General de Wet: A Biography Author: Eric Rosenthal
General de Wet (Collectible Biography First Edition)
The Authoritative and Accessible Biography of the Orange Free State’s Legendary Guerrilla Commander
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: General de Wet: A Biography
- Author: Eric Rosenthal
- Publisher: Simondium Publishers, Cape Town
- Publication Date: 1968
- ISBN-10: None Issued (Early South African Trade Release)
- ISBN-13: None Issued (Early South African Trade Release)
- Edition Details: First Revised and Updated Edition (Hardcover).
- Binding: Original publisher's premium cloth boards with a crisp, gilt-titled spine, complete with the original illustrated paper dust jacket.
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 295 pages. Enhanced with a frontispiece portrait, historical photographic plates, and a comprehensive index.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Very Good to Very Good Plus (VG/VG+)
o Exterior / Boards: The original publisher's cloth boards are remarkably square, clean, and rigid. The corners are sharp with negligible shelf friction, and the spine remains completely straight and structurally sound.
o Interior: The internal text block is tight, clean, and beautifully preserved. The internal pages and photographic inserts are bright and completely free of user highlighting, ink annotations, dog-ears, or dealer markings. -
The Dust Jacket: Very Good to Very Good Plus (VG/VG+)
o Condition: The original illustrated paper dust jacket retains its bold visual contrast and sharp text elements, showing only minor, superficial edge wear consistent with careful handling. To permanently preserve its condition and elevate its presentation, it has been freshly enclosed within a brand-new, archival-grade plastic protective cover.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Originally drafted in the shadow of the conflict and updated in 1968, Eric Rosenthal’s General de Wet remains one of the most vivid and accessible English-language biographies of Christiaan Rudolf de Wet. The narrative tracks De Wet’s dramatic transformation from a modest Orange Free State farmer into the most elusive, daring guerrilla commander of the Anglo-Boer War. Rosenthal utilizes deep regional anecdotes and historical testimony to chart the famous exploits that baffled the British military machine—including the spectacular breakout through the British blockhouse lines and the tactical brilliance displayed at Sannaspos. Beyond the battlefield, the text explores De Wet’s complex political life, his agonizing decision-making during the Peace of Vereeniging, and his later involvement in the 1914 Rebellion. This well-preserved copy serves as an excellent, highly engaging asset for any collector of historic South African militaria and biographies.
Originally drafted in the shadow of the conflict and updated in 1968, Eric Rosenthal’s General de Wet remains one of the most vivid and accessible English-language biographies of Christiaan Rudolf de Wet. The narrative tracks De Wet’s dramatic transformation from a modest Orange Free State farmer into the most elusive, daring guerrilla commander of the Anglo-Boer War. Rosenthal utilizes deep regional anecdotes and historical testimony to chart the famous exploits that baffled the British military machine—including the spectacular breakout through the British blockhouse lines and the tactical brilliance displayed at Sannaspos. Beyond the battlefield, the text explores De Wet’s complex political life, his agonizing decision-making during the Peace of Vereeniging, and his later involvement in the 1914 Rebellion. This well-preserved copy serves as an excellent, highly engaging asset for any collector of historic South African militaria and biographies.
Author Profile: Eric Rosenthal
Eric Rosenthal (1905–1983) was one of South Africa’s most prolific and widely read historians, authors, and journalists. Born in Cape Town, he authored over 40 books specializing in regional history, biography, and cultural heritage, while also editing the famous Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Renowned for his ability to uncover fascinating human-scale details from original archival records, Rosenthal's accessible prose style bridged the gap between academic history and popular narrative non-fiction, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary South African historiography.
Eric Rosenthal (1905–1983) was one of South Africa’s most prolific and widely read historians, authors, and journalists. Born in Cape Town, he authored over 40 books specializing in regional history, biography, and cultural heritage, while also editing the famous Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. Renowned for his ability to uncover fascinating human-scale details from original archival records, Rosenthal's accessible prose style bridged the gap between academic history and popular narrative non-fiction, leaving an indelible mark on contemporary South African historiography.
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