The White Shield

Picking up where The King's Assegai (1894) left off, The White Shield (1895) continues the story of Untswa, the young Zulu warrior, now one of the chief indunas to King Umzilikazi. The Ndebele people, now an established and prosperous nation, seek to expand their power by conquering neighbouring peoples, but Umzilikazi and Untswa face a number of dangers. Within the tribe, a conspiracy is brewing to overthrow them, and meanwhile, the young Ndebele nation risks destruction from external forces, such as white Boer settlers and the ferocious Zulu army. With the help of the king's fabled white shield and two "sorcerers"-a white missionary priest and a beautiful young Zulu woman-Untswa will face the threats looming against his people and attempt once again to win victory and honour. The second of Mitford's tetralogy of novels peopled entirely by Zulu characters, The White Shield is a thrilling tale of war, love, and magic that remains as exciting today as when first published. This edition includes a new introduction by the foremost Mitford scholar, Gerald Monsman, as well as notes and contextual appendices.