John Ames, Native Commissioner: A Romance of the Matabele Rising

** "John Ames, Native Commissioner: A Romance of the Matabele Rising" by Bertram Mitford, is a historical fiction that throws you into the middle of colonial South Africa, where old and new ways are clashing after a big war. Our main guy, John Ames, has a tough job as Native Commissioner, trying to keep the peace in a place full of anger and distrust between the Matabele people and the colonizers. Right from the start, things are heating up at Madula's kraal, with a cop named Nanzicele pushing the Matabele too hard over their cattle. This scene really shows how bad things are between the locals and the British, setting the stage for a story packed with power struggles, personal goals, and cultures bumping heads. **