A series on the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa by Lawrence Penning, 1899-1902.

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Subject: Anglo-Boer War Time: 1899 Age: 12-99 ISBN 978-1-894666-91-7 Retail Price: US$10.95

 #1 The Lion of 
           Modderspruit 
by Lawrence Penning

A wonderful historical novel in which Penning has interwoven love, pathos, and loyalty. The conflict the Boers endure with England involves not only a fight to maintain their independence (to which the British agreed in 1881) but also a deep religious significance. Louis Wessels, eldest son of a well-established Transvaal Boer family, is betrothed to Truida, a Boer maiden living in the British colony of Natal, and educated in British-governed schools. When England sends over thousands of troops to invade the independent Boer colony of the Orange Free State, causing the Boers of the Transvaal Colony to prepare to invade Natal, the two lovers are confronted by more than a political conflict — two loyal hearts separated by loyalty to conflicting causes. The horrors of the war drag both Louis and Truida through heights of joy and depths of despair. How can these two hearts, beating strongly for each other but also strongly for their separate causes, ever be reconciled? On which side is justice to be found?

Subject: Anglo-Boer War Time: 1900 Age: 12-99 ISBN 978-1-894666-92-5 Retail Price: US$10.95

Acompany of twenty-five horsemen with an officer in command galloped into the yard. They jumped down, fastened their horses to the young fig trees which bordered the broad driveway, and in silence awaited orders from their commanding officer.

He carefully scrutinized the terrain and set out five soldiers as watchmen. Five others were ordered to make a thorough search of the barn. Ten were posted at the various exits from the house and with the remaining five the officer entered the livingroom . . . "Do you have a Boer from the Transvaal hiding here?" asked the officer.

"If I should deny it, you wouldn't believe me in any case, Lieutenant." 

Subject: Anglo-Boer War Time: 1900 Age: 12-99 ISBN 978-1-894666-93-0 Retail Price: US$11.95

 #3 The Scout of
         Christiaan de Wet
by Lawrence Penning

It is the year 1900 and the Boer War continues to ravage the South African Free State and Transvaal. The English are relentless in their attacks and pernicious in seeking to achieve political power. But the Afrikaners refuse to submit and continue the struggle to maintain their freedom.
Louis Wessels, the young hunter, and the Dutchman Jan Tromp, despite skirting danger, falling into traps, confronting traitors, hiding and escaping, slowly achieve their mission as they transverse the Transvaal as scouts for General Christiaan de Wet.
Yet when they are finally trapped with no seeming escape, they meet an old acquaintance.
Even though these dedicated Afrikaners are surrounded by the horrors and ravages of war there is time for laughter at Blikoortje’s exploits, and time to receive encouragement from loved ones.
Still the cry continues to rise to heaven, "How many people will still have to give their lives to restore freedom to South Africa? Will freedom truly be achieved?"
Another exiting story from Piet Prins’s favourite boyhood author.

Subject: Anglo-Boer War Time: 1900 Age: 12-99 ISBN 978-1-894666-94-7 Retail Price: US$11.95

The commando of Louis Wessels continues to roam the South African countryside, joining whichever division needs them most. But defeat and loss, ruin and devastation seem to be the order of the day. Blikoortje and Jan Potgieter are captured, Wonderfontein is pillaged and ruined, and the church is desecrated. The ravages of this ghastly war are pressing in on all sides and the reality of total defeat looms large in all its starkness. The English Minister Brodrick had declared in the British parliament that "never — but never — had a more civilised war been waged!" Yet all the evidence showed the English army to be full of wantonness, lustful pillaging, savagery, destructiveness, and pitiless cruelty towards women, children, and the defenceless.

Lawrence Penning gives a close up account of some of the events and issues surrounding the Boer War. The English declared they wanted the gold South Africa offered, but was there more at stake? This book, along with the others in the series, are great aids in coming to grips with the South African conflict in a fascinating manner.

Subject: Anglo-Boer War Time: 1901-1902 Age: 12-99 ISBN 978-1-894666-95-4 Retail Price: US$11.95

After three years of fighting, the Boer War was nearing its bitter end. Even though the Boer armies seemed defeated by the superior British armed forces, many Boer commandoes refused to give up and continued to strike at the English military. The enemy’s retaliation was horrible. Systematically the Rednecks combed out the country: farms were burned and the women and children were taken to concentration camps. Malnourished, neglected, and ravaged by Typhus fever, thousands died in those camps.

Under the leadership of Louis Wessels, a commando planned a rescue, but with difficulties and traitors abounding, failure and capture were imminent realities. Was escape still possible? Could comfort be found in the words of the field preacher who not only condemned England’s insults and scorn heaped on the Boer entreaties for help, but also entreated his fellow Christians to throw dust and ashes on their heads "for we and our fathers — we have sinned grievously! We have erred. We have served alien gods, and now the Lord is visiting us with His scourge." Addressing the Boers, and also the British doctor, the field preacher concluded, "Brothers, let us be silent in this oppression. Let us confess our sins and lift our penitent hearts in prayer to the hills from whence our salvation will come."

This last volume of the Louis Wessels Commando series brings the dark reality of the Boer War into stark focus. May the words of the field preacher never need to be addressed to us.

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Buy all Five Books in the Louis Wessels
Commando series and save 15%.

Normal Price: US$57.75
Special Price: US$49.10

 About the Author

Lawrence Penning -

Mr