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Date	Original Topic
7th December 2002	Donald R. Morris dead at 78 By John http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/deaths/1692943
Date	Replies
7th December 2002	John Sorry for the blasted double post...
7th December 2002	Ian Woodason Donald R. Morris's 'The Washing of the Spears' encouraged many people to take up further reading about the conflict in much the same way that 'Zulu' got people interested in the conflict in the first place, myself included. RIP. Ian Woodason
7th December 2002	Peter Ewart Very sad news. I suspect he was responsible for far more people actually studying or researching Zulu or AZW history worldwide than were any number of films or videos. I can still remember his book being strongly recommended to me over 30 years ago, at a time when I could find almost nothing widely available on the subject. What is remarkable is the fact that many accomplished AZW historians, whose research has called into question many statements made by Morris, are always ready to acknowledge their debt to him. With so much detailed Zulu history research going on worldwide it is inevitable that anything previously published will be questioned and criticised, and so broad and huge a theme, such as he took on (at a time when very few others were) will attract rigorous examination. Yet so many historians have said - and still do say - that however much his work is revised by others, whether in a major or minor way, they owe much to him. It could hardly have been ideal doing most of his research for such a huge subject from his home in Cold War West Berlin, although he always made light of that - and the complaints about his lack of footnotes are deflected by his own disarming line that he didn't consider it an academic work! He apparently had little control over the awful popular versions of his book. Would any of us know a single thing about a certain ammunition box had not Donald R Morris stuck to his guns? Peter
7th December 2002	Diana Blackwell What a pity! Donald Morris was not only a pioneering historian and gifted writer, he was also a very nice man. Soon after Washing of the Spears came out, I sent Morris a fan letter. Though he was working at some high-powered embassy job at the time, he wrote me a long, friendly reply, accompanied by some cool stuff (a photocoy of a handwritten RD roll, a small print of De Neuville's painting, etc.). Not many authors would be so kind to an unknown teenager.
7th December 2002	Richard It was sad to hear of Donald Morris' passing. I'm sure like many others his book The Washing of the Spears sparked people's interest in the 1879 campaign just as much as the two movies. I bought the book sometime in the 1980's when I was a teenager, and while my friends were reading horror and sci-fi novels, I was captivated by the story of the Zulu War and of the particpants. This interest continues today thanks to Mr Morris's book.
7th December 2002	John Young This indeed tragic news - Donald's work was indeed ground-breaking. I was inspired by it when I first read it, it was a cracking read, especially when compared to the only other work I could obtain - Rupert Furneaux's book. On behalf of the Anglo-Zulu War Research Society's President, Patrons, Officers & Membership I express my sincere condolances to his family & friends. Go in peace Donald, John Young.
9th December 2002	Keith So sorry to hear this news. I can only echo the above comments. He brought reality to "Zulu" after the initial igniting fantasy of Michael Caine & Stanley Baker. Out of the myriad of books which followed TWOTS, most of which I own, I can honestly say that, faults and all, none were as enjoyable to read. God Rest You.