The Boer War (1899–1902) made a deep impression on contemporaries. In this war, the Boer farmers armed with the most modern weapons won several brilliant victories over the British regular army. On the battlefields of the Boer War, Mauser rifles and Maxim machine guns opposed the tactics of the Napoleonic Wars, which continued to adhere to the European army. After the last Boer army was defeated, a fierce guerrilla war continued for another two years. The British Empire ultimately won, but paid for it with a loss of twenty thousand soldiers. After the war, the British went to a completely deserted and devastated country. Arthur Conan Doyle took part in the Boer War as a military doctor. He became the first historian of this war. The first edition of his book was published at the end of 1900, when the war was drawing to a close, but still far from over. Between 1900 and 1902, Conan Doyle’s book survived eighteen editions! The venerable writer constantly supplemented his work with new chapters. The famous author of stories about Sherlock Holmes and team leader Gerard fully confirmed his reputation as a brilliant writer. Of particular interest to the book is the fact that the author was a direct witness and participant in the events.
