The Man Who Would Be King - The First American in Afghanistan (Ben Macintyre, 2004)

This book seemed interesting as backdrop to the continuing adventures of the U.S. in Afghanistan, and fit into other books about the region I've been reading.

Some American named Josiah Harlan headed for Central Asia in 1822 or thereabouts. After knocking around in a few British outposts, he somehow had the idea of emulating Alexander the Great, or at least finding wealth, fame and perhaps a kingdom in the area of Afghanistan. Somehow he made it work, all the way to being named a prince of an area known as Ghor.

This was in the early days of adventuring in the region; the British were developing interests in the area, and developing concerns with Russian intervention (this contest later to be known as the "Great Game").

Somehow Harlan gained trust and familiarity with key figures; was involved in rebellion; easily switched sides; mixed with leading figures in Kabul; eventually was eased out of the country by the British.

The book recounts the British disaster in 1842; they underestimated the Afghans. But then again Alexander the Great and the Soviets had troubles in this area also. The painting at bottom shows the remainder of the British army returning to Jalalabad.

The British would have been better served with Harlan's philosophy: gain some trust, or at least heavily bribe, the local chieftains.

Rudyard Kipling wrote a famous novel based on Harlan, named "The Man Who Would Be King." I hadn't known that Sean Connery starred in the movie version.

Harlan himself came back to the U.S.; (tried to) fight in the Civil War; (tried to) introduce camels into the southwest U.S. Interesting fellow.

Vanity Fair (William Makepeace Thackery, 1848)

After reading (a bit over half of) The Pilgrim's Progress, it seemed likely that Vanity Fair was going to be more interesting. And it was.

I wasn't sure what to make of this book, but I certainly enjoyed reading it. Could have been compressed without losing much, I think (700 pages). But I was in no particular hurry, and like a long movie, it permits more acquaintance with the characters and more development of the plot. Definitely reminded of Balzac and Dickens. Like so many of the novelists, he sees us and is able to describe us.

Like Dickens (and others), this was published in serial form. This one from 1847-1848. So it was an interesting period in history, with revolution across Europe.

Becky Sharp is a very original character. The first few pages - where she leaves the finishing school - are very well done. She says that she could have been an honest woman for 5000 (pounds, I suppose) a year - which is a pretty perceptive comment. And it builds from there. Amelia is a bit of a twit; Dobbins is a fine character; Jos Sedley is a dork; Rawley Crawdon and the entire Crawdon clan; the dashing George Osborn; chasing the aunt's inheritance; O'Dowd and the regiment; the principality of Pumpernickel (Thackery spent some time in Weimar with Goethe); on and on it goes. Thackeray famously describes this as a novel without a hero, but I don't know that I entirely agree.

Edith Wharton must have had Becky Sharp in mind when writing about Undine Spragg (Custom of the Country).

Thackery's take on Waterloo was interesting. His drawings added a lot.