The First Afghan War 1838–1842

A examination of the unresolved problems of the first Afghan war.

J. A. Norris (Author)

9780521130967, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 11 February 2010

520 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.9 cm, 0.65 kg

The first Afghan war is one of the most interesting events in British Imperial and military history. Mr Norris's starting point for this 1967 publication is the belief that Sir John William Kaye, the Victorian authority on this war, made some strong partisan judgements, which were left unanswered. He therefore re-examines the original sources, including much material that was not available to Kaye, to form the basis of a fresh interpretation. This study attempts to assess the political significance of the Afghan incident by relating it to the general Eastern question, and at the same time to vindicate the actions of Lord Auckland and Alexander Burnes. The principal unresolved problem of the war was the exact correlation of British and Indian policy over Afghanistan. Mr Norris demonstrates convincingly that Auckland's policy was part of the general Whig plan, operated by Palmerston, for the containment of Russian expansion in Asia.

Acknowledgements
Map
Introduction
Part I. Anglo-Russian Rivalry to 1830: 1. Early threats to the British Empire in India
2. Britain recognises the Russian threat
Part II. British Aims in Central Asia 1830–1838: 3. Wellington's administration and the master plan
4. Reconnaissance along the Indus
5. Auckland's first year in India
6. Negotiations in Teheran and Kabul
Part III. Advance to the Hindu Kush 1838–1839: 7. Auckland breaks with Dost Muhammad
8. British India prepares for war
9. The Home Government supports Auckland
10. The Army of the Indus
11. Marching to Kandahar
12. A king restored at Kabul
Part IV. Return to the Indus 1840–1842: 13. Victory and over-confidence
14. The mounting cost of intervention
15. Rising at Kabul
16. The Army of retribution
17. Aftermath and epilogue
Appendices
bibliography
Notes
Index.

Subject Areas: General & world history [HBG]