A Valiant Stand: The Battle of Rorke's Drift and the Heroic Defense of the British Garrison

Mark S. Edwards: This is an incredible job of writing and describing the engagement at Rorke's Drift. The author does an amazing job at putting the reader in the heart of the conflict and providing information on key figures of both sides of the battle.

United States on Mar 02, 2023

DEREK COULSON: This book gives a detailed hour by hour of a fierce battle and does both sides equally fair. Enjoyed reading it.

United States on Feb 03, 2023

Alan Wilson: I've always loved the film 'ZULU' since I first saw it aged 10 at the cinema. True heroism, from both sides in this brief but incredible battle. You'll never view the film in the same way again once you've read this book. There were so many inaccuracies in the movie. Amazing detail and factual account almost minute by minute of the Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Province 1879. We know what happened because there where so many survivors.
If your a mate of Steven Spielberg, ask him to remake 'Zulu', based on this book. It'll make 'Saving Private Ryan' look like Mary Poppins! The Zulu warriors where just as brave as the British soldiers, so no discrimination required.

United Kingdom on Mar 19, 2021

Ethan D.: This book is fantastically written with so much detail of the events of the battle of Rorkes drift. There are parts where it helps being from a Military background however the book is incredibly easy to read.

A fantastic account of True British grit and the will to succeed no matter the odds.

United Kingdom on Sep 21, 2020

Jonathan Woolley: Having took a great deal of time to read the whole story in this book it is a complete wonder that anybody survived at Rorkes Drift the tenacity of the men and their Zulu opponents was amazing no quarter given on both sides it is good that both sides honour each other and as stated many enemies could take a leaf it if the book of both sides here.

United Kingdom on Apr 13, 2020

D A Wiggins: I read this book directly after reading the partner book on the battle of Isandlwana (How can men die better) therefore it made perfect sense and was a great read. Had I started with this book I would have found the last third a bit confusing as you need the detail from the Isandlwana book to contextualise some of the debate. In fairness the author does state this in the forward of the Rorke's Drift book. That aside I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Anglo/Zulu War or general military history as it explains how units in this period were organised and operated. It is a must if you intend visiting the battle sites.

United Kingdom on Jan 09, 2020

E.P. McLean: This is a companion book to the author’s, “How can Man die Better” an account of the battle at Isandlwana. In this volume he covers the following battle at Rorke’s Drift. As a retired history teacher with an interest in military history I have read many accounts of the battle and this is a very good one. The author is a retired military office connected with the regiment that served
In the Zulu War. He brings a professional understanding of military matters and an appreciation for the individual soldier. His account of the battle is clear and he makes an effort to clarify the confusion caused by the chaotic personal accounts of the survivors.
However, his virtues are also his weaknesses as a historian. In the end of the book he has a chapter concerned with asking who was responsible for the loses suffered by the 24th regiment particularly the battle of Isandhlawana. He shows a tendency to protect regular army officers and attacks officers outside the club so to speak.
As I noted in his first volume he has a dislike for Lt. Col. Dunford, and generally ignores the poor decisions made by Lt. Col. Pulleine of the 24th. The commander of the invasion Lord Chelmsford was...

United States on Mar 31, 2018

Parsec: Fast jeder, der sich für Militärgeschichte interessiert, hat schon einmal von der Schlacht um Rorke’s Drift 1879 in den Zulukriegen gehört – circa 100 britische Soldaten standen hier als Verteidiger einer Streitmacht von 4000 Zulukriegern gegenüber, welche Stunde um Stunde diszipliniert und gleichzeitig sehr entschlossen angriffen.

LIKE WOLVES IN THE FOLD von Mike Snook ist eines der bekanntesten Büchern zu diesem Thema- und es liest sich ausgezeichnet und gibt ein sehr differenziertes Bild der damaligen Ereignisse wieder.

Keine Frage: Vielen dürfte Rorke’s Drift in erster Linie durch den (ausgezeichneten) Filmklassiker „Zulu“ mit Michael Caine ein Begriff sein. Wichtig ist sich klar zu machen, dass dieser Film natürlich eine Dramatisierung für das Kino und keine historisch akkurate Dokumentation ist – die Realität dieser Schlacht und ihr Nachspiel sah in wichtigen Punkten anders und wesentlich brutaler aus, als in der 50 Jahren alten Verfilmung aus.

LIKE WOLVES IN THE FOLD zeigt die belegbaren Unterschiede sehr deutlich auf. Beide Seiten kämpften hier verzweifelt, und beide Seiten mussten ganz bemerkenswerte Entschlossenheit und...

Germany on Oct 12, 2017

Gar: This account of the defense of Rorke's Drift is better than any I have read. As a career Marine, with time as a combat rifleman, and always outnumbered, I have always paid particular attention to accounts of determined defenses. Rorke's Drift is a classic of that genre. LtCol Snook goes beyond the acts of individual heroism to reveal the teamwork of the officers and men, which in the end saved the day. Nor does he leave out the bravery of the Zulu warriors either. (If you don't think they were brave, try charging into the face of a 45 caliber Martini-Henry rifle operated by a trained soldier who can get off an aimed round every 7 to 8 seconds. And do it carrying a leather shield and a spear!)
If all you know of Rorke's Drift comes from the Sir Stanley Baker movie "Zulu", then you don't know the true story. There was no bickering between Lts Chard and Bromhead, there were no Welsh singers competing with the Zulu impi's chants. It was raw, it was deadly and most of all, it was a very close thing. Defeat was always near at hand. Read this book and also LtCol Snook's "How Can Man Die Better?" about the disaster at Isandlwana and you will come away with a better understanding of the...

United States on May 30, 2015

Bruce Trinque: I have read a considerable amount about the 1879 fight at Rorke's Drift where a small British force successfully resisted the furious attack of an enormous Zulu army, and I would unhesitatingly put Mike Snook's "Like Wolves On the Fold: The Defence of Rorke's Drift" at the top of the list of books about the battle.

Snook, a longtime officer in the Royal Regiment of Wales (the successor unit to the 24th Infantry which fought at both Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift) quite obviously identifies with the British soldiers who fought there, but he also shows a great liking and respect for their Zulu foes. The result is a book that celebrates courage and honors sacrifice, no matter the color of the skin of the fighting man.

"Like Wolves On the Fold" is a companion volume to Snook's earlier "How Can Man Die Better: The Secrets of Isandlwana Revealed" about the famous Battle of Isandlwana, fought the same day only several miles away, a battle in which the Zulu army crushed a large British field force. Although it is not absolutely necessary to read "How Can Man Die Better" first, it is nonetheless a good idea, as the author returns to the subject of Isandlwana in the last third...

United States on Mar 22, 2006