Cassell, 2002, $19.95, ISBN 0-304-36294-8, 184 pgs., trade softback

This reissue of the 1982 book, The Northwest Frontier obviously inserted "Afghan Wars" to promote sales in the U.S. No matter, it’s a pretty good overview of the problems and challenges faced by the British in stabilizing the northwest frontier of India.

"North-West" refers to India, the jewel in the British crown, and which we know as Pakistan and Afghanistan. It’s a relatively desolate place with awful terrain and worse weather. The British treated it as a buffer area. The Pathans and other tribes called it home, and the land bred a fierce and independent bunch of cutthroats.

Tribes vied for power with clockwork assassinations--amazing anyone was left--and kept “pakhtunwali” (an honor code of sorts centered on long memories and liberal applications of bloodshed). Creating unrest and internecine wars seems to be the regional hobby. Then again, this is a British author, so keep that in mind.

Barthorp does a commendable job summarizing the multitude of wars, raids, and other battles between forces of the British Empire and natives. A multitude of photos accompany the text, and there’s no shortage of political operations to go along with the military ones.

All in all, it is a pleasant and quick read, and this overview helps to explain the tribal rivalries of current Afghanistan as well as the difficulties faced by a modern army against native fighters.