Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog by J. H. Breytenbach & M.A. & D.Phil.

Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog (Two-Volume Afrikaans Anglo-Boer War History)

Breytenbach's Two-Volume Afrikaans History of the Run-Up to the War and the Boer Offensive of October 1899

Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog: I. Voorspel tot die Stryd (Volume I); II. Ontplooiing van die Boere-Offensief Oktober 1899 (Volume II)
• Authors: J. H. Breytenbach & M.A. & D.Phil.
• Publisher: Nasionale Pers, Beperk, Kaapstad
• Edition Details: Two volumes, complete as offered: Volume I, Voorspel tot die Stryd; Volume II, Ontplooiing van die Boere-Offensief Oktober 1899.
• Binding: Publisher's dark green cloth boards, gilt-lettered spines. Two volumes.
• Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), two volumes. Each volume has a portrait frontispiece (President S.J.P. Kruger in Volume I; General J.H.M. Kock in Volume II) and portraits in the text.
• Language: Afrikaans

Official Condition Report

• The Book: Good (G)
• Exterior / Boards: Dark green cloth boards with gilt spine lettering. The spines are dulled, with dust and fading marks; Volume I shows some rubbing and wear at the head, and the head of the Volume II spine is slightly chipped and frayed. Both sets of boards show mottled grey rubbing and soiling along the lower edges and corners, more pronounced on Volume I. Volume II has a small spot on the front board where the cloth is chipped and rubbed, and Volume I has a small white scuff on the back board.
• Interior: The text pages are clean, cream and legible, with no foxing visible. The page edges are toned, with some browning. The bindings are tight.
• The Dust Jacket: Not Present

Synopsis & Historical Value

Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog is J. H. Breytenbach's early Afrikaans history of the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). Volume I, Voorspel tot die Stryd, deals with the lead-up to the conflict. Volume II, Ontplooiing van die Boere-Offensief Oktober 1899, covers the opening Boer offensive of October 1899. Both volumes are supported by footnoted sources and illustrated with portraits.

These two volumes were written decades before Breytenbach's later multi-volume history of the war, which appeared between 1969 and 1996. The first two volumes of that later series reworked the material of this earlier set, so the work is a forerunner of the larger project that occupied the rest of his career as state historian.

The set offers the collector a complete two-volume Afrikaans account of the war's origins and first phase, published by Nasionale Pers in Cape Town. It suits those building a library of Afrikaans Anglo-Boer War historiography.

Author Profile: J. H. Breytenbach

Johan Hendrik Breytenbach worked at the National Archives in Pretoria and studied the Second Anglo-Boer War from 1940. In 1959 the Minister of Education, Arts and Science appointed him state historian for the war, under the supervision of the Department of History at the University of Pretoria.

His major achievement was a multi-volume history of the war, six volumes of which appeared before his death halted the series at the Battle of Bergendal (Dalmanutha). His other works include the Gedenkalbum van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, which he edited in 1940, and Danie Theron: Baasverkenner van die Tweede Vrijheidsoorlog (1950).

Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog Breytenbach · Afrikaans Anglo-Boer War history · Breytenbach two volume set · Nasionale Pers Anglo-Boer War · Boer offensive October 1899 · Voorspel tot die Stryd · Afrikaans Boer War books