Afghanistan and the Great Game

angrysoba · 29th May 2012, 06:08 AM

There's an interesting documentary on Afghanistan made by Rory Stewart which I am watching at the moment.

Part One is on the history of British involvement in Afghanistan where it served as something of a buffer between India and Russia in the Great Game.

Apparently it can be watched on iPlayer if you live in the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...art_Episode_1/

Part Two will be about the Russian invasion in 1979 and the ISAF invasion in 2001.

The Don · 29th May 2012, 08:31 AM

Spurred on by reading "Flashman and the Great Game" I moved on to Peter Hopkirk's books
"The Great Game: the Struggle for Empire in Central Asia" and "On Secret Service East of Constantinople: The Great Game and the Great War" for a more factual perspective. I found them both educational and interesting.

angrysoba · 29th May 2012, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by The Don

Spurred on by reading "Flashman and the Great Game" I moved on to Peter Hopkirk's books
"The Great Game: the Struggle for Empire in Central Asia" and "On Secret Service East of Constantinople: The Great Game and the Great War" for a more factual perspective. I found them both educational and interesting.

Thanks, I might have to have a read of them. I've heard about Hopkirk's books before and they sound like essential reading.

There are actually three Flashman books which deal with the same subject as Rory Stewart's documentary; the first one which prominently features Alexander Burnes, Elphinstone and the Kabul Retreat, Flashman at the Charge which features the Crimean War and supposedly a secret plan by Russia to invade India through Afghanistan and Flashman and the Great Game about the Indian Mutiny supposedly stirred up by Russian-spread rumours of pig's fat used in the cartridges.

All lots of fun. I think the second part will also be interesting and will feature the type of material you can find in Steve Coll's Ghost Wars.

The Don · 30th May 2012, 02:59 AM

I've read and re-read the Flashman books several times. I'm so sorry that GMF died before he could get round to "editing" Harry's papers from the American Civil War. Flashman and the Angel of the Lord was a nice teaser.

Pretty much everything I think I know about Victorian history comes from the Flashman books. It's amazing how a small number of key individuals held together the subcontinent.

Fishstick · 30th May 2012, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by angrysoba

There's an interesting documentary on Afghanistan made by Rory Stewart which I am watching at the moment.

Part One is on the history of British involvement in Afghanistan where it served as something of a buffer between India and Russia in the Great Game.

Apparently it can be watched on iPlayer if you live in the UK:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...art_Episode_1/

Part Two will be about the Russian invasion in 1979 and the ISAF invasion in 2001.

I caught this yesterday (or the day before?) on BBC itself. Very interesting, especially the way the Afghani historians placed their battles with Britain in context.

29th May 2012, 06:08 AM	#1
angrysoba Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 8,587	Afghanistan and the Great Game There's an interesting documentary on Afghanistan made by Rory Stewart which I am watching at the moment. Part One is on the history of British involvement in Afghanistan where it served as something of a buffer between India and Russia in the Great Game. Apparently it can be watched on iPlayer if you live in the UK: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...art_Episode_1/ Part Two will be about the Russian invasion in 1979 and the ISAF invasion in 2001.

29th May 2012, 08:31 AM	#2
The Don Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cymru Posts: 8,265	Spurred on by reading "Flashman and the Great Game" I moved on to Peter Hopkirk's books "The Great Game: the Struggle for Empire in Central Asia" and "On Secret Service East of Constantinople: The Great Game and the Great War" for a more factual perspective. I found them both educational and interesting.

29th May 2012, 06:36 PM	#3
angrysoba Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 8,587	Originally Posted by The Don Spurred on by reading "Flashman and the Great Game" I moved on to Peter Hopkirk's books "The Great Game: the Struggle for Empire in Central Asia" and "On Secret Service East of Constantinople: The Great Game and the Great War" for a more factual perspective. I found them both educational and interesting. Thanks, I might have to have a read of them. I've heard about Hopkirk's books before and they sound like essential reading. There are actually three Flashman books which deal with the same subject as Rory Stewart's documentary; the first one which prominently features Alexander Burnes, Elphinstone and the Kabul Retreat, Flashman at the Charge which features the Crimean War and supposedly a secret plan by Russia to invade India through Afghanistan and Flashman and the Great Game about the Indian Mutiny supposedly stirred up by Russian-spread rumours of pig's fat used in the cartridges. All lots of fun. I think the second part will also be interesting and will feature the type of material you can find in Steve Coll's Ghost Wars.

30th May 2012, 02:59 AM	#4
The Don Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cymru Posts: 8,265	I've read and re-read the Flashman books several times. I'm so sorry that GMF died before he could get round to "editing" Harry's papers from the American Civil War. Flashman and the Angel of the Lord was a nice teaser. Pretty much everything I think I know about Victorian history comes from the Flashman books. It's amazing how a small number of key individuals held together the subcontinent.

30th May 2012, 05:31 AM	#5
Fishstick Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,303	Originally Posted by angrysoba There's an interesting documentary on Afghanistan made by Rory Stewart which I am watching at the moment. Part One is on the history of British involvement in Afghanistan where it served as something of a buffer between India and Russia in the Great Game. Apparently it can be watched on iPlayer if you live in the UK: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...art_Episode_1/ Part Two will be about the Russian invasion in 1979 and the ISAF invasion in 2001. I caught this yesterday (or the day before?) on BBC itself. Very interesting, especially the way the Afghani historians placed their battles with Britain in context.