The Return of a King
by William Dalrymple
"The Battle for Afghanistan, 1839-42"
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The Return of a King by William Dalrymple
Details
Perspective:
Commanders
True Story:
Yes
Biography:
No
Region:
Asia
Published Date:
2013
ISBN13:
9780307958280
Summary
The Return of a King chronicles Britain's disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War, when the British East India Company attempted to install a puppet ruler in Afghanistan. Dalrymple draws on previously untapped Afghan sources to tell both sides of the conflict, revealing how the 1839 invasion and subsequent occupation led to catastrophic defeat in 1842. The book explores the hubris of imperial intervention, the resilience of Afghan resistance, and the brutal retreat from Kabul that decimated British forces. It offers parallels to modern conflicts and demonstrates how Afghanistan earned its reputation as the graveyard of empires.
