One of the best introductory books from the recent crop is The Boer War: South Africa 1899-1902 by Martin Matrix Evans. This book does not set out to detail the political background to the war or discuss it's role in the decline of imperialism and the British Empire. What it does provide is an excellent overview of the war using first-hand accounts from both sides - revealing the often confusing and conflicting nature of primary sources.
As well as the usual reproductions of contemporary photographs Evans has provided recent colour photographs to provide a feeling for the particular geography encountered. Now you can see, and model, the koppies that the Boers are hiding around. Additionally, Evans has included maps for all the major battles, several not offered elsewhere - finally I was able to get a map of Belmont and Graspan without the extortionate cost of buying the antiquarian The Times History (1900-1909).
If you are interested in the chronology of the Anglo-Boer War then Pieter G. Cloete's book The Anglo-Boer War: A Chronology, is the ideal book for you. Cloete presents a day-by-day account of the eleven months preceding the ZAR ultimatum and the ensuing 963 days of hostilities until the signing of the final peace treaty.
The daily entries are grouped together under regional or campaign headings which gives rapid access to specific details. Speeches, letters, telegrams and the ultimatum itself are quoted to give the reader a feel for the events as experienced by the major players. There are even occasional trivia notes to tie the whole campaign into a wider context. For example, the entry for 16th December, 1899, details the black week - the aftermath of the Battle of Colenso, the Kuruman siege on the western front, the acceptance of the City Imperial Volunteers for London and the second Canadian contingent, whilst pointing out that this is also Dingaan's Day (Day of the Covenant), that there was a total eclipse observed in Natal, and that Noel Coward was born!
For a definitive, and detailed, inspection of the Anglo-Boer war the best book to read must be Thomas Pakenham's The Boer War. This is probably the best book published on the subject (certainly the best researched) and is available in an academically-dense text version or in a lighter illustrated version. Pakenham's research is extemporary, his bibliography and reference list extensive, and he cites many unpublished sources such as family memoirs and private letters. Pakenham's narrative is eminently readable and the only thing lacking in this book is maps. If you are interested in the Anglo-Boer war this book must take pride of place on the bookshelf.
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