"The Old Front: Te Awamutu, the Story of the Waipa Valley" by James Cowan is a fascinating journey into New Zealand's past. The book covers missionaries, the military, pioneer farmers, early colonization, warfare in the Waikato region, life on the Maori frontier and settlement in later times. The author successfully combines history and analysis, revealing the key events and figures that shaped the development of the region. Through his meticulous research and lively writing, Cowan captures the atmosphere of the era and makes this a fascinating book for anyone interested in New Zealand history.