The Rest Is HistoryAug 19, 2021

88. The First Anglo-Afghan War

Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for 88. The First Anglo-Afghan War on The Rest Is History.

Notable books mentioned: The Anarchy on the East India Company by Billy Dalrymple, The Return of a King by Willie, The Places in Between by Rory Stewart, War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

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Mentioned at 2:08

The Anarchy on the East India Company

Billy Dalrymple

The host mentions Billy Dalrymple's book to provide historical context for the discussion on the first Anglo-Afghan war. Dalrymple's work is seen a…

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Mentioned at 3:04

The Return of a King

Willie

The host mentions 'The Return of a King' to provide a deeper understanding of the first Anglo-Afghan war and its historical context. This book is p…

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Mentioned at 13:27

The Places in Between

Rory Stewart

The host mentions Rory Stewart's book to provide insight into the historical and political complexities of Afghanistan. This reference serves to en…

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Episode summary, books & quotes

88. The First Anglo-Afghan War mentions The Anarchy on the East India Company by Billy Dalrymple, The Return of a King by Willie, The Places in Between by Rory Stewart, and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy with timestamps, quotes, and episode context.

The Anarchy on the East India Company The Return of a King The Places in Between War and Peace

Episode summary

“A war begun for no wise purpose.” This description of the First Anglo-Afghan War, fought in the early-mid 19th Century, could stand as an epitaph for most conflicts in the region since. William Dalrymple has written extensively about the history of Afghanistan and he joins Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland to take a deep dive into this ‘graveyard of empires’. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Produced by Jack Davenport Exec Producer Tony Pastor *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook

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Summary, books mentioned, transcript quotes, and timestamps for 88. The First Anglo-Afghan War on The Rest Is History.

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The conversation centers on First Anglo-Afghan War.
A second recurring theme is first Afghan war.
Referenced books include The Anarchy on the East India Company by Billy Dalrymple and The Return of a King by Willie.
The strongest audience signal points to History enthusiasts and those interested in military strategy and listeners interested in military history and colonial studies.

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Which books are mentioned in 88. The First Anglo-Afghan War?

The Anarchy on the East India Company by Billy Dalrymple, The Return of a King by Willie, and The Places in Between by Rory Stewart are the clearest linked books in this episode, each tied back to transcript timestamps and quote cards.

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Top triggers

First Anglo-Afghan War(2)first Afghan war(1)historical accuracy in literature(1)historical context of Afghanistan(1)Russian invasion of India(1)Shah Shuja's character analysis(1)The Great Game(1)

Mention sentiment

Deep Dive(4)Passing Reference(4)

Audience signals

History enthusiasts and those interested in military strategylisteners interested in military history and colonial studiesIndividuals interested in Afghan history and politicsReaders interested in historical geopoliticsHistory enthusiasts and those interested in espionage.Listeners interested in military history and literature

Books Mentioned

The Anarchy on the East India Company

Billy Dalrymple

Best for History enthusiasts and those interested in military strategyOften cited around First Anglo-Afghan War

“Billy Dalrymple, who was an earlier guest talking about his book, The Anarchy on the East India Company, which in a way is a kind of the prequel to the events we're going to discuss today.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: First Anglo-Afghan War

For: History enthusiasts and those interested in military strategy

Key quote: “Billy Dalrymple, who was an earlier guest talking about his book, The Anarchy on the East India Company, which in a way is a kind of the prequel to the events we're going to discuss today.”

The host mentions Billy Dalrymple's book to provide historical context for the discussion on the first Anglo-Afghan war. Dalrymple's work is seen as a prequel to the events being analyzed, linking past military failures to current situations in Afghanistan.

ASIN: B07YZRKCHN

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The Return of a King

Willie

Best for listeners interested in military history and colonial studiesOften cited around first Afghan war

“That's your author's note in the book that you've written about this, The Return of a King, which is part of the Company Quartet, this collection, four volumes about the East India Company in India, which is available now.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: first Afghan war

For: listeners interested in military history and colonial studies

Key quote: “that passage that I opened the podcast episode with, that's the, that's your author's note in the book that you've written about this, The Return of a King, which is part of the Company Quartet, this collection, four volumes about the East India Company in India, which is available now.”

The host mentions 'The Return of a King' to provide a deeper understanding of the first Anglo-Afghan war and its historical context. This book is part of a larger narrative about the East India Company's involvement in Afghanistan, which parallels current events in the region.

ASIN: B0027P2RT8

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The Places in Between

Rory Stewart

Best for Individuals interested in Afghan history and politicsOften cited around historical context of Afghanistan

“The mention of Rory Stewart's book highlights the historical context of Afghanistan and its political landscape.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: historical context of Afghanistan

For: Individuals interested in Afghan history and politics

Key quote: “The mention of Rory Stewart's book highlights the historical context of Afghanistan and its political landscape.”

The host mentions Rory Stewart's book to provide insight into the historical and political complexities of Afghanistan. This reference serves to enrich the discussion about the region's current situation.

ASIN: 0156031566

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War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Best for Readers interested in historical geopoliticsOften cited around Russian invasion of India

“War and Peace is referenced in relation to its opening and the historical context of the Russian and British interactions.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: Russian invasion of India

For: Readers interested in historical geopolitics

Key quote: “war and peace opens with before Tilsit.”

The host mentions 'War and Peace' to highlight its historical context, particularly its opening events before the Tilsit meeting. This reference serves to illustrate the geopolitical tensions of the time, linking it to the British concerns about Russian movements in South Asia.

ASIN: 1400079985

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The Great Game

Peter Hopkirk

Best for History enthusiasts and those interested in espionage.Often cited around The Great Game

“Peter Hopkirk's book is mentioned in the context of espionage and historical narratives surrounding British and Russian interests in Central Asia.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: The Great Game

For: History enthusiasts and those interested in espionage.

Key quote: “The great game, the great game.”

The host discusses the historical context of the Great Game, highlighting the espionage and military tensions between British and Russian forces in Central Asia. This narrative illustrates the complexities of the geopolitical landscape during that era, as exemplified by Rawlinson's experiences in dangerous borderlands.

ASIN: 1568360223

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Flashman

George McDonnell Fraser

Best for Listeners interested in military history and literatureOften cited around first Anglo-Afghan war

“The speaker recalls a scene from Flashman where Elphinstone gets shot in the buttocks, discussing the historical accuracy and license taken in the narrative.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: first Anglo-Afghan war

For: Listeners interested in military history and literature

Key quote: “It's our first great encounter with Afghanistan, some listeners will know it as the stuff of the very first Flashman book.”

The host mentions the book 'Flashman' as a way to connect the historical context of the first Anglo-Afghan war to contemporary events. It serves as a cultural reference point for listeners familiar with the narrative surrounding British military failures in Afghanistan.

ASIN: 0452259614

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Blackwood's magazine

Best for Readers interested in historical fiction and military historyOften cited around historical accuracy in literature

“Dr. Brydon survives because he has a copy of Blackwood's magazine in his forage cap, which saves him from a fatal shot.”

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Sentiment: Passing Reference

Trigger: historical accuracy in literature

For: Readers interested in historical fiction and military history

Key quote: “Read Blackwood's. It'll keep you alive.”

The host mentions 'Blackwood's magazine' in the context of a historical narrative involving British troops in Afghanistan. It serves as a humorous anecdote about how a copy of the magazine saved a character's life during a dire situation.

ASIN: 1024390764

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Return of the King

Best for Readers interested in Afghan history and leadership dynamicsOften cited around Shah Shuja's character analysis

“The speaker mentions Shah Shuja, the hero of their book, Return of the King, discussing his character and actions during the uprising in Kabul.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: Shah Shuja's character analysis

For: Readers interested in Afghan history and leadership dynamics

Key quote: “Shah Shuja, who's the hero of my book, Return of the King, the King in Question, is the main character in the film by Bukhari, and he's a very good fit for a reporter.”

The host discusses Shah Shuja as a central figure in 'Return of the King' and highlights his complex personality traits. This analysis serves to draw parallels between historical and contemporary leadership in Afghanistan.

ASIN: B009NOT66S

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Movies & Documentaries Mentioned

Movie

Return of the King

Confidence: 90%

“Shah Shuja, who's the hero of my book, Return of the King, the King in Question, is the main character in the film by Bukhari, and he's a very good fit for a reporter.”

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