Description
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
In 1839 forces of the British East India Company crossed the Indus to invade
Afghanistan on the pretext of reinstating a former king Shah Soojah to his
rightful throne. The reality was that this was another step in Britain's
Great Game - Afghanistan would create a buffer to any potential Russian
expansion towards India. This history traces the initial, campaign which
would see the British easily occupy Kabul and the rebellion that two years
later would see the British army humbled. Forced to negotiate a surrender
the British fled Kabul en masse in the harsh Afghan winter. Decimated by
Afghan guerilla attacks and by the harsh cold and a lack of food and
supplies just one European - Dr Brydon would make it to the safety of
Jalalabad five days later. This book goes on to trace the retribution attack
on Kabul the following year, which destroyed the symbolic Mogul Bazaar
before rapidly withdrawing and leaving Afghanistan in peace for nearly a
generation.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Richard Macrory is a professor of law at University College London, author
of books and specialist articles in environmental law, and former chairman
of Merchant Ivory film productions. His great great great uncle was Eldred
Pottinger (the hero of Herat who survived the Retreat) and his father wrote
the first modern account of the Ist Afghan War, Signal Catastrophe,
published in 1966. Macrory has an extensive collection of works on the First
Afghan War, including original copies of Lady Sale's Diary, Lt. Eyre's
account, and Kaye's History of the Afghan War.Peter Dennis was born in 1950.
Inspired by contemporary magazines such as Look and Learn he studied
illustration at Liverpool Art College. Peter has since contributed to
hundreds of books, predominantly on historical subjects, including many
Osprey titles. A keen wargamer and modelmaker, he is based in
Nottinghamshire, UK.
CONTENTS
Introduction
Chronology
Opposing commanders
Opposing armies
Opposing plans
The campaign
Aftermath
The battlefield today
Further reading
Index
