Short review of The Story of the Malakand Field Force, by Sir Winston S. Churchill (1897)

THE STORY OF THE MALAKAND FIELD FORCE (gutenberg project) ^ | 15 November, 2012 | marktwain

[marktwain]

Anyone who wishes to understand the wars in Afghanistan and the general conflict with Jihadis, should read this book. Written as an eyewitness account of the frontier war of 1897, it is fascinating reading for today, with many insights into the character of the country and people that are as valid in the present as they were over a 115 years ago.

Winston Churchill, aged 23, showed a genius for the written word and an appreciation of policy and geopolitics that was exceptional for his time. Facts that were taken as given then are now (falsely, I believe) derided as politically incorrect.

This work is a direct refutation of "anticolonialism" which, from the movie "2016", I believe to be a motivating force for President Obama.

Reading this book is like observing a fresh breeze clearing away much smoke and confusion from carefully placed and glittering obfuscations of facts that are currently deployed by the left.

It is also an extremely entertaining read. It reads easily and as pleasurably as an adventure novel. If Matthew Bracken had been on the punitive expidition, he could have written it, I believe.

This book is available for free, on the net, by the gutenburg project. It helped me put things in perspective after the election.

I highly recommend it for both pleasure and education.

[marktwain]

The book was published in 1897. It is a wonderful read, and gives valuable insights into our enemies, and an appreciation for what was the British Empire at its height.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

:: This book is available for free, on the net, by the gutenburg project. ::

Dude...I know those guys from inception. I’ll let them know they were referenced on FR.

[marktwain]

Ping. Perhaps most of you have already read this work.

[marktwain]

Dude...I know those guys from inception. I’ll let them know they were referenced on FR.

This cannot be the first time, can it?

[Drawsing]

Sounds good. Thanks for the recommendation.

[blitz128]

This is short?

[yarddog]

I much prefer reading a book I can hold in my hand, put a marker in then go back to where I was etc. but this is one I think I will go to the trouble of reading.

[Boogieman]

Tell Steve that he was great in “Short Circuit”!

[marktwain]

This is short?

The review is only half a page.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

First time for me. My MIL has contributed several historical articles to GP.

[Jimmy Valentine]

It is on my bookshelf and I periodically go back to it.

A wonderful line from the book: "There is no felling so satisfying as to be shot at without result."

[Jimmy Valentine]

Ahem, "There is no feeling so satisfactory as to be shot at without result."

Sorry, fat fingered the keyboard

[stylin19a]

for later

[marktwain]

"There is no feeling so satisfactory as to be shot at without result."

I had the impression that the line was from his account of his experiences in Cuba. Am I wrong, or was he using it as a "signature" line in this work as well? Did he use it in both? It clearly was used in "Story of the Malakand Field Force".

[Afterguard]

It was used in this book and he said something similar in his book London to Ladysmith via Pretoria. By the way, all you Churchillians, the third book of the Last Lion trilogy “Defender of the Realm” was released on Kindle on 6 November. Just started reading it and it was worth the wait. It was written by Paul Reid using Manchester’s drafts and outline. It reads much like his own prose. You’ll like it.

[Peter Libra]

I had from time to time encountered mention of this book. Your post now gives me the impetus to finally order this book. I accessed Chapters/Indigo Books Canada and find they do have copies. I simply love to have an actual book in the hand. They got for me the David Maraniss book on the man who is the now president of the United States. I do not regret it, as inadvertently Maraniss tells more than enough about the president.

I hope to be excused for wandering off topic and would like to mention a previous book by a very young Winston Churchill.

The River War: The reconquest of the Soudan. 1899.

Copies right up to 2006 being reprinted. Churchill was regarded as a young upstart and Herbert Lord Kitchener did not want him attached to the campaign. His mother pulled strings and out he went to join the troops.

At one time the fanatical Dervish were within 100 feet of a young Churchill, when he was used as a "galloper". This to carry dispatches. He steadied his little horse as he heard them over the sand dunes out of sight. Churchill said one whinney would have brought the Dervish on him. The little steed stayed quiet as Churchill patted him.

Excuse the ramble.