Fury's War
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Fury’s War is an inspiring tale of two ordinary people on opposing sides of the Anglo Boer War, whose lives collide, forcing them to do extra-ordinary things to survive. The catalyst of the Second Anglo Boer war was that gold was discovered in the Transvaal. Lots of it, and Britain wanted it. The backdrop of the war provided an inspiring canvas on which to paint the story shared in the book of passion, love, laughter, and tragedy. Love, whether it be in reality or fiction, truly is the great overcomer of adversity.
Initially I embarked upon the project of writing the book as a hobby, but very quickly became immersed in the tragedy and injustice of the war in which close to fifty-two thousand South Africans, both black and white, died in British concentration camps, the majority of them being woman and children. I travelled around the country meeting with knowledgeable people who are considered leading authorities on certain aspects of the war, who willingly shared their insights with me. I visited concentration camps and other Boer War historic sites, and was appalled at their dereliction, many of which were difficult to find. It is a great injustice that the memory of the courage and fortitude of a few, against the aggression of many, has been lost.
The deadly cost to a nation where half the Boer children under the age of twelve died in concentration camps, forgotten. The devastation was such that one of the prime reasons for the eventual surrender of
the Boers’, was the fear that an entire generation would be lost were the war to continue. Their story needs to be retold and remembered.
I was moved with compassion upon seeing photographs of children who had been placed on half rations as a punishment for having a family member still fighting against the British. They were skin and bones, slowly starving to death, and allowed to die. What evil is it that causes the heart of an ordinary man or woman to surrender to cruelty and hate during a time of war? This vicious cycle of war, driven by greed and ambition continues unabated, paid for by the blood of the innocent. How is that modern man, with all its’ intellect and sophistication, cannot solve conflicts around the negotiating table, choosing rather to follow the path of cruelty, death, and mass destruction.
Against this sombre background, Fury’s War is an uplifting story of love, endurance and courage that brings light to the darkness of war. Weaving fiction into the backdrop of actual events, the book tells of an English woman, Rose, and a Boer soldier, Jan, who are thrown together under trying circumstances. Enemies of war, who, despite their upbringings and prejudices, fall in love. As their relationship develops and grows, they find ways to meet and the lines between patriotism and treachery become blurred. The penalty for treason is death.
Photographs courtesy of the Bloemfontein Boer War Museum
Watch Buxton open the first printed copy of Fury's War!
After 13 years in the making, the proof copy off my novel, Fury’s War, was delivered to my door. Opening the layers of the couriered parcel felt surreal. After all the years of creating, the final product was in my hands which left me shaking with emotions. A deep sense of achievement and satisfaction flowed through me as I sat back and held the book in awe of what I had finally achieved. I was reminded of the emotional energy that had gone into its creation and how drained I felt after writing the parts of the book which go to the very core of human emotions and responses.
Buxton Gray
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