All things old China - books, anecdotes, stories, podcasts, factoids & ramblings from the author Paul French

Sabres on the Steppes: Danger, Diplomacy and Adventure in the Great Game

Posted: December 21st, 2012 | No Comments »

I’ve recommended some hard core academic books over the year for China Rhyming readers – weighty tomes that inspire much thought and require a bit of effort. That’s OK – you’re worth it, you’re here so you must be smart (ish). But it’s holiday time, so let’s choose something new and perhaps a little more fun over an egg nog and a packet of chocolate biscuits….Sir John Ure’s (gotta love the unapologetic use of “Sir”) Sabres on the Steppes: Danger, Diplomacy and Adventure in the Great Game. And here’s hoping there’s plent of danger and adventure and not too much diplomacy (boring!!)….

Back in the day when men were men and Britain ruled the world, the two great world powers went head to head over control of central Asia – from the Caucasus to Kabul. This was the stage of open warfare but also espionage, subterfuge and reckless adventure. Following on from the derring do of Shooting Leave, John Ure tells the story of British soldiers, missionaries and mercenaries, horse traders and opportunists who travelled to make their name in the Great Game.Praise for Shooting Leave:’Extremely entertaining … deserves to be a surprise Christmas bestseller.’ Robert Harris.’Gripping stuff.’ Peter Hopkirk.’Anyone with red blood in his or her veins will be stirred by these stories … The perfect read.’ Country Life.

Sir John Ure, former British Ambassador to Cuba, Brazil and Sweden, is the author of, among other travel and historical books, Pilgrimage, In Search of Nomads, The Cossacks and The Trail of Tamerlane. He writes regularly on travel for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, and has served on the council of the Royal Geographical Society and as chariman of the Thomas Cook ‘Travel Book of the Year’ panel. His recreation in Who’s Who is ‘travelling uncomfortably in remote places and writing about it comfortably afterwards’

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