This is the story of 25 tumultuous years in the life of the South
African mining company of Gold Fields, one of the greatest in the
world. If it is true that  Big Business' is the last adventure
frontier, then mining for gold has to be the most adventurous,
dangerous and unpredictable business pursuit of them all.
Mining is all about risk Â- risk and reward. Gold Fields,
fourth-biggest gold producer in the world, has confronted risk many
times in its history. Mining four kilometres under the earth as well
as surface mining, it has flirted with disaster as often as it has
known triumph.
Viewed from a distance, great companies seem to float serenely
across untroubled waters. But the reality is very different. Mining
is about people too Â- strong-minded people ready to take chances
and back their own judgement. Such forceful and dauntless
personalities tend to clash.
Battlefields of Gold is not merely a history. It tells the stories,
largely untold, of what really went on behind the scenes as the
company fought time and again for survival. Fast-paced and pulling
no punches, this tell-all history provides intriguing insights into
the boardroom battles, risky ventures and tempestuous corporate
climate of this giant gold producer.
