Kekewich has taken an unusual approach to this material. Instead of printing the two diaries, she has chosen to write an account of the war as seen by the two diarists, but in her own words. This allows her to fill in the gaps in our diarists' knowledge and there are plenty of extracts from both diaries to give us a feel for the originals. The result is an unusual but interesting look at two parts of the First Afghan War, a conflict that feels more relevant now than for many years.

History of War

This book explains how we failed in the 1940's and introduces us again to the valuable records kept by two diarists of the time.

The Bulletin

This book aims to outline the events surrounding the disastrous defeat of British forces in Afghanistan during the winter of 1841/1842. It traces the ensuing punitive campaign which was launched to recover British captives, and the final withdrawal of British forces back to India.

This book is well worth reading for eye witness accounts alone. It should be read by anyone with an interest in the military history of Afghanistan.

Military Times, Jonathan Eaton

History has a habit of repeating itself, particularly when it comes to military campaigns. The current morass in which Coalition forces are immersed in Afghanistan has inevitably encouraged a re-examination of past Afghan campaigns. This book aims to outline the events surrounding the disastrous defeat of British forces in Afghanistan during the winter of 1841-1842. The British defeat and ensuing campaign is described through two contemporary accounts - the journal entries of Lady Florentia Sale and the diary of the Rev. Isaac Allen, the latter being curiously neglected by modern historians. Despite radically different experiences, both accounts express similar opinions about the flaws and implications of the British conduct of war. This book is well worth reading for the eyewitness accounts alone. It should be read by anyone with an interest in the military history of Afghanistan.

Military Times - May 2011

In a time when our forces are heavily involved in a much debated ongoing conflict in Afghanistan itself ,retired Open University history lecturer Dr Margaret Kekewich provides an enthralling account of the impact of the British army's defeat in Afghanistan during the winter of 1841/42. Her perceptive study of the conflict not only investigates the humiliating British defeat, but also the re-occupation the following spring and what led to the final withdrawal at the end of the year. Primarily based on the graphic diaries of two British eye-witnesses, first that of Lady Sale who was captured and imprisoned by the Afghans and the second,by Reverend Allen, a young chaplain to the British army that invaded in 1842 to rescue the prisoners. This allows Kekewich to draw both together into an insightful narrative which provides both a though provoking and emotional perspective on the conflict. It is contextually fascinating as she draws many parallels with the present day war in the region whilst considering the huge historical legacy of the conflict.

Jayne (customer review)