The Savage Frontier A History of the Anglo-Afghan Wars

London: Pan Books. Very Good. 2002. Revised Edition; First Printing. Paperback. Light reading and cover creases, slight shelf wear. ; First printing of Pan paperback edition with full number line, 2002. Nice tight copy, no names inside. Cover design uncredited incorporating image "The 59th Regiment under attack from a host of Ghilzais" courtesy of the Illustrated London News. ; B&W photographs and maps; 224 pages; From early Victorian times, the vulnerability of the Indian sub-continent to an invasion by Russia engaged the attention of British politicians of every political persuasion. In the Victorian era it was known as the "Great Game", and to ensure that her own rather than Russia's interest prevailed, Britain twice invaded Afghanistan in the 19th century. There were frequent clashes with the fiercely independent Pathans whose reputation for bravery, cruelty and cunning was tempered by the mutual respect with which tribesman and British soldier regarded each other. Drawn from journals and diaries of generations of British soldiers and government officials who served in this most sensitive and volatile of national borders. The Savage Frontier is an absorbing account of the British Indian Army's long struggle against a savage opponent and a pitoiless terrain. .