Talk:Henry Francis Fynn

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize Wikipedia's articles about people. All interested editors are invited to join the project and contribute to the discussion. For instructions on how to use this banner, please refer to the documentation.BiographyWikipedia:WikiProject BiographyTemplate:WikiProject Biographybiography articles

South Africa

	South Africa portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject South Africa, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of South Africa on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.South AfricaWikipedia:WikiProject South AfricaTemplate:WikiProject South AfricaSouth Africa articles
???	This article has not yet received a rating on the project's importance scale.

Enhancements possible[edit]

There is currently a criticism of Fynn's work, which seems overdone in Shaka. I hesitate to copy it here because it seems WP:UNDUE. Some of it is probably correct. Suggest taking a look in December 2015. (!) It can wait that long. No sense in rushing! :) Student7 (talk) 22:02, 28 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Can you tell me more about this criticism of Fynn's work? This is the first I've heard of it in my study of South African history.TH1980 (talk) 22:40, 19 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Never mind, I have found that criticism myself, and it sure makes for fascinating reading. Thanks anyway.TH1980 (talk) 03:53, 20 December 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Would a discussion of criticism leveled at Fynn's work be appropriate for a separate section entitled "Legacy"?TH1980 (talk) 02:07, 14 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Proposed Article Rearrangment[edit]

I propose that this article be rearranged into three sections:

Life

Death

In Popular Culture

Comments, anyone?TH1980 (talk) 22:42, 19 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]

I have commenced the rearrangement.TH1980 (talk) 04:20, 29 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]

I have further continued with the rearrangement, adding another section to that above, Life In South Africa. The constructive assistance of others is welcome, too.TH1980 (talk) 03:41, 13 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I made sure to add a section about Mr. Fynn's personal life too.TH1980 (talk) 13:04, 13 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

I propose that one more section be added: "Legacy." In this his so-called "diary" could be discussed.TH1980 (talk) 02:04, 6 June 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Statement About Fynn's Diary[edit]

The introduction to the article contains this statement:

"His diary covers the period from 1824 to 1836 and is the story of the first white settler in Natal who had reached an agreement with the Zulu by befriending Shaka Zulu, who gave him the strip of land in which the town of Durban was situated. His diary provides a contemporary account of Shaka and the kingdom of the Zulu in South Africa."

This statement is contradicted by information contained one of the articles listed in the References, Dan Wylie's "Proprietor of Natal:" Henry Francis Fynn and the Mythography of Shaka. Wylie points out that Fynn's so-called "diary" was actually compiled from writings Fynn made late in his life. These jottings were later not only edited but also burnished by James Stuart into the so-called "diary". I therefore suggest that the statemented quoted above be removed from the article, because it is misleading not only about the "diary" but also about to whom Shaka granted land: it was actually Francis George Farewell. Thoughts, anyone?TH1980 (talk) 00:42, 4 December 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Since there have been no objections raised, I have replaced this sentence with this one:

"He was among the first Europeans to make contact with Shaka Zulu.″

TH1980 (talk) 03:40, 20 December 2020 (UTC)[reply]