Told from the perspective of a common soldier rather than from Alexander's viewpoint or the viewpoint of one of Alexander's commanders, "The Afghan Campaign" provides the reader the opportunity Stephen Pressfield has garnered laurels for his ability to describe the utter brutality of ancient warfare and his descriptions of battles fought during the campaign of Alexander the Great in Afghanistan in his novel "The Afghan Campaign" are as wrenching as those depicted in Pressfield's "Gates of Fire".
Told from the perspective of a common soldier rather than from Alexander's viewpoint or the viewpoint of one of Alexander's commanders, "The Afghan Campaign" provides the reader the opportunity to experience the grinding existence of a man struggling to maintain some shred of integrity in a hostile and intractable world. Alexander is most often glimpsed from a distance and we are not privy to his strategic debates or daily dispatches to help us understand the "big picture" he sees in his efforts to add the tribes of the Hindu Kush to his role of conquered nations.
We must, through Matteius' eyes, simply endure the relentless wind, quagmires of mud, and bitterly cold snow and sleet, as we climb and descend the deadly precipices that score the Afghan countryside in search of a foe that materializes suddenly to engage in deadly tribal rituals, counting coup and scalping or mutilating their victims, then escapes back into the mountains where, unlike the Macedonians, they appear to thrive.
We feel Mattteius' frustration rise to an excruciating level as his comrades are butchered in ambushes or slain by duplicitous camp followers. As the war wears on, he participates in retaliatory strikes where entire villages are put to the sword and torched as efforts intensify to "win" an ultimately unwinnable war. Matteius' acceptance of these measures poignantly demonstrates the ultimate result of living amidst so much brutality - the loss of one's own humanity as both sides must cultivate ruthlessness to simply survive.
This historical novel is about Alexander the Great's invasion of Afghanistan in B. It's the one place where Alexander's army met with less than total success. More than once they invaded an area only to learn that their enemy had mysteriously appeared in their rear. This was frustrating to an army that knew they were the best in the world and were used to conquering any force that confronted them. This book is an amplification of one of the chapters of the book, The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great by the same author. The narrative of this book is told in first person from the point of view of a corporal in Alexander's cavalry he's a foot soldier part of the time.
It's interesting to try to find parallels with more recent occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan by a foreign power. See if you and detect some similarities. Alexander's forces were a western undefeated super power that was relatively high tech for their time. Think shock and awe. Alexander's campaign arrogantly invaded the country, ignorant of its culture. Think Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld's world view.
Alexander prematurely declared victory. Think "Mission Accomplished" on the aircraft carrier.
The Afghan Campaign is a historical novel by the American writer Steven Pressfield. It was first published in by the Broadway division of Random House. 2, years ago an unbeaten army of the West invaded the homeland of a fierce Eastern tribal foe. This is one soldier's story The bestselling novelist of.
Soon after the invasion, an insurgency popped up. Think Iraq for the past seven years and Taliban more recently. Spitamenes, the leader of the resistance, was an educated son of a wealthy Persian, not a native to the country. Think Osama bin Laden. Alexander responded with conventional military force. Think Marines sacking Fallujah. Alexander tried sealing the borders. Think Syrian or Pakistan borders. Alexander then called in additional reinforcements. Think surge in deployments.
In desperation Alexander began hiring the militias and the tribes who had been fighting him. Part of Alexander's exit strategy was to marry a tribal chief's daughter. Not sure that option will work today. One tactic used by Alexander's forces was to kill off the native population, women and children included. I hope we're civilized enough to not try that tactic in today's global environment. The unconventional nature of the war hurt the morale of Alexander's forces. Could the Abu Ghraib prison be a parallel here?
In the negotiations to end the conflict it was important to reach an agreement in which both sides could claim victory. Suggestions of negotiating with the Taliban? Note to strict historians: I know a few things were stretched and conflated to make the above parallels. It should be noted here that it was common for Alexander to incorporate former foes into his army. This particular book tells of action taken to repress the spread of the knowledge of certain atrocities in order to allow the hiring of former enemy tribesmen who had committed the atrocities. I don't know if the author had a historical basis for including that incident.
Nevertheless, it created another modern parallel; propaganda and control of news coverage. The following quote from the book explains in Alexander's words why it is time to cut and run i. One searches in vain for honor. We've all done things we're ashamed of. Even Victory, as Aeschylus says, "in whose august glow all felonies are effaced," is not the same in this war. To prevent the needless waste of lives. Too many good men have perished without cause. More will join them if we don't make this peace now. Over the past couple hundred years that included the British two times and the Soviets.
If Alexander were still with us he'd probably say that it's the same o' same o'. There's a love story of sorts woven into the plot as well. It turns into a parable of war. Romantics will be disappointed. The book ends with these words: Afghanistan's deity gives up nothing. One appeals to him in vain. Yet he sustains those who call themselves his children, who wring a living from this stony and sterile land.
And that has made me a fighting man, as they are. Aug 12, Marc rated it it was ok. I love Steven Pressfield. I've read the majority of his books and have loved them all. Those books had a lot of emotional impact. Sadly, The Afghan Campaign does not. The Afghan Campaign is a lot more technical. Pressfield's previous books dealt with the same material but for whatever reason, this one goes into more details when it comes to weaponry, occupation, fighting, campaigns, and everything else it is to be a soldier.
Whenever there's a part in the story that would get emotional, it's told I love Steven Pressfield. Whenever there's a part in the story that would get emotional, it's told instead of shown. In fact, a lot of the story is told--be in what's happening or what kind of weapons there are. There is a point way late in the story when Matthias gets a woman. Pressfield seems to take awhile going back to it so much so that I stopped caring. A lot of that is also told too. The biggest problem with The Afghan Campaign is that it feels like it was created from his previous book, The Virtues of War.
It's as if he had so much great stuff that he researched in that book that he didn't want to waste so he made this book. I'll still list Pressfield as one of my favorite authors. I've loved all the other books he's written so I'm not surprised that this is the bump in the road. Feb 25, Louis rated it really liked it Shelves: Alexander the Great has conquered everywhere using standard tactics of drawing out his enemy and defeating it on the battlefield. And he has conquered the Persian empire, the greatest in the world.
And, on the way to the riches of India, lay the Hindu Kush, present day Afghanistan. The Afghan Campaign is written from the point of view of a new soldier. During the war against the Persians Matthias joins the Macedonian army, following in the footsteps of his brothers.
However, he is too late to join in the glorious wars against the Persians. But, he arrives in the Hindu Kush, after the main battle. But the war is not over. Over the course of the campaign, Matthias sees victory, loss. Friends are killed in barbaric ways and he takes part in atrocities that make him sick. His family gives his support, and his fiance leaves him. And at the end, he is frustrated with the war, has the spoils of war that his brother tells him to take home, and decides to continue with Alexander.
So, what is the point? Why this pseudo-history of the ancient world? The question for this is not to present a history, but to present an experience. So, do I think it is accurate, all things considered. And, well, it is. When you are in the middle of things, you don't have too much time to think about the big picture, unless you have that kind of position.
Your general thoughts as far as war is concerned are about the day in question. But there are times to think about other things. You are very concerned about your comrade around you, their fortunes, successes, failures. Their hurts and their victories are shared and felt by you. And you think of loved ones behind. Of people back home who support and love you. Of those who have forgotten you.
And those who have let you go and gone their own way. Someone asked me if I missed anything about serving in Afghanistan, it was that. The sense that we shared in the struggles, successes and frustrations of each other. The guy who we all said had the worst job in the office, as he was having his direction of effort changed almost hourly, and never could get what he was doing done well enough to be satisfying. The senior officer who did not have a well defined job, who spent his time making snide remarks and complaining about little mickey mouse issues.
The guys who got regular packages and letters from home I was one of them , especially the newlywed whose wife sent him a package including baked cookies weekly the winner. We worried about the guy who was a bit of a loner and never got packages and were real relieved when his mother sent something. I loved it when all the guys on the staff were pulling for me when I gave a big presentation that needed very senior officer support, giving me feedback, suggestions, and general "ask for whatever help you need" support.
We talked to our families and shared in the fustrations, joys, stories funny, sad, frustrating and proud. The ideas, dreams and hopes we had for the future. All the things that make us real human beings. And Pressfield presents that well, both the good and the bad. Obviously, the book is for a certain type of person. The gore exists, as it is also a part of war. But it is not there for its own sake. It is there because it is part of the environment that shapes the people.
And to that extent, it, like some of his other works e. Mar 30, Kevin rated it really liked it. A really interesting book by Steven Pressfield. This is the second book of his that I have read and am hooked. He has been called an expert on ancient warfare and I believe it.
This also reads like a history book. He does great character study and development while weaving in historical movements and happenings. I sometimes get caught up in wondering if things were as advanced as he makes them seem in that time but then remember that he has done far more research than me on the subject. The obvio A really interesting book by Steven Pressfield. The obvious and intentional parallels to modern day warfare in Afghanistan this book seems to accurately portray the very reasons we will never fully subdue Afghans. There strategies and customs fit their region and culture so effectively that they have not had to change things much.
I think this would be an excellent book for anyone who has interest in the current conflict there to read as well as people who just like well written historical fiction. I am going to stick with Pressfield through a few more books as he is a very good author with a unique subject matter and specialty. May 03, Chompa rated it really liked it Shelves: I started this book on a recommendation. Actually on numerous recommendations as I've been hearing about Steven Pressfield and his historic novels for a while. In other words, I started this without knowing anything more than the title and an assumption it would take place in Afghanistan.
Well, I was right that it took place in Afghanistan. My guesses about Russian or current occupation were way off, but strangely pertinent. This was Alexander's push to the East in expanding his empire. Alexande I started this book on a recommendation. Alexander had conquered Persia modern day Iran and was moving toward India, but first needed to conquer Afghanistan. The book is written from the perspective of an infantry soldier from Macedon named Matthias.
Matthias and his friend Lukas join the army with dreams of glory and wealth. Both of Matthias' older brothers are members of Alexander's elite cavalry, but Matthias accepts a role as an infantryman. The book covers Matthias' long trek to Afghanistan and the many hardships entailed. When he is finally thrust into combat, Matthias is a mess. Terrified, reluctant to do violence and laughed at by the troops.
We follow Matthias over the years in Afghanistan and learn of the people, the terrain and how Alexander's army operates. Over time Matthias becomes a soldier, but it is at the expense of being who he was.
He is hardened and desensitized to violence. A very interesting aspect of this book is talking about how hard it is to conquer Afghanistan. The native people are hardened and willful. The land is treacherous and works against invaders. Where thus far, Alexander the Great has had relatively easy conquests, Afghanistan forces him into compromises. This really was an excellent book. It gives a view into an area of history and culture I was not familiar with. The main character and his friends are enjoyable and the story riveting.
There are some very dark events in the book that drive home the harshness of this war. Apr 17, Ctgt rated it really liked it. I have come to know this man whom, before, I regarded more with awe and fear than respect. I see the whole of him now. He is a soldier in the noblest sense of the word. Story of a young man who enters the service of Alexander the Great's army. Pressfield does a great job of weaving the narrative between pure historical facts and the story of Matthias, a young idealistic man who signs on to serve with his friend Lucas.
From the beginning as raw recruits, through th I have come to know this man whom, before, I regarded more with awe and fear than respect. From the beginning as raw recruits, through their struggles with killing and who they are becoming, Pressfield never shies away from the truths of the life of a soldier. A man hung his purse next to his testicles and, after shaking hands with a stranger, checked to make sure both sacks were still where he had left them. It has changed us already. Where will it end? Who will we be then? Myself, I feel its weight nightlong inside my skull, as spectacles of slaughter re-present themselves with such ghastliness that I dare not even shut my eyes.
Dec 08, Bfisher rated it liked it Shelves: When I saw the title The Afghan Campaign, my first thought was which Afghan Campaign - or or or To paraphrase Monty Python, I didn't expect the Macedonian invasion. Perhaps that is the main point of this book, that no matter how much things change in the rest of the world, things haven't changed much for fighting in Afghanistan.
This book follows the career of a young Macedonian recruit fighting as a dragoon in Alexander's Afghan campaign. It describes in detail t When I saw the title The Afghan Campaign, my first thought was which Afghan Campaign - or or or It describes in detail the tactics, strategy, logistics and administration of Alexander's army as seen from a low level, as well as the recreation of the soldiers drugs, alcohol and the local women.
It ends with Alexander's face-saving exit. View all 3 comments. He seamlessly blended one soldier's tale with that of the entire campaign without having one overshadow the other. Probably my favorite aspect of this book is that the only difference between the way Alexander the Great and the Afghans fight compared to our modern day war in Afghanistan is the weapons used.
I thought that was pretty fascinating considering the amount of time that has lapsed since the Macedon Great book! I thought that was pretty fascinating considering the amount of time that has lapsed since the Macedonians marched through that part of the world. Get your copy here: Nov 29, Anthony Ryan rated it it was amazing. A modernist approach to depicting ancient warfare.
Pressfield's story of a young Macedonian warrior embroiled in Alexander the Great's conquest of what is today called Afghanistan has more in common with a Vietnam war memoir than a poetic epic. Pressfield doesn't flinch from the brutality of war waged primarily with edged weapons but it's the inescapable parallels to contemporary troubles that are most striking: Afghanistan, it seems, has never been an easy place to invade.
The man who at less than 30 years of age had carved out an empire sprawling halfway across the world, the man at the statue of whose feet Julius Caesar is said to have wept thinking that he at that age had not accomplished even half of what this giant of a man could: Myths surround him, historians dub him one of the greatest generals who ever lived and one theatre of war that took him by surprise was Afghanistan. I have read in some other work that one of Alexander's battle The man who at less than 30 years of age had carved out an empire sprawling halfway across the world, the man at the statue of whose feet Julius Caesar is said to have wept thinking that he at that age had not accomplished even half of what this giant of a man could: I have read in some other work that one of Alexander's battle hardened generals called the land as the "Arse-Hole of the civilized world" for its inhospitable terrain and fierce warriors.
Matthias is a young infantryman in the army that Alexander takes to Afghanistan on his way to conquer India, but his experiences and complaints are those of every soldier in every war. Indeed, if you were pitching this one in Hollywood you'd go with: This is both the strength and the weakness of the book. Pressfield succeeds, as always, in bringing ancient times and battles to vivid life and manages to cast important light on our current war in Afghanistan, but the perspective is so subjective that broader questions are obscured.
Consider that if all you knew of WWII was the first twenty minutes Saving Private Ryan you'd hardly think the whole kerfuffle worthwhile. But then consider Hitler. Ultimately, the lives lost and ruined in war are tragic, but not the whole story, nor even the most important part of the story. So novels and memoirs that concentrate on the enlisted men tend to invoke our pity without engaging our minds.
We may well, at least during the reading, fail to place the stories in the context they require. Pressfield escapes this trap when he connects Matthias's war with our own. Here is Alexander, in one of his few walk-ons, addressing his men: You may feel, some of you, that this is not what you signed up for.
But the foe will not have it. In other words, I started this without knowing anything more than the title and an assumption it would take place in Afghanistan. The obvio A really interesting book by Steven Pressfield. The descriptions of ancient warfare, of how they moved soldiers and equipment and food throughout Persia and Afghanistan were remarkable. Over the past couple hundred years that included the British two times and the Soviets.
These are not the fields of glory of which you dreamed. The actions we take in this campaign are as legitimate as those enacted in any other. This is not conventional warfare. And we must fight it in an unconventional way. His word to us is worthless. He routinely violates truces; he betrays the peace. When we defeat him, he will not accept our dominion. He comes back again and again. He hates us with a passion whose depth is exceeded only by his patience and his capacity for suffering.
His boys and old men, even his women, fight us as combatants. They do not do this openly, however, but instead present themselves as innocents, even as victims, seeking our aid. When we show compassion, they strike with stealth. You have all seen what they do to us when they take us alive. I intend them no harm. I would make them our allies and friends. I abhor this kind of fighting. If an alternative existed, I would sieze it at once.
But the foe will not have it. We have seen his methods. We have no choice but to adapt to them. Pressfield writing about the current war on the last anniversary of