The Great War in Africa, 1914-1918

by Byron Farwell

Farwelrs Eminent Victorian Soldiers (1985)--about eight British generals who were active during Victoria's reign--had the good fortune to focus on eccentric individuals. His new military history focuses on events at the expense of intensely colorful soldiers. The difference is telling. Unlike Africa's great, raging WW II battles with Montgomery's desert rats fighting Rommel's panzer divisions, the Great War's four African campaigns against the Germans were more fragmented and exotic, with the British (Australians, mostly), French and Belgians trying to capture the four German protectorates: Togoland, the Cameroons, German South-West Africa, and German East Africa. The battle records are often scanty and illiterate. Even so, Farwell finds more than enough detail, filling paragraphs with fine bits of fact like a paleontologist sweeping up fossil shards. Better than half the book is just such detail as might interest an armchair British battle historian, but which will have US battle buff