Sidharta Books & Print

HAMILTON SPECTATOR You won't have heard of Archie Adams, because even though he was 'born' in Hamilton, he is the central character in a work of fiction. But it is fiction, based on factual circumstances.
Tomorrow marks the 125th anniversary of the start of the Anglo-Zulu war in Africa, and military historian, Barry Abley,
has written a book. Inkonkoni, detailing the adventures of a colonial Victorian, the fictional Archie Adams, in Zuluand in 1879.
Mr Abley said the sure knowledge that a number of colonial Australians, and certainly at least one Victorian, participated in the conflict, was the motivation for writing the novel.
" I wanted the central character to be raised in Western Victoria, attend a Mechanics' Institute, and the Ballarat School of Mines in 1875," he said. 'The Grange and Hamilton fitted the bill admirably for the early years of Archie's life.
'I am particularly indebted to Margaret Gardner, from the Hamilton History Centre, who provided me with archival material and was kind enough to proof some of the early text.
" Not only did this enable a considerable degree of historical validity, but together with other documentation, gave an insight into life in Hamilton, which I trust is reflected in the novel, although it is a novel and I trust any future readers will appreciate this and forgive historical inaccuracies. The first three chapters of the book focus on Archie's early life in Hamilton, and give intriguing glimpses of the life of Hamiltonians in the early years of The Grange, later to become Hamilton.