BOOK OF WAR

THE BOOK OF WAR TELLS THE STORY OF A BOY WHO COMES TO MANHOOD IN A WAR. WILLIAM KENTRIDGE HAS CALLED IT, "A RARE FEAST", AND RIAN MALAN, "A VERY GOOD BOOK, POSSIBLY GREAT." AN ILLITERATE EUROPEAN CHILD IS STRANDED ON THE SOUTHERN TIP OF AFRICA. THE BRITISH AND THE XHOSA HAVE BEEN SPILLING EACH OTHER'S BLOOD FOR EIGHTY YEARS AND THE KID SIGNS UP FOR THE CONFLICT IN THE HOPE OF STEADY MEALS AND A FEW SHILLINGS A MONTH. THE KID'S NEW COMMANDER, THE CAPTAIN, IS HARDLY MORE THAN A BOY HIMSELF, BUT HE HAS MONEY AND EDUCATION BEHIND HIM. HIS GOAL IS TO PROVE THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY MINIE RIFLE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE KILLING MACHINE AVAILABLE TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE. HIS INSTRUMENTS ARE AN ASSORTMENT OF CONVICTS, SAILORS AND DRUNKARDS CULLED FROM THE PORT AT THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE; HIS ADVERSARY, A STRATEGICALLY BRILLIANT XHOSA GENERAL WITH LITTLE LEFT TO LOSE. THE CAPTAIN AND THE IRREGULARS DEPART ON A JOURNEY TOWARDS A GROTESQUE DENOUEMENT AROUND A COPPER VAT ON THE SLOPES OF MOUNT MISERY. THEY M