{"title":"Thomas Pakenham","description":"\u003cp\u003eThomas Pakenham's works offer a compelling blend of history and natural science, drawing readers into vivid narratives of pivotal events and explorations. His books, such as \u003cem\u003eThe Boer War\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Scramble for Africa\u003c\/em\u003e, provide detailed accounts of military conflicts and the complex colonial history of Africa, combining rigorous research with engaging storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond history, Pakenham also explores the natural world with equal passion, as seen in titles like \u003cem\u003eThe Tree Hunters\u003c\/em\u003e. His writing reveals a deep appreciation for both the natural environment and the human stories intertwined with it, making his collections essential for readers interested in the rich tapestry of history and nature.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-scramble-for-africa","title":"The Scramble For Africa","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Scramble for Africa\u003c\/em\u003e by Thomas Pakenham delves into one of the most shocking and rapid colonisation events in world history. Set between 1876 and 1912, the book recounts the dramatic story of how European powers raced to carve up the African continent, transforming it from a land largely ruled by indigenous people into a patchwork of European colonies and protectorates. Through meticulous research and vivid narrative, Pakenham brings to life the personalities, political manoeuverings, and the often ruthless conquests that defined this era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy 1880, Africa remained a mysterious and largely uncharted territory, but by 1902, it had been divided amongst five European powers, creating 30 new colonies and protectorates and covering a staggering 10 million square miles. This tumultuous period was sparked by the death of missionary-explorer David Livingstone in 1873, whose exposure of the inhumane conditions of the slave trade impelled the Western world to take action. Livingstone's call for Africa to be redeemed through commerce, Christianity, and civilisation resonated deeply, setting off a wave of colonial ambition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong those driving the colonisation were figures like journalist-explorer Henry Stanley, whose expeditions opened up the Congo Basin; sailor-explorer Pierre de Brazza, who lent his name to Brazzaville; and powerful magnates like Cecil Rhodes, who sought to exploit Africa's vast mineral resources. As these adventurers and entrepreneurs plunged deeper into the continent, the initial altruistic motives gave way to a more aggressive and often barbaric scramble for territory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePakenham details how the pursuit of wealth and power overshadowed the noble aims of trade and missionary work. Ultimately, the Maxim gun, a symbol of military might, became the tool by which territories were conquered, overshadowing the earlier ideals of commerce and the cross. Throughout this the colonisation process, the author does not shy away from exposing the atrocities and brutalities inflicted upon the African people, providing a sobering account of this dark chapter in history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to recounting the historical events, Pakenham draws on a wide array of letters, diaries, and official documents to give a voice to both the colonisers and the colonised. Through these sources, he paints a complex picture of the motives and consequences of the scramble for Africa, offering readers a balanced and comprehensive understanding of this pivotal period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis masterful work of historical scholarship also includes fascinating descriptions of the geopolitical chess game played by European powers and the impact of their decisions on the African continent. The intricacies of the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, where African territories were divided without any African representatives present, are meticulously detailed, showcasing the arrogance and opportunism of the colonial powers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor Thomas Pakenham, known for his earlier work on \u003cem\u003eThe Boer War\u003c\/em\u003e, brings his extensive expertise and engaging writing style to this monumental book. Winner of the W.H. Smith Literary Award, \u003cem\u003eThe Scramble for Africa\u003c\/em\u003e offers a detailed, riveting, and often heartbreaking account of how an entire continent was dramatically and forever changed within a single generation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45714350145772,"sku":"9780349104492","price":36.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780349104492.jpg?v=1726005245"},{"product_id":"the-tree-hunters-by-thomas-pakenham-9781474611909","title":"The Tree Hunters","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor centuries, English country gentlemen had collected exotic pictures for their saloons and rare books for their libraries. By the end of the seventeenth century, they had begun to collect trees. Within the space of a few years, hundreds of new specimen trees enriched the British landscape, and demand was high for the most splendid imports: maples and tulip trees from the American colonies, cypresses and cedars from Europe and Lebanon, and oriental plane from Greece and Turkey, with its romantic associations with Plato's Academy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHow did these extraordinary trees make their way to the gardens of Britain and Ireland? Who were the scholars and daredevils who combed the new and old worlds in search of green treasure? What crimes did they commit, and what price did they pay to bring the world's charismatic megaflora to the gardens of home?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this exuberant history, Thomas Pakenham reveals the marvellous tales of adventure, discovery, rivalry, and passion that created the modern British landscape in \u003cem\u003eThe Tree Hunters\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855285571820,"sku":"9781474611909","price":75.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781474611909.jpg?v=1759266275"},{"product_id":"the-boer-war-by-thomas-pakenham-9781399632423","title":"The Boer War","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe war declared by the Boers on 11 October 1899 gave the British, as Kipling said, 'no end of a lesson'. The public expected it to be over by Christmas, but it proved to be the longest (two and three-quarter years), the costliest (over £200 million), the bloodiest (at least 22,000 British, 25,000 Boer and 12,000 African lives), and the most humiliating war that Britain fought between 1815 and 1914.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Boer War\u003c\/em\u003e by Thomas Pakenham was the first full-scale documentary history of the war to be attempted since 1910. His narrative is based on first-hand and largely unpublished sources, from British and South African archives to the private papers, letters, and diaries of the protagonists and soldiers of both sides, and the tape-recorded memories of over fifty survivors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOut of this historical goldmine, Thomas Pakenham has constructed a narrative as vivid and fast-moving as a novel and throws new light on the blunders and personal feuds of the British generals. He writes movingly of the plight of the 100,000 black Africans who served both armies and explains the final political victory of the Boers—how they lost the war but won the peace—with far-reaching consequences for Europe and South Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47471730917612,"sku":"9781399632423","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/634560a3c62c34f0d86dcf13f5fb34a9.jpg?v=1775792085"},{"product_id":"the-scramble-for-africa-by-thomas-pakenham-9781399632447","title":"The Scramble for Africa","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Scramble for Africa\u003c\/em\u003e astonished everyone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1880, most of the continent was ruled by Africans and barely explored. By 1902, five European Powers (and one extraordinary individual) had seized almost the entire continent, creating 30 new colonies and protectorates. This land grab added 10 million square miles of new territory and 110 million bewildered new subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThomas Pakenham's account of the conquest of Africa is recognised as one of the finest narrative histories of the last few decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47933336846572,"sku":"9781399632447","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781399632447-the-scramble-for-africa.jpg?v=1783867498"},{"product_id":"the-tree-hunters-by-thomas-pakenham-9781474611916","title":"The Tree Hunters","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor centuries, English country gentlemen had collected exotic pictures for their saloons and rare books for their libraries. By the end of the seventeenth century, they had begun to collect trees. Within the space of a few years, hundreds of new specimen trees enriched the British landscape, and demand was high for the most splendid imports: maples and tulip trees from the American colonies, cypresses and cedars from Europe and Lebanon, and oriental plane from Greece and Turkey, with its romantic associations with Plato's Academy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHow did these extraordinary trees make their way to the gardens of Britain and Ireland? Who were the scholars and daredevils who combed the new and old worlds in search of green treasure? What crimes did they commit, and what price did they pay to bring the world's charismatic megaflora to the gardens of home?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this exuberant history, Thomas Pakenham reveals the marvellous tales of adventure, discovery, rivalry, and passion that created the modern British landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Tree Hunters\u003c\/em\u003e by Thomas Pakenham is an invitation to delve into these stories and explore the leafy legacy that shapes our natural surroundings today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47933354475756,"sku":"9781474611916","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781474611916-the-tree-hunters.jpg?v=1783867796"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/thomas-pakenham.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}