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The Mulberry Empire
By Philip Hensher
7/10 from 1 review
Categories: Fiction
Buy at Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com
1 review
Or, the Two Virtuous Journeys of the Amir Dost Mohammed Khan
I’m back in an historical frame of mind at the moment, probably due to how I was feeling when I was mooching around Battersea Library and found this in paperback for the first time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, which features an Afghanistan which disappeared long before the US invaded in search of Al-Quaeda. Combining Victorian society and morals, Empire and exploration, politics and power-broking, The Mulberry Empire is a novelised account of the little known period of history when England and Russia were vying for control of Central Asia, seeking to establish their own power at expense of the extant kingdoms and cultures of the region. As ever, history can provide lessons for more modern powers.

Fascinating and enlightening, albeit a little frustrating when the author tries to take the female voice, and rather too many key characters and settings to keep track of.
Rating: 7/10
Link to this review
Posted by Mary on Mon, 21st April 2003, 11:18pm
1 review