Kit Denton (1928–1997)

Denton's book, The Breaker, is a fictionalized account of a true story later popularized by the film Breaker Morant. Before the book starts, someone notes that the book was inspired by a conversation with a veteran of the Boer War who had known Morant. Denton listened to the story, was intrigued, and went on to do some 2.5 years of research on the topic.

The real Breaker Morant served in South Africa during the Boer War. In Denton's book, Morant and some of his unit from Australia realized that the English were never going to win using conventional methods against what amounted to guerilla tactics by the Boers and used their own methods contrary to orders. Evidently, others realized the same thing; while Morant was on leave in England, he learned that a more guerilla-like unit was being formed called The Bush Veldt Carbineers, and he rushed off to join with his best friend, Geoffrey Hunt. So off he went, back to South Africa. Hunt was put in charge of the unit; he received his orders, part of which noted "take no prisoners." As part of an operation, the BVC was ambushed; Hunt died & was savagely mutilated. Later, a Boer soldier turns up wearing Hunt's clothes and was killed by Morant. Still later, a German minister was crossing the lines to go into Boer territory; according the book, Morant & his unit tried to stop him due to the dangers. The next thing they knew, the minister had been killed. Some time later they went back to the main camp to join up with the British soldiers, and discovered that several of the officers, including Morant, were under arrest -- but no charges were ever given. They found out during a court martial that they were under arrest for murdering the Boer Soldier, murdering a young boy who had been part of an earlier ambush, and for murdering the minister.

I have always thought that this was a fascinating story. If you have not yet seen the film that was inspired by this book, please do so immediately...it is phenomenal.

The book is very well done, but kind of surface level -- it would have been nice, since this is a fictional novel, to get more in depth with the story. Otherwise, it is a fine book on a topic that is incredibly interesting.… (meer)