I was provided with a free copy of this book by Head of Zeus in exchange for an honest review.

In the 1900s, Joseph Radcliffe is a liberal American living in an Ireland under British rule and acting as lawyer to many Irish Republicans (Fenians) set to hang. When his son runs away to South Africa to attempt to join the British army and fight in the Boer War, Radcliffe goes after him, accompanied by his American army comrade Ben Pierce.

I ended up really enjoying this. It was well written with a gripping story, a well researched tale in history and an excellent setting. Going into this book, I basically knew nothing about the Boer War and I can safely say now I definitely know a lot more than I did. I never knew there were so many Irish on both sides of the Boer War - Irish fighting with the ‘Ductchies’ in a simple attempt to kill some Brits, and the Irish who joined the British Army. I really enjoyed a lot of the book that was set in Dublin, Ireland and all the dialogue from the Irish characters was really apt and fitting from the way some things were pronounced, to the crude joviality of the characters and the certain phrases and slang which are still used in Ireland today.

One of the journeys within this book that I enjoyed the most was that of Ben Pierce. Pierce fought alongside Joseph Radcliffe in the American Civil War (I think) and is African-American. The way he was treated in South Africa as a black man riding alongside a white with equal status was interesting to follow, as was the reaction to some of the native Africans seeing him. The fact that he had to get all sorts of documents signed by a Colonel to grant him temporary ‘white man’ status was just crazy but again, a complete education for me. The way he lost his freedom when he was separated from Radcliffe was again an interesting bit to follow - the fact that he had to suddenly pretend to be an African helping out the troops and none of them recognised him as Radcliffe’s companion.