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Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan

William Dalrymple

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May 18, 2021 Steve rated it it was amazing

Shelves: history, war

I actually set this one down a few times because it was covering ground I had read in other books (one of them being an old "Flashman" novel). Well, that was wrong. Dalrymple is a superb writer, and he really fleshes out quite a cast of characters and events. The British retreat from Kabul is the center piece of the book, and it is as harrowing as anything I've read in history. What brought it about was an incredible sequence of stupid decisions and arrogant assumptions by the British. Dalrymple ...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Wes F rated it it was amazing

Excellent, well-researched & written book all-around. I've read several books on the Anglo-Afghan wars, and this is the most in-depth treatment of the background, context, development, and impact/consequences of the First Anglo-Afghan War I've ever read. Lots of parallels to the last 10+ years in Afghan's history with the US + Europeans in Afghanistan. History repeating itself in many ways, as happens over & over again. Great source materials used for building out the story in Dalrymple's book-- ...more

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