Maori Fortifications

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The Maori people of New Zealand were experienced field engineers and it was common practice to protect villages with surrounding entrenchments and wooden palisades, known as pas. However, it was not until 1845, with the first fighting between the Maori and the British, that it became clear just how strong and sophisticated the Maori fortifications were. For the best part of 20 years, the Maori held off the dominant and technologically superior British forces, by adapting and developing their defences in response to new British assaults. This book explores the evolution and design of Maori fortifications, and charts the course of a conflict that would ultimately see the British break the Maori pas, leading to a bitter guerrilla bush war.

Reviews

"Ian Knight is the author of a previous Fortress volume... Like that book, this one is unusually well written, combining technical description with a fascinating narrative... This is one of the most interesting and enjoyable books I have read in this entire series, and it is whole-heartedly recommended to anyone." --Bolling Smith, Coast Defense Journal (March 2010)

"In this book, author Ian Knight covers the history of conflict on these islands and complete design and implementation of styles of the Maori pas (or wooden pallisades) and shows how the various works were modified or improved to meet the needs of the areas in which they were placed... The book looks at the design and development, the principles of defense, what it was like to live in these walled structures and how they performed their task in war... All of this is additionally enhanced by photos of the current sites, period art work and the illustrations of Adam Hook. In all, a superb addition to the Fortress series and a book that I believe you will find interesting." --Scott Van Aken, www.modelingmadness.com (August 2009)

Author Bio

Ian Knight is widely acknowledged as a leading authority on the colonial campaigns of the Victorian Empire. He has written over 30 books on the subject including Men-at-Arms, Campaign, Essential Histories, Elite and Fortress titles for Osprey, including the Queen Victoria's Enemies series. He has worked on a number of television documentaries and is a founder member of the Victorian Military Society. He has received awards for his work on campaigns in southern Africa during the 19th century, notably the Anglo-Zulu War. Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on the Aztecs, the Greeks, several 19th-century American subjects, and a number of books in the Fortress series. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.