The Great Game: On Secret Service in High Asia
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Author Description
For nearly a century the two most powerful nations on earth - Victorian Britain and Tsarist Russia - fought a secret war in the lonely passes and deserts of Central Asia. Those engaged in this shadowy struggle called it 'The Great Game', a phrase immortalized in Kipling's Kim. When play first began the two rival empires lay nearly 2,000 miles apart. By the end, some Russian outposts were within 20 miles of India. This book tells the story of the Great Game through the exploits of the young officers, both British and Russian, who risked their lives playing it. Disguised as holy men or native horsetraders, they mapped secret passes, gathered intelligence, and sought the allegiance of powerful khans. Some never returned.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the century-long geopolitical struggle between the British and Russian Empires for dominance over Central Asia, a conflict known as the Great Game. Peter Hopkirk, a journalist and historian specializing in Central Asian affairs, utilizes archival records, personal diaries, and historical accounts to reconstruct the clandestine operations conducted by intelligence officers and explorers. The work argues that this shadow war, characterized by espionage and territorial expansion, fundamentally shaped the modern borders and political landscape of the region.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Detailed accounts of 19th-century intelligence gathering in the Hindu Kush and Pamir Mountains.
- Profiles of key British and Russian officers who operated under deep cover.
- Analysis of the diplomatic and military maneuvers involving regional powers such as the Emirate of Afghanistan and the Khanates of Central Asia.
Scope Limits
- The narrative focuses primarily on the perspectives and actions of the British and Russian agents rather than the internal socio-political developments of the local populations.
- It does not provide an exhaustive military history of the Anglo-Afghan Wars, focusing instead on the intelligence and reconnaissance aspects.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and regional experts frequently cite this work as the definitive popular history of the Great Game due to its narrative clarity and extensive research. Readers often note that while the prose is accessible, it maintains a high level of historical rigor suitable for both general interest and academic reference.
Page Count:
562
Publication Date:
2001-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192802321
ISBN-13:
9780192802323
Biography
Politics
History
19th Century
Asia
Military History
Geopolitics
Central Asia
World politics
Europe
Russia
