First published 2013
William Dalrymple reconstructs the catastrophic First Afghan War through previously unused primary sources. In 1839, British forces invaded Afghanistan and placed Shah Shuja on the throne as their puppet ruler. The occupation seemed successful until 1841, when Afghan tribes launched a jihad against the foreign occupiers. Poorly equipped tribesmen defeated the world's most powerful military force in a stunning reversal. More than eighteen thousand British troops began their retreat from Kabul through dangerous mountain passes. Only one soldier survived the journey to reach Jellalabad. Dalrymple draws clear parallels between this nineteenth century disaster and NATO's modern Afghan campaign. The book provides both a comprehensive analysis of Britain's imperial overreach and sharp insights into contemporary military intervention.
Genres: history, historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 21st-century, 19th-century, academic, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, military-fiction
Setting: Afghanistan, Kabul, Jellalabad
Period: 1839, 1841
515 pages · Hardcover · Knopf