With great power and compassion, King Leopold's Ghost will brand the tragedy of the Congo--too long forgotten--onto the conscience of the West.

 

[adgunner]

King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa

An excellent read. We were given this reference as a read in prior to serving in the DRC with the UN. A great read to understand the origins of the area, especially prior to deployment.

 

[Jay Kelley]

The Washing of the Spears: The Rise and Fall of the Zulu Nation, by Donald R. Morris. A large volume which can be somewhat tedious in places, but it picks up in others. Available on Amazon for about $17

 

[Hank2211]

Another book on my to-read list is:
King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa

In the 1880s, as the European powers were carving up Africa, King Leopold II of Belgium seized for himself the vast and mostly unexplored territory surrounding the Congo River. Carrying out a genocidal plundering of the Congo, he looted its rubber, brutalized its people, and ultimately slashed its population by ten million--all the while shrewdly cultivating his reputation as a great humanitarian. Heroic efforts to expose these crimes eventually led to the first great human rights movement of the twentieth century, in which everyone from Mark Twain to the Archbishop of Canterbury participated. King Leopold's Ghost is the haunting account of a megalomaniac of monstrous proportions, a man as cunning, charming, and cruel as any of the great Shakespearean villains. It is also the deeply moving portrait of those who fought Leopold: a brave handful of missionaries, travelers, and young idealists who went to Africa for work or adventure and unexpectedly found themselves witnesses to a holocaust. Adam Hochschild brings this largely untold story alive with the wit and skill of a Barbara Tuchman. Like her, he knows that history often provides a far richer cast of characters than any novelist could invent. Chief among them is Edmund Morel, a young British shipping agent who went on to lead the international crusade against Leopold. Another hero of this tale, the Irish patriot Roger Casement, ended his life on a London gallows. Two courageous black Americans, George Washington Williams and William Sheppard, risked much to bring evidence of the Congo atrocities to the outside world. Sailing into the middle of the story was a young Congo River steamboat officer named Joseph Conrad. And looming above them all, the duplicitous billionaire King Leopold II. With great power and compassion, King Leopold's Ghost will brand the tragedy of the Congo--too long forgotten--onto the conscience of the West.

This is a very well written book, and lays bare a very sordid chapter in Congo history. Agree with 375 Ruger - a book to read.

 

[Clayton Holland]

Mr 16 Gauge, you were made to learn Australian History because eventually we will rule the world. I have a biography of Cecil Rhodes I have read a few times which I think many here would find interesting.