Bøker av Brian Roberts

The Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 has been called the 'last gentleman's war', but that is no reason to ignore the emergence of three remarkable women: Lady Sarah Wilson, Hansie van Warmelo and Emily Hobhouse. Although all three were determined, fearless and strong-minded women, each represented a contrasting viewpoint of the conflict. Lady Sarah Wilson, youngest daughter of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and aunt to the young Winston Churchill, was a conventional British 'jingo'; happy to act as Baden-Powell's leading lady in the stirring imperial drama of the siege of Mafeking. Hansie van Warmelo was a staunchly republican Boer, dedicated to the cause of Boer independence and no less convinced of the serf-life status of Black people within her country. Most admirable of all was Emily Hobhouse, the liberal, pro-Boer Englishwoman who bravely exposed the abuse, violence, and appalling death toll in the British concentration camps. Set against the tumult and tragedy of the war, the adventures of these three women - 'that bloody woman', Lord Kitchener called one of them - throw a fresh light on the bitter colonial struggle. Their exploits, ranging from the farcical to the deeply moving, played no small part in the controversies that reverberate in South Africa to this day. Brian Roberts was born in London and educated at St Mary's College, Twickenham, and the University of London. He taught for many years in South Africa before becoming the author of several books on aspects of South African history.

For the Churchill family, the 1890s were fateful years. The first half of the decade saw the tragic decline and death of Lord Randolph Churchill; the second half launched his young son, Winston, on his spectacular career. Both events were influenced by the turbulent state of affairs prevailing in South Africa; a place then attracting the attentions of ambitious men throughout the world. South Africa offered not only riches but also the chance of political involvement and military renown; behind the glitter of Kimberley's diamonds, the Transvaal's gold and the opening-up of Rhodesia, a situation was developing that led inevitably to the Anglo-Boer War. Such a set of circumstances proved irresistible to the spirited Churchills. In Churchills in Africa, Brian Roberts shows how, in their various ways, Lord Randolph, his remarkable sister, Lady Sarah Wilson, and the young Winston made their marks upon the African scene.Praise for Churchills in Africa: 'A clever and amusing piece of biographical reconstruction which not only puts Winston Churchill's exploits in the Boer War in new perspective but contains a shamingly hilarious account of his father's search of gold in 1891'- Sunday Times'Dramatic and most readable . . . The author illuminates the story of Winston Churchill's capture, escape and return to battle with a valuable commentary of his own' - Sunday TelegraphBrian Roberts, a distinguished historian and biographer, is an acknowledged expert on African history. His books include The Zulu Kings, The Diamond Magnates and Churchills in Africa. He spent many years in Africa and now lives in Somerset.

'You had yourself often told me, ' Oscar Wilde wrote to Lord Alfred Douglas, 'how many of your race there had been who had stained their hands in their own blood; your uncle certainly, your grandfather possibly; many others in the mad, bad line from which you come.' Wilde's tragic involvement with Lord Alfred Douglas's family led him to believe anything he was told about the 'mad, bad line.' The truth was even stranger than he imagined. That Lord Alfred's grandfather, the 7th Marquess of Queensberry, committed suicide is more than a possibility. His eldest son, the 8th Marquess, was that noted eccentric famous for giving his name to the rules of boxing and for his persecution of Oscar Wilde. He had other claims to notoriety, too. His agnosticism resulted in his expulsion from the House of Lords and he quarrelled violently with all his sons, the eldest of whom was found dead in suspicious circumstances. Nor was the 8th Marquess the only eccentric in the Douglas family. His mother shocked London society by supporting the Fenians, one of his brothers was killed in the first ascent of the Matterhorn, and another brother cut his throat in a London hotel. The Marquess's eldest sister created a scandal by marrying a baker's boy twenty years her junior, and his youngest sister, Lady Florence Dixie - author, explorer, ardent feminist and champion of the Zulus - was, in her day, almost as controversial as the Marquess himself. Based on much original research, Brian Roberts' immensely readable book examines this extraordinary family more fully than ever before. Brian Roberts is the author of The Zulu Kings, The Diamond Magnates, Cecil Rhodes and the Princess and Churchills in Africa. After spending some years in Africa, he returned to England and now lives in Somerset.

Ruthless and visionary, Cecil Rhodes today personifies all the most extreme characteristics of the Victorian empire-builder. Leaving both a country and a world-famous system of scholarships to commemorate his name, he might have been regarded as proof against personal intrigue. Particularly of the female variety, since - in the jargon of the day - he was a confirmed woman-hater. But when he died, many people said his death had been caused by a woman: the notorious Princess Catherine Radziwill. What was the hold this determined Polish adventurer had over him? This impeccably sourced double biography contains much material never before published and clearly establishes that Catherine's power over Rhodes was political, not sexual. Once she realised that Rhodes's few private emotions were fully satisfied by the group of hefty young men who surrounded him at home, the princess changed her tune. Social importunity having failed, she first demanded money, then began forging Rhodes's name on promissory notes and, finally, resorted to blackmail. Praise for Cecil Rhodes and the Princess: 'Mr. Roberts has written a double biography of Rhodes and Princess Catherine Radziwill . . . the effect is totally engaging. Both subjects are brought vividly to life by Mr Roberts' fine narrative sense and dry humour' - Sunday Telegraph'The last chapters of the book, in which the crazy duel reaches a climax, make gripping reading. They reveal the inadequacies of earlier biographies' - Observer'Mr Roberts tells a complicated story well. In Princess Radziwill he has rediscovered a beautiful liar, crook and trouble-maker, as much fun as Trollope's Lizzie Eustace and her stolen diamonds' - New York Times Brian Roberts, a distinguished historian and biographer, is an acknowledged expert on African history. His books include The Zulu Kings, The Diamond Magnates and Churchills in Africa. He spent many years in Africa and now lives in Somerset.

This is a saga of the Zulu empire at its height - its customs and rituals, its bloodthirsty battles, above all, its larger-than-life personalities. The mighty Shaka, who founded the dynasty in the early nineteenth century, welded the Zulu people into a formidable military kingdom. His assassination by his treacherous half-brother, Dingane, did nothing to lessen the rule of terror. But the self-indulgent Dingane, although cruel and despotic, was no warrior and his reign ended in disaster. Defeated by the Boers at the battle of Blood River, Dingane was eventually forced to flee Zululand and died in exile. After Dingane's death the neighbouring territory of Natal became a white settlement and the course of Zulu history changed. A third brother, Mpande, was proclaimed King by the Boers and reigned more or less peacefully. Mpande was followed by his son Cetshwayo, whose attempt to revive Zulu power brought him into conflict with the British and resulted in the downfall of his nation in the Zulu War of 1879. Cetshwayo's son, Dinuzulu, inherited little more than his father's misfortunes. Brian Roberts tells the story of the rise and fall of this Zulu dynasty in colourful detail. But it is the first two Kings - the resolute Shaka and the fickle Dingane - who dominate the book. Ruling when Zululand was independent and all-powerful, their tyrannical regimes transformed the tribal pattern in southern Africa. Praise for Brian Roberts: 'First class' - The New York Times'A literary achievement as well as a fascinating historical reconstruction' - Publishers Weekly Brian Roberts, a distinguished historian and biographer, is an acknowledged expert on African history. His previous books include The Diamond Magnates, Churchills in Africa, and Cecil Rhodes and the Princess. He spent many years in Africa and now lives in Somerset.

In Fragments of My Soul, author and poet Brian Roberts shares a collection of poems inspired by his life experiences and the people he has met on his journey through life. These poems offer readers a glimpse into the author's thoughts and feelings on a variety of topics, ranging from love and loss to hope and happiness. With its candid and honest approach, Fragments of My Soul is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost, loved, or inspired by their own life experiences.

A comprehensive analysis of the history and devel- opment of rural settlement in both the developed and developing worlds. Complete with detailed case studies and fully illustrated, this is essential reading for all geographers and archaeologists.

Micro social theory covers a rich tradition in sociological thinking and research that focuses on the self or actor and social interaction. This new title in the Traditions in Social Theory series traces the development of the tradition and assesses its contemporary importance.

Biographical research is used as a general term to describe the rapidly growing interest in how to study individual lives in a range of disciplines and fields - by using autobiographies, biographies, life histories, life stories, and oral histories.

Provides an introduction to the interaction of culture and society with the landscape and environment. This book offers a view of this theme by drawing upon the varied traditions of landscape interpretation. It addresses factors such as environmental change and population pressure. It also discusses the evolution of the humanised landscape.