Customer Reviews

The Gilgit game: The explorers of the western Himalayas, 1865-95

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I am a student of the history of this region of the world and I must state that "The Gilgit Game" is by far the best book ever written on this subject. I consult it all the time.

"The Gilgit Game" describes the real history of the "Great Game" as described in the Rudyard Kipling book "Kim". During this period, the Russians under the Czar were capturing lands to their south, while at the same time the British in India were taking over areas to their north. The territory in-between was not well known or explored, so both sides sent spies to investigate and map the area and report back.

The end result of the Gilgit Game was the creation of the nation of Aghanistan, which had not existed previously and which was set up as a buffer state betwen the Russians and the British.

Understanding this period of history is important to understanding and resolving the current War in Afghanistan.

Sam Sloan

Because if you do, you'll enjoy Keay's quips. But they're lodged in, at least in this edition, tightly packed small print. Keay packs in quite a bit of information, though it is difficult through the first 100 pages or so as you drill yourself in the names of tribes, leaders and geography. Though he follows explorers, they all were entangled in the Great Game between Russia and Britain (and to a lesser extent, China). It doesn't touch so much on Afghan history, to those looking to learn more of their history. Primarily it focuses on Dardistan, the Jammu Kashmir region and the Hindu Kush, Gilgit being a British base of operations for these tribal regions north of India. These Dr. Livingstone/Mata Hari mountaineers and military men all have distinct personalities, brought out by Keay's exhaustive writing. He draws on a great deal of primary source reading, including from a couple of extremely prolific writers who strove to become the reigning experts on the region. They belonged to a small elite club of Europeans who braved dangerous routes in a foreign land for glory, conquest and thrills.