Yes, I've read "The Great Game." But the original travel books are far more interesting. For pure travel literature adventure which really gets you into the heart of Iran and Afghanistan I'd recommend this book:
"Caravan Journeys and Wanderings in Persia, Afghanistan, Turkistan and Beloochistan." by J.P. Ferrier.
Ferrier was a young French artillery specialist working with the Persian army in 1843-44. He held the Persian army rank of "general." The Russians, working hard to spread influence in Iran, arranged to have him fired. He wandered around Baghdad for awhile then in 1845 decided to strike out across Asia to the Punjab where the Sikhs were employing French artillerists. He rode across N. Persia to Herat....over to Mazar-i-Sharif...tried to get over the Hindu Kush but there was a war going on...doubled back and crossed the Hindu Kush in the Hazara area, rode down to Kandahar where he was clapped into prison....finally released he returned to Sistan and tried to get down into Baluchistan and from there to the Punjab. His Pushtun companions, however, got into a fight with the Baluch and he had to return to Herat..... He told his story to a British captain years later where he was living out his life in one of the 5 French cities in India (les cinq estoiles) which the French held till Indian independence. Fascinating.
Last edited by Argo44; 07/28/19 06:50 PM.
