
This is the first full biography of Alexander Burnes (1805-1841) from his humble origins in Montrose (the great nephew of Robert Burns) to his entry to the East India Company & his work as a political agent in India & Afghanistan This is an astonishing true tale of espionage journeys in disguise secret messages double agents assassinations & sexual intrigue as Britain strove with Russia for control of Central Asia & the routes to the Raj There are many lessons for the present day in this tale of the folly of invading Afghanistan & Anglo-Russian tensions in the Caucasus Murray's meticulous study has unearthed original manuscripts from Montrose to Mumbai to put together a detailed study of how British secret agents operated in India revealing Burnes as a figure of broad intellectual range with a respect for local culture & a lack of racism out of tune with the mood of the day