The Afghan Campaign

Apr 03, 2009 Kevin rated it 4 of 5 stars

A really interesting book by Steven Pressfield. This is the second book of his that I have read and am hooked. He has been called an expert on ancient warfare and I believe it. This also reads like a history book. He does great character study and development while weaving in historical movements and happenings. I sometimes get caught up in wondering if things were as advanced as he makes them seem in that time but then remember that he has done far more research than me on the subject.

The obvio...more

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Jun 19, 2008 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: mature readers ages 15 and up

Stephen Pressfield has garnered laurels for his ability to describe the utter brutality of ancient warfare and his descriptions of battles fought during the campaign of Alexander the Great in Afghanistan in his novel "The Afghan Campaign" are as wrenching as those depicted in Pressfield's "Gates of Fire".

Told from the perspective of a common soldier rather than from Alexander's viewpoint or the viewpoint of one of Alexander's commanders, "The Afghan Campaign" provides the reader the opportunity...more

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Jun 07, 2007 Eduardo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

if you want to know about the futility and brutality of war in present day Afghanistan read this book. This historical fiction book tells the story of a young recruit as he eagerly enlist on the army of Alexander the Great. Anxious for action, he, like all young recruits before their first battle, expects glory and riches, alas! those dreams quickly dissappers as he barely survives the first battle, and has to kill a human being in order to live. As the one-year campaing moves to three, four yea...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Dale rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the devil's country...and you are fighting the devil's war"

The Afghan Campaign is one of two pieces of historical fiction that Steven Pressfield has written about Alexander the Great (the other is The Virtues of War ). Pressfield has written about several historical eras but his real area of interest seems to be the Greek and Hellenestic eras. His most famous and, in my opinion, his best novel is Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae.

The Afghan Campaign is a solid no...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Ensiform rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, war, historical

The story of Matthias, a Macedonian youth who slips away to join Alexander’s corps as it treks across Afghanistan on its way to India. A raw recruit, he is taken under the wing of Flag, a grizzled sergeant who sees him grow in military experience and in cynicism. He buys a slave girl who later becomes his lover, but he learns that this harsh desert land, where even women and children are enemies, is totally alien, and can never accept him.

After the excitement of Pressfield's Gates of Fire, this...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Louis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: history

This is about a soldier in the time of Alexander the Great of Macedon, around 330 BC. Alexander the Great has conquered everywhere using standard tactics of drawing out his enemy and defeating it on the battlefield. And he has conquered the Persian empire, the greatest in the world. And, on the way to the riches of India, lay the Hindu Kush, present day Afghanistan.

The Afghan Campaign is written from the point of view of a new soldier. During the war against the Persians Matthias joins the Maced...more This is about a soldier in the time of Alexander the Great of Macedon, around 330 BC. Alexander the Great has conquered everywhere using standard tactics of drawing out his enemy and defeating it on the battlefield. And he has conquered the Persian empire, the greatest in the world. And, on the way to the riches of India, lay the Hindu Kush, present day Afghanistan.

The Afghan Campaign is written from the point of view of a new soldier. During the war against the Persians Matthias joins the Macedonian army, following in the footsteps of his brothers. However, he is too late to join in the glorious wars against the Persians. But, he arrives in the Hindu Kush, after the main battle. But the war is not over. Over the course of the campaign, Matthias sees victory, loss. Friends are killed in barbaric ways and he takes part in atrocities that make him sick. His family gives his support, and his fiance leaves him. And at the end, he is frustrated with the war, has the spoils of war that his brother tells him to take home, and decides to continue with Alexander.

So, what is the point? Why this pseudo-history of the ancient world? The question for this is not to present a history, but to present an experience. So, do I think it is accurate, all things considered. And, well, it is. When you are in the middle of things, you don't have too much time to think about the big picture, unless you have that kind of position. Your general thoughts as far as war is concerned are about the day in question. But there are times to think about other things. You are very concerned about your comrade around you, their fortunes, successes, failures. Their hurts and their victories are shared and felt by you. And you think of loved ones behind. Of people back home who support and love you. Of those who have forgotten you. And those who have let you go and gone their own way.

Someone asked me if I missed anything about serving in Afghanistan, it was that. The sense that we shared in the struggles, successes and frustrations of each other. The guy who we all said had the worst job in the office, as he was having his direction of effort changed almost hourly, and never could get what he was doing done well enough to be satisfying. The senior officer who did not have a well defined job, who spent his time making snide remarks and complaining about little mickey mouse issues. The guys who got regular packages and letters from home (I was one of them), especially the newlywed whose wife sent him a package including baked cookies weekly (the winner). We worried about the guy who was a bit of a loner and never got packages (and were real relieved when his mother sent something). I loved it when all the guys on the staff were pulling for me when I gave a big presentation that needed very senior officer support, giving me feedback, suggestions, and general "ask for whatever help you need" support. We talked to our families and shared in the fustrations, joys, stories (funny, sad, frustrating and proud). The ideas, dreams and hopes we had for the future. All the things that make us real human beings. And Pressfield presents that well, both the good and the bad.

Obviously, the book is for a certain type of person. The gore exists, as it is also a part of war. But it is not there for its own sake. It is there because it is part of the environment that shapes the people. And to that extent, it, like some of his other works (e.g. GatesofFire?), does the job wonderfully.(less)

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Nov 06, 2011 Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fic-historical

I don't know how much of Pressfield's fictional account by a cavalry soldier in Alexander the Great's army circa 300BC is historically accurate and how much has been filled in by the author's imagination, but the end product is crisp, to-the-point military fiction that finds many parallels between the experiences of an ancient would-be conquering empire in Afghanistan and those of more modern ones. Then as now, Western forces found themselves struggling in harsh landscape among a stubborn, hard-...more

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Aug 11, 2009 Clif Hostetler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

This historical novel is about Alexander the Great's invasion of Afghanistan in 330 B.C. It's the one place where Alexander's army met with less than total success. More than once they invaded an area only to learn that their enemy had mysteriously appeared in their rear. This was frustrating to an army that knew they were the best in the world and were used to conquering any force that confronted them. This book is an amplification of one of the chapters of the book, The Virtues of War: A Novel...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Arun Divakar rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The man who at less than 30 years of age had carved out an empire sprawling halfway across the world, the man at the statue of whose feet Julius Caesar is said to have wept thinking that he at that age had not accomplished even half of what this giant of a man could : Alexander the Great. Myths surround him, historians dub him one of the greatest generals who ever lived and one theatre of war that took him by surprise was Afghanistan. I have read in some other work that one of Alexander's battle...more The man who at less than 30 years of age had carved out an empire sprawling halfway across the world, the man at the statue of whose feet Julius Caesar is said to have wept thinking that he at that age had not accomplished even half of what this giant of a man could : Alexander the Great. Myths surround him, historians dub him one of the greatest generals who ever lived and one theatre of war that took him by surprise was Afghanistan. I have read in some other work that one of Alexander's battle hardened generals called the land as the "Arse-Hole of the civilized world" for its inhospitable terrain and fierce warriors. The author takes the narrative to a new level by viewing the battle through the eyes of an infantry man who is in the thick of the melee.

It occured to me while reading that Afghanistan has a unique military history. Scores of invaders have burned their hands in subduing the land and the land stood defiant and so did its fiercely independant people. Geographically the land is savage and beautiful at the same time from dust bowl to craggy mountain slopes, from snow capped passes to lush vales is all a matter of distance in the land. After bringing the persian empire to its knees, Alexander had to pass through Afghanistan into the hindu kush to India. It was in Afghanistan that he had to spend three years in fighting the most brutal of his enemies, a place were alliances shifted in just days and were there was no code of honor or chivalry. As one solider puts it "Here ony winning matters, honor & courage are worth nothing".

This said the tale lacks the finesse of Pressfield's other works at places. To my prejudiced eye, it was too melodramatic as it neared the climax and it even occured to me that most of the Greek soliders speak the language of the gung-ho US Marines we see in the movies. Pressfield never fails to dazzle when it comes to battlefield action, the scenes are so vivid to make one hear the thundering of the horse's hooves and clash of metal on metal. True to the narrative, Alexander appears in cameos in a few chapters and never overshadows the lead characters at any point. The narrative is strikingly good at points where the writer tells of how the horrors of war transforms the minds of people. To sum up it is a tale of how a strapping 20 year old becomes a dispassionate killing machine in three years in brutal conditions.

A good read....(less)

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Apr 21, 2009 Cheri rated it 5 of 5 stars

"Do you believe that so many nations accustomed to the name and rule of another, united with us neither by religion, nor customs, nor community of language, have been subdued in the same battle in which they were overcome? It is by your arms alone that they are restrained, not by their dispositions, and those who fear us when we are present, in our absence will be enemies. We are dealing with savage beasts, which lapse of time only can tame, when they are caught and caged, because their own natu...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Ed rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Historical Fiction Fans

Shelves: historical-fiction, reviewed

Looking at the front cover, one would think this might be about the U.S. Afghan adventure. It isn't. It is a story of Alexander the Great's Afghan campaign which ran from the Summer of 330 BC to the Spring of 327 BC. Even in those days, a war in Afghanistan was difficult to win.

This story is told by a young soldier, Matthias, enlisted in Alexander's grand adventure to create an empire. He begins as a new recruit and three years later is a hardened, cynical veteran.

Much of the stuff written about...more Looking at the front cover, one would think this might be about the U.S. Afghan adventure. It isn't. It is a story of Alexander the Great's Afghan campaign which ran from the Summer of 330 BC to the Spring of 327 BC. Even in those days, a war in Afghanistan was difficult to win.

This story is told by a young soldier, Matthias, enlisted in Alexander's grand adventure to create an empire. He begins as a new recruit and three years later is a hardened, cynical veteran.

Much of the stuff written about the current Afghan situation was true in 330 BC, horrible terrain and weather, a brutal and unforgiving foe, gratuitous bloodshed and slaughter, collateral damage, etc. The author pulls no punches when it comes to describing what both sides did to try and terrify the other side. It also is graphically accurate describing the transition from new recruit to killer.

Many of the lessons Alexander learned might make sense to the current commanders fighting in Afghanistan today. One, being it is near impossible to win the hearts and minds of the native population when you are seen as an invader. Two, you cannot defeat a foe who cares little about his own life. Three, as long as the indigenous population is willing to feed and hide your foe, you will never be able to finish the enemy off.

Another truth of combat that comes through clearly in the book is that soldiers do not fight for country, medals or riches but rather for their buddies. Often in the story, Matthias, the narrator, takes great risks for no other reason than to protect the members of his unit. Another warfare given is that the officers will do something stupid that the foot soldier pays for. Such an event leads to a massacre of one wing of Alexander's army. The story even contains a "Dear John" event.

The big questions are never answered in this story such as why did Alexander spend so much time and resources to conquer Afghanistan when the actual goal was India? Why were were so many of Alexander's soldiers neither Macedonians or Greeks? These are left for the reader to puzzle out on his own just as Matthias and his buddies had to do.

I did feel , though, that the author was reaching when he created a litany of slang such as he imagined the soldiers of the day used. Felt a little bit affected to me and an attempt to tie this story to the present day; not that I doubt that slang existed. Sometimes. Pressfield's descriptions went on far too long and gave me the impression he was trying to show how much research he had done. Other than these small criticisms, I enjoyed the book immensely and unreservedly recommend it. (less)

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Aug 22, 2010 Marc rated it 2 of 5 stars

I love Steven Pressfield. I've read the majority of his books and have loved them all. Those books had a lot of emotional impact. Sadly, The Afghan Campaign does not.

The Afghan Campaign is a lot more technical. Pressfield's previous books dealt with the same material but for whatever reason, this one goes into more details when it comes to weaponry, occupation, fighting, campaigns, and everything else it is to be a soldier. Whenever there's a part in the story that would get emotional, it's told...more

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Apr 08, 2009 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

The story of Alexander the Great's army's afghan campaign told from a solider's point of view. The tactics and strategies of the battles and the story of the clashing cultures that held Alexander's army there so long are well worth reading. But, the true life of the story is in the solider's experience of the land, privations, and challenges of army life on campaign. Parts read just like cherry-garrard's worst journey in the world's account of the antarctic marches the endured under Scott's expe...more

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Aug 11, 2011 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Historical Novel 2006

I read this book because I want to understand more about Afghan history. It seems the US is making many of the same mistakes that Alexander the Great made in his Afghan Campaign.

Quote: This historical novel recounts the Afghan war of 330 B.C., not any anti-Taliban onslaught. Nevertheless, readers will be struck repeatedly by the eerie shock of recognition that it evokes. Steven Pressfield's large-scale fiction about Alexander the Great's marred attempt to conquer the Afghan...more

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Apr 20, 2011 Sean Arthur rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to like this book, but somehow it never quite clicked.

The two-by-four parallels to modern times almost never let up, and it was more irritating than enlightening. Yes, yes, I get it. War never changes, American soldiers are just like ancient Greek soldiers, etc. Could've been a lot more subtle. I mean, embedded reporters, really?

The other issue was that I never really connected with any of the characters. It always felt like there was something to them, I just wasn't seeing it. Too many...more

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Oct 26, 2009 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

A historical fiction about Alexander the Great's attempts to conquer modern-day Afghanistan. 300's BC. He was stuck here for years. It is almost comical that he also tried a troop "surge" that failed. The Greeks spoke in the same terms as today, no single enemy- loose bands of tribemen that melted into the hills. "Pockets of resistance, areas of insurgency." Alexander only gained a brief and marginal victory by marrying the daughter of a major chieftan, who convinced the others to lay off (for a...more

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Mar 10, 2011 David added it

Steven Pressfield has done it again. He knows soldiers and war like no other living writer. The parallels he draws with today's Afghanistan War are insightful. He does, I think, at times push too hard to make the parallels with today's conflict. Having the "correspondent" in the story wear a floppy hat and dress like one of Alexander's Mack soldiers, was one such touch. But these are quibbles. Pressfield is umatched in his realistic and insightful portrayals of war and warriors. In "virtues of W...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Lea Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 25, 2010 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, cs-spring-summer-challenge-2010

I've been studying modern Afghanistan in one of my classes, and so for the College Students spring/summer challenge I decided to pick a book taking place in the same area, thousands of years ago.

This book is well-written, interesting, and full of plot and war. However, I definitely think the writing style is not one that would interest most women. I'm not sure why this is the case, but it definitely has a masculine vibe to it. (Perhaps that's an effect of a man writing it, told from a man's pers...more

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Oct 19, 2009 Elizabeth Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading Pressfield's The War of Art, I wanted to read some of his other books. This is the first one I picked, because it's about Alexander the Great's invasion of what is now known as Afghanistan.

I've finished the book and it was fascinating--I hadn't realized that what's now known as Afghanistan has been attacked so many times and that the country and its inhabitants have always repelled the invaders or, in Alexander's case, "won" by making peace.

The Afghan Campaign also made me think...more

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May 08, 2012 Rob rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

A solid piece of social historical fiction (the Alltagsgeschichte of Afghanistan?). Pressfield's fiction manages well to express ideas and concepts that would be more difficult to tell in straigth-forward nonfiction, history or even memoir formats. Pressfield straddles the (often fine) line between warrior and poet, East and West, old and new Afghanistan, and the best and worst of human nature. Like Killing Rommel, _The Afghan Campaign_ uses minor/line/non-heroic characters to retell a historica...more

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Apr 06, 2011 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: afghanistan, historical-fiction, 10-best-books-read-in-2009, 4-stars-and-a-half

This is the only one of Pressfield's books that I've read, and I was quite impressed. Knowing very little about Alexander the Great and Macedonian culture, I can't vouch for the book's accuracy, but it certainly brings the ancient world to life in a believable way. The military history is easy enough to understand even for those of us (like me) who aren't familiar with much military terminology, and the glossary in the back is helpful. The characters are what make this a five-star read, though;...more

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Mar 27, 2011 Angeliki rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: american, fiction, history, borrowed

Η ιστορία της εκστρατείας του Μέγα Αλέξανδρου μέσα από την προσωπική ιστορία ενός απλού στρατιώτη. Κατά τη γνώμη μου ένα από τα καλύτερα ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα που έχω διαβάσει ποτέ! Τα 4 αστέρια ίσως είναι λίγα για το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο. Όμως σε ορισμένα σημεία του βιβλίου η πλοκή έμενε πίσω για χάρη της λεπτομερούς περιγραφής των στρατοπέδων και των τοπίων, κάτι που πολλούς μπορεί να τους κουράζει.

Ο Πόλεμος
Το βιβλίο δεν καταπιάνεται με ολόκληρη την εκστρατεία του Αλέξανδρου αλλά ξεκινά μετά...more Η ιστορία της εκστρατείας του Μέγα Αλέξανδρου μέσα από την προσωπική ιστορία ενός απλού στρατιώτη. Κατά τη γνώμη μου ένα από τα καλύτερα ιστορικά μυθιστορήματα που έχω διαβάσει ποτέ! Τα 4 αστέρια ίσως είναι λίγα για το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο. Όμως σε ορισμένα σημεία του βιβλίου η πλοκή έμενε πίσω για χάρη της λεπτομερούς περιγραφής των στρατοπέδων και των τοπίων, κάτι που πολλούς μπορεί να τους κουράζει.

Ο Πόλεμος
Το βιβλίο δεν καταπιάνεται με ολόκληρη την εκστρατεία του Αλέξανδρου αλλά ξεκινά μετά την κατάκτηση της Περσικής Αυτοκρατορίας και την εξάπλωσή του στην γη των παιδιών του Αφγάνα, το σημερινό Αφγανιστάν. Αυτό που μου έκανε θετική εντύπωση είναι ότι ο Pressfield δεν παρουσίασε την εκστρατεία των Μακεδόνων ως μια ένδοξη πορεία με στόχο να διδάξουν τον πολιτισμό στους "βαρβάρους", όπως προωθείται από την δυτική σκέψη και ιστοριογραφία. Αντίθετα τίθεται στα σωστά πλαίσια του επιθετικού - επεκτατικόύ πολέμου χωρίς βέβαια να υποτιμάται η σπουδαιότητα του κατορθώματος αυτού. Παρουσιάζονται όλες οι αθλιότητες και οι αγριότητες του πολέμου και από τις δύο αντίπαλες πλευρές.

Ο Μαντίθεος και οι Μακεδόνες
Το κεντρικό πρόσωπο του βιβλίου είναι ο Μαντίθεος, ένας νεαρός από την Μακεδονία που επιλέγει να καταταγεί στον στρατό για να κερδίσει δόξα, πλούτη και να τιμήσει τον πατέρα του και τα αδέλφια του που πολέμησαν στο πλευρό του Αλέξανδρου. Ήδη όμως από την αρχή καταλαβαίνει ότι ο πόλεμος δεν είναι μόνο ένδοξες στιγμές και νίκες. Το να σκοτώσεις έναν άνθρωπο δεν είναι τόσο απλό όσο του φαινόταν και η ζωή του στρατιώτη ξεδιπλώνεται σαν μια καταδίκη σε μια ζωή βιαιότητας. Οι Μακεδόνες είναι πλεόν μια μειοψηφία σε έναν τεράστιο μισθοφορικό στρατό που πρέπει να μάθουν να ζουν και να πολεμούν μη γνωρίζοντας ποιος είναι ο σύμμαχος και ποιος ο εχθρός.

Η Σινάρ και "Οι Βάρβαροι"
Ο Μαντίθεος κατά τη διάρκεια της εκστρατείας σώζει μια από τις ντόπιες γυναίκες που χρησιμοποιούσε ο μακεδονικός στρατός μαζί με τα ζώα για να μεταφέρουν προμήθειες. Βλέπουμε πως ένας έρωτας γεννιέται μέσα στην εσκτρατεία που δεν είναι όμως ο μόνος καθώς πολλοί ήταν οι Μακεδόνες που έκαναν οικογένεια με ντόπιες γυναίκες. Οικογένειες όμως που συνήθως ήταν καταδικασμένες εξ' αιτίας του σκληρού κώδικα τιμής των λαών της περιοχής που επέβαλλαν την εκδίκηση. Βλέπουμε τους λαούς αυτούς κατεστραμένους να προσπαθούν να επιβιώσουν υποχρεωμένοι να συμβιβαστούν με τον κατακτητή και παράλληλα να παλεύουν για τη διατήρηση του πολιτισμού τους και του τρόπου ζωής τους. Τι διαφορά είχε άραγε εκείνη η μακρινή εποχή από σημερινές ανάλογες περιπτώσεις;

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Jun 16, 2010 Marsha rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: anyone who likes historical fiction

Again I have so much to learn about multitudes of cultures and peoples. This book opened my eyes to the mindset of this part of the world about which I know very little. I won't say that I "get it" but I know more from reading this book.

As a reader, I could empathize with the characters even though I do not know about being one of Alexander's soldiers or an Afghan woman. But the voice in the writing opened up what they were feeling and coping with....it was a page turner and I hated finishing th...more

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Mar 29, 2010 Nathaniel rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Matt," a rural teenager decides to abandon life on the farm and seek glory and adventure in the army. He trains with his comrades, takes a position in the mobile infantry, and is sent to an ongoing war in Afghanistan. While there, he discovers that war is ugly and nothing like the stories he's been told. Honor takes a back seat to survival and he finds himself doing things that he never thought possible. He's tormented by his own morality, the conscience of his friend Lucas, and the fact that h...more

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Oct 10, 2009 Vince rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-historical

Alexander is a minor character in this book, in contrast to his protagonist in "The Virtues of War," yet he still frames the story and drives the principle characters to action. I enjoyed this story, as it read more like a story, while showing the futility of a great warrior society's attempt to conquer a unconquerable foe.
The story follows a common Mack infant soldier during this campaign, Mattheius, and he encounters many horrors of war, including a very harsh reality at the end of the story....more

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Oct 27, 2008 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was definitely a page turner, but it was often grim reading. Told from the point of view of a soldier in Alexander's army, the brutality and privation described was incredible. Although the military details were interesting, what I found most fascinating was the circumstances of the Afghan women, and their relationships with their families and tribes, and with the invading Macedonians. It reminded me that for much of history and in many cultures, women have been and are valued little better...more

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Oct 02, 2008 Clay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I think what I enjoy so much about Steven Pressfield's historical fiction is his seeming effortless ability to drop you in the middle of the action in some of the most interesting periods of world history. The Afghan Campaign is a perfect example. Like countless others, I am fascinated by Alexander the Great and the world and times in which he lived. But much of what is available to read focuses mainly (and, obviously, rightly so) on Alexander himself. In The Afghan Campaign you are treated to...more

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Oct 10, 2007 Richard rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of historical fiction, military history, ancient history

Told through the eyes of a common soldier who joins Alexander's army after the conquest of Persia, Pressfield provides a convincing account of Alexander's Afghan campaign.

Instead of large scale pitched battles where Alexander's genius, will to conquer, superior technology, and superior tactics consistently wins out against overwhelmingly superior numbers, the guerilla tactics of the wily Afghan tribesmen forces Alexander to adopt a new strategy. While Persia falls within a few years, Alexander i...more

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Oct 04, 2007 Louis rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: interested in Central Asia, what life in the military is like

Shelves: military

This is about a soldier in the time of Alexander the Great of Macedon, around 330 BC. Alexander the Great has conquered everywhere using standard tactics of drawing out his enemy and defeating it on the battlefield. And he has conquered the Persian empire, the greatest in the world. And, on the way to the riches of India, lay the Hindu Kush, present day Afghanistan.

The Afghan Campaign is written from the point of view of a new soldier. During the war against the Persians Matthias joins the Maced...more This is about a soldier in the time of Alexander the Great of Macedon, around 330 BC. Alexander the Great has conquered everywhere using standard tactics of drawing out his enemy and defeating it on the battlefield. And he has conquered the Persian empire, the greatest in the world. And, on the way to the riches of India, lay the Hindu Kush, present day Afghanistan.

The Afghan Campaign is written from the point of view of a new soldier. During the war against the Persians Matthias joins the Macedonian army, following in the footsteps of his brothers. However, he is too late to join in the glorious wars against the Persians. But, he arrives in the Hindu Kush, after the main battle. But the war is not over. Over the course of the campaign, Matthias sees victory, loss. Friends are killed in barbaric ways and he takes part in atrocities that make him sick. His family gives his support, and his fiance leaves him. And at the end, he is frustrated with the war, has the spoils of war that his brother tells him to take home, and decides to continue with Alexander.

So, what is the point? Why this pseudo-history of the ancient world? The question for this is not to present a history, but to present an experience. So, do I think it is accurate, all things considered. And, well, it is. When you are in the middle of things, you don't have too much time to think about the big picture, unless you have that kind of position. Your general thoughts as far as war is concerned are about the day in question. But there are times to think about other things. You are very concerned about your comrade around you, their fortunes, successes, failures. Their hurts and their victories are shared and felt by you. And you think of loved ones behind. Of people back home who support and love you. Of those who have forgotten you. And those who have let you go and gone their own way.

Someone asked me if I missed anything about serving in Afghanistan, it was that. The sense that we shared in the struggles, successes and frustrations of each other. The guy who we all said had the worst job in the office, as he was having his direction of effort changed almost hourly, and never could get what he was doing done well enough to be satisfying. The senior officer who did not have a well defined job, who spent his time making snide remarks and complaining about little mickey mouse issues. The guys who got regular packages and letters from home (I was one of them), especially the newlywed whose wife sent him a package including baked cookies weekly (the winner). We worried about the guy who was a bit of a loner and never got packages (and were real relieved when his mother sent something). I loved it when all the guys on the staff were pulling for me when I gave a big presentation that needed very senior officer support, giving me feedback, suggestions, and general "ask for whatever help you need" support. We talked to our families and shared in the fustrations, joys, stories (funny, sad, frustrating and proud). The ideas, dreams and hopes we had for the future. All the things that make us real human beings. And Pressfield presents that well, both the good and the bad.

Obviously, the book is for a certain type of person. The gore exists, as it is also a part of war. But it is not there for its own sake. It is there because it is part of the environment that shapes the people. And to that extent, it, like some of his other works (e.g. GatesofFire?), does the job wonderfully.

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