The King's Assegai: A Matabili Story: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The King's Assegai: A Matabili Story: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The King's Assegai: A Matabili Story is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Mitford, Bertram (1855–1914).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The King's Assegai: A Matabili Story" by Bertram Mitford is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. The narrative unfolds through the voice of Untuswa, a Zulu warrior who recounts the dramatic story of his people, focusing on the tensions and conflicts during the reign of King Tshaka and the rise of Umzilikazi, who would lead a faction of Zulus to forge a new kingdom. The book delves into themes of bravery, loyalty, and the quest for power amidst cultural and political upheaval in pre-colonial Africa. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to Untuswa, who is captivated by a beautiful assegai, a traditional Zulu spear, owned by an old Zulu man named Untuswa. The old man, a survivor of the tumultuous era, begins to share his storied past, revealing his connection to historical events that shaped the Zulu nation. The opening sets a tone of anticipation, promising not only a personal tale of Untuswa’s journey to become a respected warrior but also a broader narrative about the struggles of the Zulu people against rival factions and internal challenges. As he recalls his youthful experiences, including battles and interactions with influential leaders, the story promises rich historical insights intertwined with personal narratives throughout Utuswa's life.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The King's Assegai: A Matabili Story
- Author credits: Mitford, Bertram (1855–1914)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Ndebele (African people) -- Fiction
- South Africa -- Fiction
- Zulu (African people) -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Adventure
- Category: Historical Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


