William dalrymple return of a king the battle f book topics return of a king. William dalrymple fras frsl frgs frse born william hamilton dalrymple on 20 march 1965 is a scottish historian and writer, art historian and curator, as well as a broadcaster and critic. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 william dalrymple on. Feb 04, 20 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. The battle for afghanistan 18391842 is an eloquent, animated account of the first angloafghan war, long regarded as britains most disastrous imperial adventure. He has won the thomas cook travel book award, the sunday times young british writer of the year award, the french prix dastrolabe, the wolfson prize for history, the scottish book of the year award, the duff. Napoleon wanted to steal india from the british by marching through afghanistan. 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. Decarlo and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. In the spring of 1839, the british invaded afghanistan for the first time.
He has used source material from all protagonists to great effect, noone is a hero and some terrible decisions were made. William dalrymple is a scottish travel writer and historian, whose work centres chiefly on the indian subcontinent. Prizewinning and bestselling historian william dalrymple s masterful retelling of britain. The battle for afghanistan, written by the scottish historian william dalrymple. William dalrymples return of a king is a riveting account of one imperial disaster on the roof of the world. Perhaps most compelling were the carefully explained nuances of afghan internal politics that appear to have changed very little in their dynamics in the more than 170 years since the events recounted in this book. To ask other readers questions about return of a king, please sign up. Return of a king by william dalrymple knopf doubleday. Dalrymple has told the story of the first afghan war, its causes and consequences, with deep knowledge of the sources from both or. Sep 17, 20 william dalrymple, historian and author, on his latest book return of a king william dalrymple, historian and author, on his latest book return of a king skip navigation sign in. 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 collected taxes through means of a private army. Of the books swooped into being by his scholarship to which he himself has applied the. Author william dalrymples own british heritage, combined with a prodigious knowledge of afghan history and culture enabled him to paint a uniquely.
But none would make a better job of it than william dalrymple in this thrilling, magnificently evocative return of a king. The relentless rise of the east india company, historian william dalrymple tells a timely cautionary tale of the first global corporate power. By turns epic, thrilling, suspenseful, and utterly appalling, at once deeply researched and beautifully paced, return of a king should win every prize for which its eligible. Dec 06, 2012 the scottish historian and travel writer william dalrymples new book return of a king. There is no need to tell the story here, this is the second dalrymple book i have read in a short space of time. From william dalrymple awardwinning historian, journalist and travel writera masterly retelling of what was perhaps the wests greatest imperial disaster in the. 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. For all the boys own tone, however, return of the king is a serious work of history. Return of a king by william dalrymple, 9781408831595, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Dalrymple makes an important contribution by including recently discovered afghan accounts of. William dalrymple is recalling his research for return of a king bloomsbury, february.
The author spent time in both afghanistan and pakistan during its research and elaborates on the. All content in this area was uploaded by jon peter dorschner on feb 11, 2019. The greatest pleasure for a traveller who is writing a book is to nearly get killed. Return of a king is a work of deep scholarship, informed by the authors.
Few writers could go wrong with a story populated with so many villains, rogues, poltroons, swashbucklers, spies, assassins and heroes. Buy return of a king book online at low prices in india. William dalrymples the anarchy about the east india. Praise for william dalrymples return of a king brilliant. I am big fan of william dalrymple s books, and bought this on the strength of how much i enjoyed and learned from the last mughal. Indeed, the anarchy represents a kind of departure for dalrymple, who describes his earlier books white mughals, the last mughal, and return of a king. William dalrymple in the spring of 1839, the british invaded afghanistan for the first time. William dalrymple fras frsl frgs frse born william hamiltondalrymple on 20 march 1965 is a scottish historian and writer, art historian and curator, as well as an awardwinning broadcaster and critic. Of course this was not simply a tale of hubris and nemesis. Prizewinning and bestselling historian william dalrymples masterful retelling of britains greatest imperial disaster is a powerful and important parable of colonial ambition and cultural collision, folly and hubris, for our times. Of the books swooped into being by his scholarship to. In fact lets just say that in my opinion, narrative history that is as good as it gets. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Prizewinning and bestselling historian william dalrymple s masterful.
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. While william dalrymple s return of a king does not fundamentally question mainstream interpretations of the wests first encounter with afghan society, the analysis relies on an unprecedented amount of primary sources, including many letters written at the time, as well as epic afghani poetry, that turns the book into the most sophisticated. Informed by the author s decadeslong firsthand knowledge of afghanistan, and superbly shaped by his hallmark gifts as a narrative historian and his singular eye for the evocation of place and culture, the return of a king is both the definitive analysis of the first angloafghan war and a work of stunning topicality. William dalrymple books list of books by author william. For news about william dalrymples new book and all things related. 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. Jan 26, 20 of dalrymple s recent works, return of a king is perhaps the most directly relevant to the present day. If you are one of those who wondered if history could actually mean hisstory, then this is the book for you. William dalrymples return of a king is a riveting account of one imperial. William dalrymple is the author of six previous acclaimed works of history and travel, including city of djinns, which won the young british writer of the year prize and the thomas cook travel book award. See all books authored by william dalrymple, including city of djinns. As an indian i am greatly fascinated by the profiles in this book. William dalrymple, historian and author, on his latest book return of a king william dalrymple, historian and author, on his latest book return of a king skip navigation sign in. 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.
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. William dalrymple on return of a king the hugh hewitt show. Jan 30, 2014 return of a king by william dalrymple, 9781408831595, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. William dalrymple is the author of seven previous works of history and travel. Dost mohammed, who was allegedly leaning towards the russians, with the luckless thenexiled shah shuja the king of the book. 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. With access to newly discovered primary sources from archives in afghanistan, pakistan, russia and. Led by lancers in scarlet cloaks and plumed shakos, nearly 20,000 british and east india company troops poured through the high mountain passes and reestablished on the throne shah shuja ulmulk.
White mughals, which won britains wolfson history prize. 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. On november 2014, british historian and writer william dalrymple discussed his book, return of a king. Return of a king is a triumph of balanced historical analysis. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. White mughals, which won britains most prestigious history prize, the wolfson. William dalrymple return of a king the battle f book. Apr 29, 20 afghan studies book talk with author william dalrymple. Dec 02, 2014 on november 2014, british historian and writer william dalrymple discussed his book, return of a king. 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. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 by william dalrymple ny.
Return of a king by william dalrymple how ironic it is that the subject of one of britains greatest colonial humiliations is so overlooked today, when it is surely at its most. My first book by william dalrymple, who is a noted historian and mainstay of the indian literary scene. And i am inspired by his interests and his humility. The latest and most brilliant in this long line of critics is william dalrymple and his return of a king. 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. This book combines history writing with flair and often page turning pleasure. William dalrymple has produced a meticulously researched account of the first afghan war. From william dalrymple awardwinning 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. Dalrymple, with his fluid prose, narrates the incidents of the first afghan war, or the british invasion of afghanistan in 183942, with utmost. The author, who lives in india and has a clear liking for the region and peoples. The ucla program on central asia presents an afghan studies book talk by william dalrymple return of a king. William dalrymple is remarkable in that in his case the eagle would be more appropriate. William dalrymple is the author of seven previous works of history and travel, including city of djinns, which won the young british writer of the year prize and the thomas cook travel book award.
Author william dalrymples own british heritage, combined with a prodigious knowledge of afghan history and culture enabled him to. Of dalrymples recent works, return of a king is perhaps the most directly relevant to the present day. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 dalrymple, william on. Author william dalrymples own british heritage, combined with a prodigious.
Like dalrymples heartbreaking, extraordinary white mughals, this book is as taut and richly embroidered as a great novel. Yet william dalrymple has done more than just write a brilliant work of history. Jan 01, 20 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. My first book by william dalrymple, who is a noted historian and mainstay of the indian. His latest book is the anarchy, a history of the east india company. Mehrab khan, 1839, page 145 that country drains us of a million a year or more and we. 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. 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. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases. James delingpole, mail on sunday complex and remarkable.
The anarchy by william dalrymple s to release on sept 10 william dalrymple, the acclaimed historian and art historian, is the bestselling author of the wolfson prizewinning white mughals, the. Of dalrymple s recent works, return of a king is perhaps the most directly relevant to the present day. The fullest and most powerful description of the wests first encounter with afghan society. The battle for afghanistan by dalrymple, william isbn. The anarchy by william dalrymples to release on sept 10. The battle for afghanistan 183842, in a dean of facultyrectors tea talk at yalenus. From the bestselling author of return of a king, the story of how the east india company took over. 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. William dalrymple s return of a king is a riveting account of one imperial disaster on the roof of the world. 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. 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. 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.
Ive read dalrymple s other books a while ago and decided to return to his style of travelogues and nonfiction after a good 5 or 6 years. Return of a king by william dalrymple overdrive rakuten. The author spent time in both afghanistan and pakistan during its research and elaborates on. Apr 22, 20 return of a king william dalrymple looks for contemporary lessons in the story of britains disastrous 19thcentury invasion of afghanistan. His books have won numerous awards and prizes, including the duff cooper memorial prize, the thomas cook travel book award, the sunday times. The roots and the background to the modern conflict are evident in the events described in this book.