Diamonds, Gold, and War

The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa

By: Martin Meredith

Narrated by: Matthew Waterson

Southern Africa was once regarded as a worthless jumble of British colonies, Boer republics, and African chiefdoms, a troublesome region of little interest to the outside world. But then prospectors chanced upon the world’s richest deposits of diamonds and gold, setting off a titanic struggle between the British and the Boers for control of the land. The result was the costliest, bloodiest, and most humiliating war that Britain had waged in nearly a century, and the devastation of the Boer republics.

The New Yorker calls this magisterial account of those years “[an] astute history.…Meredith expertly shows how the exigencies of the diamond (and then gold) rush laid the foundation for apartheid.”

©2007 Martin Meredith (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Amazing Audiobook

Was Diamonds, Gold, and War worth the listening time?

Its an amazing book, full of stories that describe lots of missing pieces of the history of south africa

Controlling "history," is critical to control

Would you listen to Diamonds, Gold, and War again? Why?

Raw history without agenda and its ugly, behind the scenes dramas, are the same story in all cultures time after time, age after age: ego, domination, war and exceptional people, some willing to use almost any tool and most by the ends of exceptional lives very dangerous when their time wanes.

Which character – as performed by Matthew Waterson – was your favorite?

This is historical narrative and characters are a small part of it, because the book is about events that come very quick upon another... and many are of great historical note still today. Rhodes has a tone to his remarks certainly and Waterson does a good job conveying that... but the grab by Europeans and behind scenes really the entire British Imperial class', their overt condescension to the entire world... is fascinating in its raw forms. But so are the individuals who have the courage to act even if they are often here in the service of domination and little else, certainly not, morality. The events here are stupendous in scope h on the Imperial level and for the Black tribes of Southern Africa, so, the history itself has a tone here not familiar to us today except to one who is aware that virtually the same thing that occupied Rhodes' vision, what he gave... to the world... is with us today in the acts of the "Deep State."

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The book's arc of events is overwhelming, almost unbelievable to our tame world. His relatively... secrete society, (one of several groups still vying for world domination) that Rhodes created as his legacy, I suspect today is still central to world evens so for understanding that alone, who was behind it and why, the man himself and his life... tells us a great deal. This is not the British Empire's finest hour nor is it is low water mark! The tensions in part led to WW1 and 2. Bigotry can be a national trait, as we see in America and its allies' imperial moment today; raw emotions... not more complicated than any bully's treat or the fear he inspires... can be used for propaganda and the truth has nothing to do with it.

Any additional comments?

One fears the worse when reading great books such as this that time has allowed the real political truths to seep out. It seems humanity is forever divided into two groups: elites and the masses. And the masses are forever partially asleep and easily manipulated, even volunteering their lives... for the most common of reasons: a lie.

About the best audio book I have listened to!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

this book is just very well written and very well narrated!

What did you like best about this story?

the characters are very well portrayed , described and the setting as well

Have you listened to any of Matthew Waterson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

his narration was very well done, I think he is one of the best narrators out of three I have thus far listened to on Audible

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

listened to it actually numerous times1

Any additional comments?

great book and narration!

Martin Meredith never disappoints

Comprehensive in scope but well written in the view of many perspectives portrayed in the complexity of their environment.

Shocking and absorbing

Fascinating account of the early years of white South Africa. The writer does a remarkable job of bringing the major players to life through quotes, communications, and anecdotes. The two major players, Cecil Rhodes and Paul Kruger, come across as tragic figures who ignore their own salvation: The integration of the African natives into their new society. Lots of parallels to the US, but apparently the British weren't able to deploy smallpox on the population. Highly recommend to those who think our current politics is brutal. We've got a long way to go.

A Diamond Of A Book

The story of south Africa told through its diamond trade. I found it very interesting and it is a subject not often covered.

Great story, eye opener for me

Just a pity the narrator didn't take the trouble to find out how to pronounce the one Afrikaans word that is spoken throughout the book : Boer

Great

Extremely detailed history. One thing that is very annoying is the incorrect pronunciations of all Afrikaans words, names and places. Boer is pronounced "Booor" not "Bowwer" "Van" is pronounced "Fun" and "W" is usually a "V" otherwise really enjoyable.

bad narration ruins a possibly good story.

How could the performance have been better?

Narrator Matthew Waterson spitsoutwords.................instacattophrases................interspersedwith............longpauses.
The topic is an interesting one. The writer's treatment of the subject seems to have a Liberal/Progressive slant (but because of the wretched narration I have not been able to endure enough of this book to really tell).

Great book, narrator has pronunciation issues

Like all of Martin Meredith’s books, this is informative and well written. Despite the sometimes weighty subject, it is an easy listen/read. Unfortunately the narrator has problems with pronouncing not only more obscure geographical names, but also those of some of the main protagonists and even fairly commonly used English words (e.g. ebullient).