Beyond the Khyber Pass: The Road to British Disaster in the First Afghan War [Paperback]

John H. Waller (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rich in adventure, intrigue and treachery, this is the story of the British failure in Afghanistan in the 1840s, as England competed with czarist Russia for strategic advantage in Central Asia. Waller relates how the womanizing ways of garrison troops in Kaul (amid a xenophobic, deeply religious society where such behavior was punishable by death) was the "last straw" that caused the tribal chiefs to abandon their bloody feuds and declare a holy war against the infidel invader. The war found the vaunted British square formation, cavalry and artillery virtually useless in the high mountain passes where most of the fighting took place. The great set piece of the book is the awesome description of the near destruction of the 4500-man British Kabul garrison and its 12,000 camp followers as they attempted to fight their way to Peshewar. This first-rate history by the author of Gordon of Khartoum captures the savage grandeur of the First Afghan War. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The Khyber Pass, Kabul, "Bokhara" Burns--these are storied names and places in what Rudyard Kipling dubbed "the great game." The struggle for control of the gateway to the heart of Asia preoccupied both Russia and Britian in the 19th century, but the massive tragedy at Kabul (Britain's single greatest setback in Victoria's reign), was a reminder that there were other players in the game, too. Waller provides a splendid re-creation of the First Afghan War, told with verve and flair; he knows the terrain (and the relevant sources) at first hand. Exciting, gripping reading, this is also a solid addition to the literature on the British in India and Afghanistan. For general readers as well as specialists.
- James Casada, Winthrop Coll., Rock Hill, S.C.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 329 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; Second Edition edition (June 12, 1905)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292790732
• ISBN-13: 978-0292790735
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,984,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The history of the First Afghan War., July 23, 2005

By 

Kevin M Quigg (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Beyond the Khyber Pass: The Road to British Disaster in the First Afghan War (Hardcover)

A nice little history of the First Afghan War of 1839-1842. As the British East India Company started to worry about Russian incursions into Central Asia, the British became involved in the politics of Sind, the Punjab, and Afghanistan. Thus started the Great Game between Russian and British interests in Central Asia. The First Afghan War was the result of this competition. The British decided to foist a deposed Afgan Shah onto the country and depose Shah Mohammed Dost. The first third of the book details the lead up to the war and the politics. The second third details the British occupation of Afghanistan and last third detail the death of the Kabul occupation army as it retreats through the Khyber. Only one man returned from this occupation army.
This is a good read, and something to remember with our current situation in Afghanistan. The British were trying to install a pro-British government in Kabul during this war. It is a wonder how history repeats itself.

3.0 out of 5 stars Afghan Sam, July 18, 2001

By 

Sam Sidiqi (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Khyber Pass: The Road to British Disaster in the First Afghan War (Hardcover)

This book is well researched, and about an interesting period of Central asian histoy. If you don't care about Afghan history, though, it probably won't be the book for you.

It's a factual account, and the author seems to stay very true to history, it could probably use a little literary spice, but that isn't the real purpose in the writing or reading of these types of things.

My main critique is that the author, even though he's living in the twenty first century, seems to wish that he were living in nine-teenth century as a british explorer. He is as trapped in the dreams that led to the great game as the players were themselves. While it lends to us understanding a little bit more the driving force behind the whole business, it feels kind of like your reading a book by Churchill, except that it's a century too late and its not first hand. What you are left with is a book where the author wishes he had been a british explorer, but couldn't be, but that is still trapped by the British view of "other" that we should have left behind long ago.

He tries to make a go of it, and talk about things from the native side, but isn't nearly as capable as getting into their heads emotionally. It is also from a British india point of view and doesn't give a very good explanation of Afghan motivations.

It's still pretty good, it just didn't have quite what I was looking for because of the point of view the author chose for its historical perspective.