Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan by William Dalrymple is a detailed historical account of the first Afghan War, focusing on the British invasion of Afghanistan in the 1840s. The book delves into the political and military disasters that led to the wiping out of a British army and the downfall of the puppet state they established in Afghanistan. Dalrymple's writing style is described as well-researched, detailed, and enlightening, offering insight into the complexities of Afghan history and culture.

Writing/Prose:

The author's accessible and engaging writing style combines scholarly research with an easy-to-follow narrative, making it highly readable.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around the British invasion of Afghanistan, drawing parallels to modern conflicts. It details the rise and decline of Shah Shuja and the consequences of British military decisions.

Setting:

The setting is 19th-century Afghanistan, characterized by its political complexities, rich culture, and challenging terrain influenced by foreign interventions.

Pacing:

While the pacing is engaging and generally maintains a forward momentum, some sections may feel slow due to detailed quotes.

There may be easier places to research a history book than Afghanistan and Pakistan, but few which provide more unexpected diversion in the course of hunting down texts, letters and manuscripts. On th...

Genres:

nonfiction

historical narrative

Topics:

first anglo afghan war

cultural perspectives

Notes:

The book details the first Anglo-Afghan War of the late 1830s, highlighting the cycles of foreign invasion and local resistance in Afghanistan's history.

William Dalrymple emphasizes the arrogance of the British during their invasion, bringing an excess of luxury goods which alienated the locals.

The Afghan ruler Shah Shuja was a pawn for British interests, being reinstated as king despite his unpopularity among his people.

The British invasion was prompted by fears of Russian expansion into Central Asia, reflecting the geopolitical tensions of the time, known as The Great Game.

Dalrymple's account is notable for including Afghan and Persian sources, offering a more balanced perspective than previous histories which relied mainly on British accounts.

The text discusses the disastrous nature of the British retreat from Kabul in 1842, where an estimated 17,000 soldiers and civilians began the journey but only one man made it back to safety.

As the British occupied Afghanistan, they cut support to local tribal leaders, leading to widespread resentment and eventually contributing to a violent uprising.

Dalrymple portrays the complexities of Afghan tribal politics, where various factions would unite against a common enemy, the British.

The book draws parallels between the historical conflicts in Afghanistan and modern military interventions in the region, suggesting a lack of lessons learned from history.

Lady Sale's journal provides a personal perspective on the events, revealing the experiences of British women during the conflict.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include descriptions of war violence, military casualties, historical atrocities, and the impact of colonialism on populations.

From The Publisher:

A Best Book of the Year: The Economist, Slate, Kirkus Reviews

In 1839, nearly 20,000 British troops poured through the mountain passes into Afghanistan and installed the exiled Shah Shuja on the throne as their puppet. But after little more than two years, the Afghans exploded into rebellion. The British were forced to retreat-and were then ambushed in the mountains by simply-equipped Afghan tribesmen. Just one British man made it through. But Dalrymple takes us beyond the story of this colonial humiliation and illuminates the key connections between then and now. Shah Shuja and President Hamid Karzai share the same tribal heritage; the Shah's principal opponents were the Ghilzai tribe, who today make up the bulk of the Taliban's foot soldiers. Dalrymple explains the byzantine complexity of Afghanistan's age-old tribal rivalries, their stranglehold on politics, and how they ensnared both the British of the nineteenth century and NATO forces today. Rich with newly discovered primary sources, this stunning narrative is the definitive account of the first battle for Afghanistan.

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About the Author:

William Dalrymple is the author of seven previous works of history and travel, including City of Djinns, which won the Young British Writer of the Year Prize and the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award; From the Holy Mountain; White Mughals, which won Britain's Wolfson History Prize; and The Last Mughal, which won the Duff Cooper Prize for History and Biography. He is a contributor to The New York Review of Books and The New Yorker. He divides his time between New Delhi and London.

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Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan

William Dalrymple