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  • James and the Duck: Tales of the Rhodesian Bush War (1964 - 1980)
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James and the Duck: Tales of the Rhodesian Bush War (1964 - 1980) Paperback – Sept. 13 2007

by Faan Martin (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars 121 ratings
3.9 on Goodreads
49 ratings

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A very different tongue-in-cheek personal account about a forgottenwar. Between 1964 and 1980 Rhodesian men from all walks of life lefttheir families and jobs to fight for their country. They were farmers,bankers, railwaymen, shopkeepers, miners and even Members ofParliament, who every six weeks, changed their soft civilian life forbattle dress, rifles and grenades.These are their stories.It's not really about war heroes. It's more about bluestone charged,but still lustful troops coping with fighting terrorists, boredom,longing, fear and death. All this set against the background ofAfrica's sweltering heat, annoying insects, dangerous animals andvenomous snakes. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.The reader will meet a long suffering prisoner-of-war, infantrysoldiers, helicopter gunship pilots, tribesmen, pompous army officers,mercenaries and even a duck.Some of the personal incidents will have you laughing and crying at the same time.No matter how you view the Rhodesian Bush War, you will enjoy thehumour and at times satire and even sadness of this true account of howmen coped with the horrors and hardships of war.
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  1. Print length
    284 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    AuthorHouse
  4. Publication date
    Sept. 13 2007
  5. Dimensions
    12.7 x 1.63 x 20.32 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    1434319733
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1434319739
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ AuthorHouse
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ Sept. 13 2007
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1434319733
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1434319739
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 318 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.7 x 1.63 x 20.32 cm
  • 鶹 Rank: #889,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 121 ratings

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Faan Martin

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4.1 out of 5 stars
121 global ratings

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Top reviews from Canada

  • Jordi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great stories of a difficult time that run the gamut ...
    Reviewed in Canada on December 12, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Great stories of a difficult time that run the gamut between tragedy and humour. Each told in a anecdotal style. Very enjoyable read.
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  • lennard maillet
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    good stories, believable by a fellow part time soldier who s been shot at
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  • J. Mariani
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rhodesia recaptured
    Reviewed in Canada on July 21, 2009
    This is a book to be read over and over again and would be of particular interest to Rhodesians, Zimbabweans and military buffs. For anyone interested in the history of Southern Africa, it gives a glimpse into the Rhodesian war (told from a white man's point of view) and life in the African bush which can be harsh and unforgiving. It is at times hard to read because of the stark reality of war: brutality, tragedy and heartbreak but is infused with the camaraderie of men banded together and the bonds that sustain them to the end. Martin recants his tale with wit and humour even in the most dire of circumstances and in a seemingly laid back, almost casual style. The reader will become attached to the duck and find that this story lives on long after the last page has been turned.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Michael C. Abernethy
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent view into the lives of soldiers at the front of one of the first counter insurgency wars in history.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Quite possibly one of the most interesting, clearly written, and in-depth first-hand accounts of what it was like to fight in the Rhodesian Bush War. The book has some laugh out loud moments as well as plenty of instances that make you cringe and even tear up occasionally. An excellent companion to "Once Upon a White Man" which covers a large section of life during wartime on the civilian side of things, Faan Martin's "James and the Duck" really brings across the whole gamut of experiences of the life of a soldier in the Rhodesian Bush. Well worth reading for anyone who has an interest in the Bush War or post colonial Africa.
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  • JAfrika
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps biased as my Dad wrote this book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    But I loved it, got insight into what for me was a confusing time, found his accounts amusing and thought provoking. I have read some other books written about this place and time in history, and this book or collection of true stories was totally different lacking the exaggeration or melancholy of other books, which in my opinion is a good thing. Have new respect for the men and women involved, if you are expecting a military account don't bother these are human, honest stories with a smart sense of African humor to boot, if you insist on political correctness then these are not for you either, looking for an entertaining good read this is right up your street.
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  • AK
    4.0 out of 5 stars Selection of short stories, chronicling the author's experience during the Rhodesian insurgency
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    'James and the Duck' is a relatively late entrant on the scene of Rhodesian armed forces biographies and consists of a series of short episodes (suitably anonymized) from the author's life during the insurgency. Honest and not altered due to the mellowing effects of age or hindsight, the book may not be to everyone's taste but is a good testament of some elements of going to war young and the difficulties such a conflict entailed.

    While a different type of book than the longer biographies, such as Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa or Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: Picador Classic, it also shows some additional facets of the war in Rhodesia. The stories are fairly compact and thereby easy and quick to read, and while quite some of them are not outstanding individually, the overall picture emerging is certainly interesting.

    If you are interested in that particular conflict or era, or more generally in insurgencies, the book is likely to provide some additional 'rich picture information'. It will likely also appeal to people who have lived through it, as it is likely to raise many a memory. If you are, on the other hand, looking for an analysis of the conflict, with battle unit and other details, the book is probably not going to satisfy.
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  • David Duafala
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    This book is a fun read that shows a side of the Rhodesian war not normally talked about. You can read this book several times and the little stories still make me crack a smile or chuckle. The author shows the human side of a very brutal war with several short stories with a funny twist in each. This is an easy read and worth owning.
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  • Pieter Westerberg
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good book to read
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Very realistic - not brevado as it was for most troops.
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