This book weaves the story of this cluster of conflicts into a single, connected whole.

Prologue : The shadow of Isandlwana -- Bushman's river pass -- The Boer--Pedi War, 1876--1877 : Bopedi -- Sobhuza's dream -- 'The boers are killing me' -- The 'black conspiracy' -- The Ninth Cape Frontier War, 1877--1878 : EmaXhoseni -- 'They must be humbled and subdued' -- 'I am in a corner' -- Calling in the 'amaJohnnies' -- Not the 'white man's dogs' -- 'Rather like a rat hunt' -- The Northern Border War, 1878 : A 'hideous and disgusting place' -- Resisting with 'fixity of purpose' -- The First Anglo-Pedi War, 1878 : 'The ground was his' -- The Anglo-Zulu War, 1879 : Preparing to 'draw the monster's teeth and claws' -- The meat of heroes -- 'We shall go and eat up the white men' -- 'How can we give you mercy?' -- 'No quarter, boys!' -- 'The army is now thoroughly beaten' -- The Second Anglo-Pedi War, 1879 : 'Short, sharp and decisive' -- Conclusion : Paying the price.