The Great Game
the struggle for empire in central Asia
by Peter Hopkirk · first published 1990
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Narrative history of the 19th-century rivalry between Britain and Russia over Central Asia. It offers a gripping, readable account for anyone curious about the region's history and the British Empire.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Traces the struggle for supremacy in Central Asia between the Soviet Union and Great Britain.
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I second the master and commander series. I read all 21. Amazing. Afghan history Books, both incredible: http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Wars-Afghanistan-Invasion-Septem... http://www.amazon.com/Great-Game-Struggle-Central-Kodansha/d... Why: While the Master and Commander Series are historical fictions they teach you A LOT about the Napoleonic Wars, The British Empire and the British Navy. The Afghan…
on “What books would you recommend reading? Why?” ↗For non technical easy reads you might try: River of America Books (History of specific Rivers)------ American Trails Series (History of specific Trails)------ Great Game - Peter Hopkirk------ Black Lamb & Gray Falcon - Rebecca West - About Yugoslavia---- Lyndon Johnson - Robert Caro - (3 books)
on “Ask HN: Great books you read in 2009?” ↗…role Russia and UK played in its transformation. It reads like a Game of Thrones novel. Interesting note is Russia colonized Central Asia with the end goal of invading India. https://www.amazon.com/Great-Game-Struggle-Central-Kodansha/...
on “Manuscripts reveal the details of everyday life on the Silk Road” ↗…https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/how-jimmy-carter-... https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/01/07/history-tr... He definitely left a legacy on Afghanistan in the modern era. For those who are into history do look up The Great Game by Peter Hopkirk. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Game_(Hopkirk_book)
on “I Fought in Afghanistan. I Still Wonder, Was It Worth It?” ↗…enjoyed these: General Warfare theory: History of Warfare by Keegan Intel: Intelligence and War by Keegan Counterinsurgency: "Ghost Wars" by Steve Coll. For a really enjoyable experience read "The Great Game" by Hopkirk first. The Civil War deserves it's own category. Watch the PBS dvds, actually buy them. If you're hungry for more dig into "The Civil War" by Shelby Foote is hefty but it's satisfying.…
on “Ask HN: good books about military strategy?” ↗My favorite historian about the British Empire is Peter Hopkirk. His books primarily deal with central/southeast Asia. Some books he's written: 1. The Great Game 2. Setting the East Ablaze 3. Like Hidden Fire 4. Trespassers on the Roof of the World.
on “Complexity and Collapse: Empires on the Edge of Chaos ” ↗Two other great history reads are - 1. The Great Game - by Peter Hopkirk 2. A History of the English-Speaking Peoples - by Winston Churchill
on “Ask HN: What talks or videos do you suggest to watch on a long flight?” ↗If The Great Game you mentioned is the one by Peter Hopkirk, it's fantastic.
on “Ask HN: What are you reading?” ↗I have been reading some books by Peter Hopkirk, an amateur historian covering The Great Game[0], and what's amazing to me from reading his books is how much effort it took to get even basic knowledge of the geography of Central Asia (I'm sure it was similar in other parts of the world). Things…
on “Abandoned and Little-Known Airfields” ↗