The relentless rise of the east india company, historian william dalrymple tells a timely cautionary tale of the first global corporate power. To make it meaningful, and not just a rehashing of a victorian british military. Prizewinning and bestselling historian william dalrymple s masterful retelling of britain. Dalrymples new book offers a supple and engaging treatment of that field. According to dalrymple, the afghans regarded their deliverance from the british in 1842 as. More hardhitting than either of his previous books, from the holy mountain is driven by indignation. Jan 14, 2014 at once deeply researched and beautifully paced, return of a king should win every prize for which its eligible. While leavened with his characteristic jauntiness and humour, it is also profoundly shocking. 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. Peek into the mesmerising world of olivia fraser and william dalrymplethis is a great opportunity for art aficionados to witness the coming together of two renowned artists, at pundoles. Return of a king by william dalrymple, 9781408831595, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Return of a king book the indianapolis public library. William dalrymple on his new book return of a king the scotsman. New york, april 22, 20 historian william dalrymple launches his new book, the return of a king.
The battle for afghanistan william dalrymple renowned travel writer, historian, and journalist william dalrymple, speaks on his newest book return of a king. 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 high mountain passes and reestablished on the throne shah shuja ulmulk. At once deeply researched and beautifully paced, return of a king should win every prize for which its eligible. 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. Return of a king by william dalrymple, seen here in delhi, focuses on the first angloafghan war.
His new book tells the ripping, albeit tragic, yarn. There is no need to tell the story here, this is the second dalrymple book i have read in a short space of time. The latest and most brilliant in this long line of critics is william dalrymple and his return of a king. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading return of a king. 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. William dalrymple on his new book return of a king. The battle for afghanistan by dalrymple, william isbn. But after little more than two years, the afghans exploded into rebellion. 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. Of course this was not simply a tale of hubris and nemesis. William dalrymple seeks contemporary lessons in britains disastrous. He spoke with india ink about writing narrative history. From william dalrympleawardwinning historian, journalist and travel writera.
Articles by william dalrymple the new york times, the. Dec 06, 2012 the scottish historian and travel writer william dalrymples new book return of a king. Buy return of a king by william dalrymple from waterstones today. The battle for afghanistan 18391842 is an eloquent, animated account of the first angloafghan war, long regarded as britains most disastrous imperial adventure. Jan 30, 2014 return of a king by william dalrymple, 9781408831595, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. William dalrymple and his wife, the noted artist olivia fraser, were in new york for the launch of his latest book return of a king and invited me to the celebrations at the home of tina brown, the editorinchief of the daily beast and newsweek. Apr 30, 20 and in yesterdays new york times, the french ambassador in afghanistan had frank words on his departure from that country, very foreboding words. 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. Return of a king is a triumph of balanced historical analysis. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Return of a king is a catalogue of military incompetence, stupidity and treachery on a monumental scale, and the story is told in simple, yet very elegant, prose. This flew in the face of advice from alexander burnes, the young and celebrated player of the great game, who. 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 is a magisterial new look at the first afghan war, in which british and east india company troops invaded afghanistan to install a puppet ruler, shah shuja, on the throne in kabul, only to be ferociously expelled by an indigenous uprising less than three years later. The scottish historian and travel writer william dalrymples new book return of a king. 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. Like dalrymples heartbreaking, extraordinary white mughals, this book is as taut and richly embroidered as a. William dalrymple on return of a king the hugh hewitt show. Video william dalrymple introduces return of a king the battle for. Dalrymple is a skilled storyteller and fills important gaps, mining new sources.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In fact lets just say that in my opinion, narrative history that is as good as it gets. The battle for afghanistan, a definitive analysis of the first afghan war which began in 1839 by the british military and ended in their devastating defeat. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 previous appearances by william dalrymple at asia society. Aug 03, 2015 dalrymples new book offers a supple and engaging treatment of that field. A story of hubris, arrogance, and ignorance, recounted in beautifully written prose, it gives the reader a detailed frame of familiarity, along with many of the leaves of grass populating it. The battle for afghanistan, 183942, by william dalrymple. The book won the 1990 yorkshire post best first work award and a scottish arts council spring book award. The fullest and most powerful description of the wests first encounter with afghan society. And in yesterdays new york times, the french ambassador in afghanistan had frank words on his departure from that country, very foreboding words. Excerpt from william dalrymples return of a king asia.
William dalrymples return of a king complete asia society. His book, return of a king, will repay your time immensely. On the very day that the new york times carries a front page story, with bags of. Oct 04, 2019 new york, september 18, 2019 in the anarchy.
The home site of william dalrymple, the acclaimed writer and historian. This flew in the face of advice from alexander burnes, the young and celebrated player of. One is left with a palpable sense of acquaintance with the actors involved. William dalrymple is a bestselling author of numerous books, including return of a king.
In his third book william dalrymple has dug deep to present the case of the middle east s downtrodden christians. Olivia fraser and william dalrymple will reveal some of their best works. Im so pleased to welcome into the studio william dalrymple, the author of return of a king. Illuminating biographies of indians who retain ancient devotional traditions despite rapid economic change. William dalrymple and the very attractive world of the late mughals. According to dalrymple, the afghans regarded their deliverance from the british in.
My first book by william dalrymple, who is a noted historian and mainstay of the indian literary scene. May 26, 20 the latest and most brilliant in this long line of critics is william dalrymple and his return of a king. Nursing homes remain a concern as new yorks coronavirus outbreak appears to plateau. The battle for afghanistan, written by the scottish historian william dalrymple. From william dalrymple awardwinning historian, journalist and travel writer a 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. The east india company, corporate violence, and the pillage of an. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 ebook written by william dalrymple. Jan 14, 2014 praise for william dalrymples return of a king brilliant. William dalrymple on his new book return of a king the. Im so pleased to welcome into the studio william dalrymple, the author of return of. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 william dalrymple on. In a year that seems to present new challenges for us at every turn, julia alvarezs latest novel, afterlife, has arrived at the perfect time. For news about william dalrymples new book and all things related. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 english edition ebook.
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 a broadcaster and critic. An indian army in afghanistan and kohinoor, cowritten with anita anand. 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. The battle for afghanistan, 183942 kindle edition by dalrymple, william. Arts and culture william dalrymple on his new book return of a king william dalrymple tells david robinson how he was nearly killed doing the fieldwork for his brilliant new book about britains. His awards include the wolfson prize for history, the scottish book of the year award and the duff cooper memorial prize. Bookforum with skill and deep humanity, dalrymple seeks contemporary lessons in britains disastrous nineteenthcentury invasion. Return of a king the battle for afghanistan, 183942 book. Praise for william dalrymples return of a king brilliant. In a conscious reversal of the firstperson method he employed in his book on middle eastern monks, from the holy mountain 1998, british journalist dalrymple the last mughal, 2006, etc.
William dalrymples colourful history of the first british campaign in. Praise for william dalrymples return of a king more than timely. In the spring of 1839, the british invaded afghanistan for the first time. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read return of a king.