Createspace Independent Publishing Platform Travels into Bokhara: A Voyage up the Indus to Lahore and a Journey to Cabool, Tartary & Persia

Interesting .... makes one go back in time and visualize how things were then...

Burnes's journeys were truly groundbreaking and his account, whilst occasionally banal and self-serving in places, contains many extraordinary episodes. On the one hand an adventure story, the narrative also provides insight into the tribal and geopolitical complexities of this region which persist to this day. And Burnes himself emerges as a three dimensional character, clever and adventurous, ideally suited to the place and the time. One cannot help being ambivalent about his mission but, given the colonial era in which he lived, he seems an egalitarian figure and not given to racism. The book ends in 1831, ten years before Burnes's violent death in Kabul which is described vividly in the epilogue.William Dalrymple has written the introduction and epilogue and the editor, Kathleen Hopkirk, seems to have done just enough to allow the story to flow whilst correcting Burnes's occasional lapses and filling gaps in his text. Anyone interested in the Great Game and the days of the East India Company will thoroughly enjoy Burnes's writing which makes a welcome return to print.

Lots of information here for those interested in the history of Afghanistan and surrounding countries. Of course the style is very much of its time but this should be required reading for those who wish to understand the background to the current conflict.It's sad to note that Burnes didn't understand the situation as well as he thought and he died in Kabul in the "first Afghan" war.

Wanted to learn more about how the different factions/tribes in that area fought for supremecy to rule and what part the British empire played historically and to date. A great read!!

It’s very in-depth but unless you know the areas described it’s not enjoyable. It really needs maps to give context.

very good excellent author