William dalrymple return of a king the battle f book. From william dalrymple awardwinning historian, journalist and travel writer a masterly retelling of what was perhaps the wests greatest imperial disaster in the east, and an important parable of neocolonial ambition, folly and hubris that has striking relevance to our own time. Author william dalrymples own british heritage, combined with a prodigious knowledge of afghan history and culture enabled him to paint a uniquely informed. Jan 30, 2014 shortlisted for the samuel johnson prize 20, return of a king is the definitive analysis of the first afghan war, told through the lives of unforgettable characters on all sides and using for the first time contemporary afghan accounts of the conflict. Shortlisted for the samuel johnson prize 20, return of a king is the definitive analysis of the first afghan war, told through the lives of unforgettable characters on all sides and using for the first time contemporary afghan accounts of the conflict. In fact lets just say that in my opinion, narrative history that is as good as it gets. Return of a king by william dalrymple, vintage, 560 pp.
There is no need to tell the story here, this is the second dalrymple book i have read in a short space of time. Led by lancers in scarlet cloaks and plumed shakos, nearly 20,000 british and east india company troops poured through the passes and reestablished on the throne shah shuja ulmulk. William dalrymples the anarchy to release on sept 10. Dalrymple understands the tribal and cultural intricacies that elude most western historian writing about afghanistan or the subcontinent. The story of the british invasion of afghanistan in 183942 what was later called the first afghan war can be briefly told. In search of the sacred in modern india return of a king. If youre just tuning in, william dalrymple is the author of, among other things, from the holy mountain, white mughals, and the bestselling city of djinns. Return of a king the battle for afghanistan, a history of the first afghan war 183942, was published in india in december 2012, in the uk in february 20, and in the us in april 20. William dalrymple from the bestselling author of return of a king, the story of how the east india company took over large swaths of asia, and the devastating results of the corporation running a country.
William dalrymples return of a king is a riveting account of one imperial disaster on the roof of the world. William dalrymple is the bestselling author of in xanadu, city of djinns, from the holy mountain, the age of kali, white mughals, the last mughal and, most recently, nine lives. Dalrymple makes an important contribution by including recently discovered afghan accounts of the war, which provide helpful local context. Return of a king has got so many different stories in it, that youre not going to want to miss even a single one of them.
From william dalrympleawardwinning historian, journalist and travel writera masterly retelling of what was perhaps the wests greatest imperial disaster in the east, and an important parable of neocolonial ambition, folly and hubris that has striking relevance to our own time. Of course this was not simply a tale of hubris and nemesis. The return of a king is both the definitive analysis of the. William dalrymple on return of a king the hugh hewitt show. This tells the story of all the players of the great game.
Return of a king by william dalrymple, 9781408831595, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. May 26, 20 the latest and most brilliant in this long line of critics is william dalrymple and his return of a king. Dalrymple is a skilled storyteller and fills important gaps, mining new sources. The fullest and most powerful description of the wests first encounter with afghan society. Against this backdrop, the eminent british historian william dalrymple turns to that war in the return of a king, a wellresearched and lucidly written account of the period. This perceptive account of the arrogance and folly of the first british invasion of afghanistan is compulsive reading, writes diana athill. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 kindle edition by dalrymple, william. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read return of a king.
But none would make a better job of it than william dalrymple in his thrilling, magnificently evocative return of a king. The battle for afghanistan, written by the scottish historian william dalrymple and published in 2012, is an account of the first angloafghan war from 1839 to 1842. The return of a king is the definitive analysis of the first afghan war. William dalrymple s the anarchy to release on sept 10 in his most ambitious and riveting book to date, william dalrymple tells the story of the east india company as it has never been told before, unfolding a timely cautionary tale of the first global corporate power, the publisher said in a statement. Jun 26, 20 against this backdrop, the eminent british historian william dalrymple turns to that war in the return of a king, a wellresearched and lucidly written account of the period. William dalrymples history of britains illfated 183942 occupation of afghanistan has elements of carry on. Praise for william dalrymples return of a king brilliant. Dalrymple, with his fluid prose, narrates the incidents of the first afghan war, or the british invasion of afghanistan in 183942, with utmost clarity and vivacity. William dalrymple return of a king the battle f book za.
Praise for william dalrymples return of a king more than timely. Dalrymples greatgreatgranduncle colin mackenzie fought in the war and was briefly detained by the afghans. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 ebook written by william dalrymple. According to dalrymple, the afghans regarded their.
The return of a king william dalrymple the story of the first angloafghan war, with striking parallels with whats going on in our neighbourhood and the world today. William dalrymple on return of a king mahindra humanities. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The battle for afghanistan is a nonfiction book by william dalyrmple, author of critically acclaimed books like xanadu, city of djinns, white mughals and the last mughal. In the spring of 1839 british forces invaded afghanistan for the first time, reestablishing shah shuja on the throne and ushering in a period of conflict over the territory still unresolved today. The latest and most brilliant in this long line of critics is william dalrymple and his return of a king.
East india traders and their dashing rajput warlord associates. The economist in return of a king, dalrymple has done again what he did magnificently for two other telling episodes of british imperial history in white mughals 2002 and the last mughal 2006. For all the boys own tone, however, return of the king is a serious work of history. Return of a king is a triumph of balanced historical. This latest book in the saga, the return of a king, captures the british at the cusp of a new era. Dalrymple makes an important contribution by including recently discovered afghan accounts of. In august 1765, the east india company defeated the young mughal emperor and set up, in his place, a government run by english traders who. Buy return of a king book online at low prices in india. The battle for afghanistan, written by the scottish historian william dalrymple and published in 2012, is an account of the first angloafghan war. William dalrymples colourful history of the first british campaign in afghanistan draws effective parallels with recent events, writes ian. Return of a king is a catalogue of military incompetence, stupidity and treachery on a monumental scale, and the story is told in simple, yet very elegant, prose. This book marks the return of william dalrymple as a writer.
If you are one of those who wondered if history could actually mean hisstory, then this is the book for you. The battle for afghanistan 183942 with responses by sugata bose, gardiner professor of oceanic history and affairs at. Prizewinning and bestselling historian william dalrymples masterful retelling of britains greatest imperial disaster is a powerful and important parable of colonial. The authors deep research provides a whole new take on almost every aspect of the story. William dalrymple s return of a king is a riveting account of one imperial disaster on the roof of the world.
Prizewinning and bestselling historian william dalrymple s masterful retelling of britain. As salman rushdie has pointed out, dalrymple is that rarity a scholar of history who can really write. The return of a king is both the definitive analysis of. Buy return of a king by william dalrymple from waterstones today. Return of a king by william dalrymple by bloomsbury. Summary read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading return of a king. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 by william dalrymple. Return of a king is a triumph of balanced historical analysis. History at its most urgent, return of a king is the definitive analysis of the first afghan war, told through the lives of unforgettable characters on all sides. The story is a rather simple one, the british, obsessed with the idea of expanding their imperial control to the whole of world, invaded afghanistan to reinstall a puppet regime.
On november 2014, british historian and writer william dalrymple discussed his book, return of a king. The battle for afghanistan, written by the scottish historian william dalrymple and published in 2012, is an account of the first anglo afghan. William dalrymple, author of return of a king in 1839, great britain and russia were playing the world map like a chessboard and for no reason other than geography, afghanistan. Return of a king by william dalrymple, 9780307948533, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The battle for afghanistan 183942 with responses by sugata bose, gardiner professor of oceanic history and affairs at harvard university, and. And in this account of britains first afghan war, which began in 1839 with the aim of securing the indian empires. And as the latest occupying force in afghanistan negotiates its exit, this chronicle seems all too relevant now. Having read all his works, i would say this book stands out because of the use of a wide range of literary sources in many different languages. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. His books have won numerous awards and prizes, including the duff cooper memorial prize, the thomas cook travel book award, the sunday times young british writer of the year award, the hemingway, the.
Jan 14, 2014 return of a king by william dalrymple, 9780307948533, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The author spent time in both afghanistan and pakistan during its research and elaborates on. Of dalrymples recent works, return of a king is perhaps the most directly relevant to the present day. Return of a king by william dalrymple overdrive rakuten. Using an impressive array of sources, many not previously read in the west, he brings this brief period of history to life in an accessible and enjoyable style. Prizewinning and bestselling historian william dalrymples masterful retelling of britain. In the spring of 1839 british forces invaded afghanistan for the. May 20, 20 william dalrymple on his new book return of a king.
Apr 30, 20 return of a king has got so many different stories in it, that youre not going to want to miss even a single one of them. In return of a king, william dalrymple narrates the united kingdoms illfated. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. Dalrymple has told the story of the first afghan war, its causes and consequences, with deep knowledge of the sources from both or rather, all sides. Dec 02, 2014 on november 2014, british historian and writer william dalrymple discussed his book, return of a king. Jan 26, 20 of dalrymple s recent works, return of a king is perhaps the most directly relevant to the present day. The battle for afghanistan first edition cover authorwilliam dalrymple countryunited kingdom languageenglish subjecttravel writingreligion genrenonfiction publisherbloomsbury publishing publication date 2012 media typeprint isbn9781408818305 preceded bynine lives. The battle for afghanistan 183842, in a dean of facultyrectors tea talk at yalenus. William dalrymples return of a king is not just a riveting account of one imperial disaster on the roof of the world. William dalrymple on his new book return of a king. In the spring of 1839, the british invaded afghanistan for the first time. Return of a king is an account of britains invasion and occupation of afghanistan in 183942, known as the first angloafghan war, which was fought. For news about william dalrymples new book and all things related. An early contender must surely be william dalrymples the return of a king, out in february from bloomsbury.
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