William dalrymple seeks contemporary lessons in britains disastrous 19thcentury invasion of afghanistan. Against this backdrop, the eminent british historian william dalrymple turns to that war in the return of a king, a wellresearched and lucidly written account of the period. Jun 26, 20 darkness begins to envelop the sullen and lifeless landscape, a metaphor for the ominous british ending to its first afghanistan excursion. From firsthand accounts, the afghan people initially. William dalrymple return of a king the battle f book. Return of a king is the definitive analysis of the first afghan war, told through the lives of unforgettable characters on all sides and using for the first time contemporary afghan accounts of the conflict. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 book online at best prices in india on.
And as the latest occupying force in afghanistan negotiates its exit, this chronicle seems all too relevant now. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 by william dalrymple r, shown here at asia society new york in february 2012. The battle for afghanistan by dalrymple, william isbn. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read return of a king. The battle for afghanistan enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This latest book in the saga, the return of a king, captures the british at the cusp of a new era. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 isas departmental. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The conflict resulted in the near complete destruction of an entire british army, with deaths of 4,500 british and indian soldiers. The return of a king, the battle for afghanistan, 183942 by william dalrymple. Return of a king the battle for afghanistan is awardwinning historian william dalrymples account of the wests disastrous encounter with afghanistan in the mid19th century, a. William dalrymples the return of a king is about afghanistan, which means its about death in its most horrible forms. He expanded afghanistans diplomatic relations with many countries, including with both cold war sides.
Prizewinning and bestselling historian william dalrymples masterful retelling of britain. William dalrymple paints so vivid a picture of his subject that its like watching a documentary. Feb 04, 20 shortlisted for the samuel johnson prize 20, return of a king is the definitive analysis of the first afghan war, told through the lives of unforgettable characters on all sides and using for the first time contemporary afghan accounts of the conflict. The return of a king is both the definitive analysis of the first angloafghan war and a work of. The author spent time in both afghanistan and pakistan during its research and elaborates on. The seductive artistry of dalrymples narrative gift draws the reader into events. Of dalrymples recent works, return of a king is perhaps the most directly relevant to the present day.
The battle for afghanistan, 183942 dalrymple, william on. Return of the king is a magisterial account of the british invasion and occupation of afghanistan in 183942. In the spring of 1839, nearly 20,000 british and east india company troops poured into afghanistan, in a massive invasion for its time. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading return of a king. The battle for afghanistan is a nonfiction book by william dalyrmple, author of critically acclaimed books like xanadu, city of djinns, white mughals and the last mughal.
The battle for afghanistan, 183942 ebook written by william dalrymple. The economist in return of a king, dalrymple has done again what he did magnificently for two other telling episodes of british imperial history in white mughals 2002 and the last mughal 2006. Suzanna finleyasia society dalrymple underscored some of those parallels in a trenchant oped published yesterday in the new york times. In the spring of 1839, the british invaded afghanistan for the first time. The battle for afghanistan, written by the scottish historian william dalrymple and published in 2012, is an account of the first angloafghan war from 1839 to 1842. In the spring of 1839 british forces invaded afghanistan for the. Led by lancers in scarlet cloaks and plumed shakos, nearly 20,000 british and east india company troops poured through the high mountain passes and reestablished on the throne shah shuja ulmulk. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Catastrophe at kabul the british invaded afghanistan in 1839 with high hopes. Return of a king is a history of the british invasion of afghanistan in 1839, one of those passages of history the close examination of which requires a strong stomachand which therefore also require the most thorough investigation. Return of a king is much different in that it chronicles the events over a few years when the british invaded afghanistan, retreated, got slaughtered and then attacked again just to show their might before heading back.
Before they fought a single afghan, officers were fighting, soldiers were on half rations and cannons were abandoned. William dalrymple on return of a king the hugh hewitt show. Jan 01, 20 in the spring of 1839 british forces invaded afghanistan for the first time, reestablishing shah shuja on the throne and ushering in a period of conflict over the territory still unresolved today. Dalrymples afterword should be put on college syllabuses on both sides of the atlantic. The return of a king is the definitive analysis of the first afghan war. Reading this extremely wellresearched account of the conflict including substantial reliance on afghan sources can make for painful reading for a western audience. Jan 26, 20 of dalrymples recent works, return of a king is perhaps the most directly relevant to the present day.
In return of a king, william dalrymple narrates the united kingdoms illfated. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 kindle edition by dalrymple, william. In the spring of 1839 british forces invaded afghanistan for the first time, reestablishing shah shuja on the throne and ushering in a period of conflict over the territory still unresolved today. Auden praised the return of the king and found the lord of the rings a masterpiece of the genre. The king of the book s title shah shuja was a british appointment and gratifyingly. Jun 20, 2016 while william dalrymples return of a king does not fundamentally question mainstream interpretations of the wests first encounter with afghan society, the analysis relies on an unprecedented amount of primary sources, including many letters written at the time, as well as epic afghani poetry, that turns the book into the most sophisticated. Led by lancers in scarlet cloaks and plumed shakos, nearly 20,000 british and east india company troops poured through the passes and reestablished on the throne shah shuja ulmulk. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 by william dalrymple online at alibris. Return of a king is a catalogue of military incompetence, stupidity and treachery on a monumental scale, and the story is told in simple, yet very elegant, prose.