The battle of Isandlwana was the single most destructive incident in the 150-year history of the British colonization of South Africa. In one bloody day over 800 British troops, 500 of their allies and at least 2,000 Zulus were killed. This title shows that the brutality of the battle was the result of clash between two warrior traditions.

Originally published: London: Macmillan, 2010.

Prologue: The sun turned black -- Mehlokazulu's fury: the killing of MaMtshali -- Charlie Harford's luck -- Snagged in the tree of the kings: the land and its people -- When I am gone: the vision of King Shaka -- Better move before them: the Sithole return to Zululand -- The power to control the Zulus: Shepstone crowns a king -- Will no one then stand by me?: the blooding of Anthony Durnford -- Neither justice nor humanity: intrigue and infidelity on the Mzinyathi border, 1878 -- A very serious evil: confrontation, December 1878 -- An uncommonly rough road: Charlie Harford, the Natal Native Contingent, and Prince Sikhotha's shirt -- A dreadful sameness: the British Empire comes to Helpmekaar -- The shadow of the Great White Queen: knowledge and ignorance on the Zulu border, January 1879 -- A big fuss over a small matter: Charlie Harford, still alive -- Quite red with soldiers: alarms and excursions, 12-20 January 1879 -- Give the matter to us!: the road to iSandlwana -- We laughed and parted: 20-21 January 1879 -- Did you hear that?: the Hlazakazi Ridge, 21-22 January 1879 -- The valour of ignorance: a picnic at Magogo, dawn, 22 January 1879 -- We commence work in earnest: iSandlwana, dawn, 22 January 1879 -- The king's day!: iSandlwana, noon, 22 January -- The lightning of heaven: iSandlwana, 1 p.m., 22 January 1879 -- Kill me in the shadows: iSandlwana, afternoon, 22 January 1879 -- Do you hear that?: iSandlwana and Mangeni, 22 January 1879 -- Get on man!: afternoon and evening, 22 January 1879 -- We stood up face to face, white men and black ... : Rorke's Drift, 22-23 January 1879 -- The subject of much astonishment: 22-24 January 1879 -- Wet with yesterday's blood: the aftermath, January-May 1879 -- Melancholy satisfaction -- The day that I die: Mehlokazulu, 6 June 1906.