Dave George is a collector of Boer War militaria. Over a period of years, he has published four volumes in a series titled Carvings From The Veldt, detailing the often-elaborate carving Boer Commando fighters frequently carved into the stocks of their Mauser rifles. He also has a YouTube channel, which has long been dormant. Until a few days ago, when he dropped a video on a Plezier Mauser.
George claims that his wife asserts that there is no such thing as a beautiful rifle. George begs to differ, as do I — and Exhibit A is the Plezier Mauser — the sporting Mauser wielded by many a prominent Boer in the 1899-1902 conflict. With an elegant schnabel forearm and usually an octagonal barrel, chambered in 7x57mm Mauser (.275 Rigby), the rifles were made for the hunt — but they served well on the battlefield.
The rifle in the video, which George describes as his pride and joy, has a story.
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The prequel series to Outlander drops August 8. Clan Cornelius will be there for it.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood is a love story that tells the tales of how the parents of Jamie Fraser came together in 18th century Scotland and how the parents of Claire Beauchamp met during World War I in England. A trailer … also revealed a time travel element involving Claire’s parents that appears to intersect with the 18th century timeline.
The series is not based on specific texts of Outlander creator Diana Gabaldon, but it mines backstory lore she laid out or hinted at in the series, and she has blessed this project. I have to admit, I was a little tepid on it — but the trailer looks quite compelling.
The title is derived from the wedding vows Jamie and Claire Fraser spoke in the year 1743, as the Jacobite Rising of 1745 loomed ahead:
Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone.
I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One.
I give ye my Spirit, ’til our Life shall be Done.
Clan Cornelius first rode out to Fennario with this romantic yarn nigh on a decade ago now. And what a satisfying long, strange trip it’s been….
Matthew says
Off topic, but Michael K. Vaughn has a video about character development of Robert E. Howard characters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uikxx-AEDMc
David Wrolson says
Sending up a smoke signal. Given how many books I bought in Scotland, i really should not buy any for awhile-but this one will be ordered soon.
https://claremontreviewofbooks.com/for-the-glory-of-france/
“For the Glory of France: A Counter-History of French Colonization”
>>>”Ghali warns the French of today not to lose their ancestral spirit of gloire in a cringing fit of shame over their ancestors’ deeds.”<<<
Bruce Gilley is mentioned in the review as being in the same vein. I have all 3 of his books. It takes a brave academeic to write books like "The Case for Colonialism" and "In Defense of German Colonialism."
They are all in the TBR pile.
This French one might jump up pretty high though. A long time ago, I went down the French-Algeria rabbit hole-so I will find that part especially interesting.
David Wrolson says
Oops, sorry the actual title is “A Counter History of French Colonization.”