Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan (Volume 47)

This was a fascinating look at Alexander’s incursion into Bactria what is now mainly modern Afghanistan. Holt not only examines Alexander’s campaign in great detail, but compares and contrasts it with three other major forays into the are by the British Empire, Soviet Union and the USA. Holt takes great pains to document his work. A number of times I stumbled across things I had never heard about before and when I checked the associated end note, the works cited were top notch. The author is very fair in his handling of Alexander praising him for his ingenuity and creativity in the unfamiliar realm of guerrilla warfare but he also boldly and plainly states the brutal and tragic actions take under the Macedonian kings orders. Where appropriate, Holt brings in descriptions of actions taken by the other three foreign powers to compare their attempts to solve the same problems that confronted Alexander. In doing so, Holt never gets bogged down while connecting these more modern examples, keeping to the point in a pithy yet effective manner. He is also quick to point out the how and why of others failures where Alexander succeeded. The book also covers some of the Hellenistic Age and there is a lengthy discussion of Numismatics and what these studies have contributed to our understanding of ancient Afghanistan. There is also a survey of major archaeological finds and the work concludes with a discussion of the extant ancient sources covering the life of Alexander the Great. This book was both fascinating and incredibly enlightening. There are many new things for me to ponder and having gained a greater knowledge of Alexander’s campaigns in Bactria and Sogdiana, I have come away with a greater appreciation of the challenges one would face in trying to design a wargame about this part of Alexander’s campaigns.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," is a quite often said, but seldom understood. This is one of the rare books that lays in painful detail the lessons that were not learned from the many attempts to conquer and subjugate the land we know today as Afghanistan, but antiquity knew as Bactria. The powerful's attempt to conquer this rebellious land did not start or end with the Soviets or even the British. Holt reminds us that the land we know as Afghanistan has had a host of would be foreign rulers and it has been a quagmire ever since the dawn of written history. Even though Alexander's campaigns in Bactria was over 2,300 years ago, it offers invaluable lessons to us today. Written in 2004, a couple of years after our intervention, it reads like a book of prophecy of the host of difficulties we would experience. Although things in that region appeared quiet for a few years, Holt saw that difficulties would eventually emerge, and he was right. For the sake of national policy and security, Holt's book should be read by all those who have a stake in America's military, political and international relations policies. Afghanistan doesn't have to be the grave yard of great powers, and Alexander the Great eventually pacified this region. Holt reminds us there is much we can learn from Alexander's success and failures in Bactria and that there are modern day lessons for today's leaders even in the dusty experiences of antiquity.

This is a pretty good book that deals with a very specific part of Alexander the Great's conquest. I believe it was written before this edition and they revised it to make it applicable to the 19th, 20th, and 21st century wars there with the British, Russians, and Americans. I actually served in Afghanistan in America's war. There were some interesting points, but none of it was necessary other than to sell more copies of the book. The ancient history was good, but sparse, and there are many better books about Alexander the Great. If you love this history as I do, it is a book worth reading. Otherwise, stick with the usual biographies of Alexander that deal with his entire career (and include Afghanistan). I almost gave this one three stars, but I think it does deserve four.

This is the first book that I have read written by Mr. Holt,and I must say it is extremely informative. By reading this book you will understand why Afghanistan was never conquered and I think it will never be. So many have tried from Alexander the Great, the British and the Soviets.All lost including Alexander.He took a very smooth way out from this country with harsh terrain and warlods who are only faithful to their own shadows. Into the land of bones will explain why so many have died and yet never conquered Bactria. The distruction of all the cultural and archeological assetts that Afghanistan has,destroyed by wars, warlords and their infinite distructions of archeological sights.Millions of coins from all periods of that rich and historic area are in the markets sold through bazaars in Pakistan and India. What a disgrace. Did you know that there has been a fantastic discovery maybe the only one ever. In Afghanistan the archeologists discovered a ball used in catapults, which they are almost sure that is the only item ever found from Alexander's war paraphernelia. I strongly suggest you read this book to understand what the American soldiers are going against.Terrains,warlords,harsh weather,they are real heroes. Devourer of humans are what the Bactrians used to do.Put the dead bodies out on the ground and let wild dogs devour them.Recycling? That gives you an idea of what Afghanistan is all about.

This book is brilliant. Mr Holt is clearly knowledgable on his subject but does not fall into the trap of many historians of either 'loving' or 'loathing' Alexander. He deals with the man objectively and sites him in the time he lived not up against some PC ideal that is a construct of Western delusion 'we're better than they were/are'. If you know little about Alexander, this is a good place to start and be able to form your own judgement.

Great insight into a difficult period of history

The print was good.