The Great Game

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 by Kipling. 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 classic 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 horse-traders, they mapped secret passes, gathered intelligence and sought the allegiance of powerful khans. Some never returned. The violent repercussions of the Great Game are still convulsing Central Asia today.©1990 Peter Hopkirk

Great history

I knew patches of this great game history from reading Kim and Flashman chronicles which are very historically correct, but I had never appreciated the full panorama. A truly fascinating saga of two 19th century kingdoms competing for the prize of mastery over Afghanistan which of course didn’t end with the 19th century. Very well written, always interesting and nicely narrated.