The Great Game - Couverture souple

Hopkirk, Peter

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0192827995 ISBN 13 : 9780192827999

Editeur : Oxford Paperbacks, 1991

Synopsis

The "Great Game" was an imperial, political, diplomatic, and military enterprise in which intrepid individuals played for high stakes in a struggle that stretched from the Causasus in the West to Chinese Turkestan and Tibet in the East. The prize was British India. When play first began, the frontiers of Russia and India lay some 2000 miles apart; by the end, the gap had reduced in some places to just 20 miles. Officers on either side, disguised as holy men and horse traders, or advancing in full uniform, delighted in the play as they sought to learn enemy positions, befriend powerful khans, or discover vital secrets. This book should appeal to those interested in espionage and diplomacy, the history of "High Asia" in Victorian period and superpower relations.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

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.

Revue de presse

'Brilliant' (Patrick Leigh Fermor, Daily Telegraph)

'There can be few more fascinating subjects, or few authors better qualified to write about it' (Fitzroy Maclean, Independent)

'Immensely readable and magisterially detached. A gripping and impressive narrative of adventure and war' (Financial Times)

'Hopkirk's brilliant and engrossing account remains the classic text on how to handle the various and often dangerous people who inhabit the region, fill of tips and warnings for the Game's current players.' (BBC History Magazine)

'Fans of political history and adventure are in for a treat as publishing house John Murray reissues its Peter Hopkirk series' (Siân Gibson, Geographical Magazine)

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Oxford Paperbacks
• Date d'édition: 1991
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0192827995
• ISBN 13: 9780192827999
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 576
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: Ufficio Anagrafiche Messaggerie; ufficio.anagrafiche@meli.it; ; Via Verdi, 8; Assago Milano; 20090; Italie