... may read like a thriller, but it is based on meticulous research and new sources. It’s a fascinating account of Masson’s all-consuming search for the legendary lost city of Alexandria Beneath the Mountain, which symbolized the point where East met West. Richardson goes beyond Masson’s account of navigating Afghanistan and, in 1833, finding the lost Alexandria; the book also considers Afghanistan’s political situation in the 1820s and 1830s, the truth of Masson’s accounts, and the country’s challenging terrain ... A romp through a dramatic landscape and events that will be exciting for anyone interested in history and, in particular, classical archaeology.
Written in a scholarly style with proper footnotes and documentation, this account adds to the understanding of a long-misunderstood region. Appropriate for academic and large public libraries.
A fascinating account ... Impeccably researched but reading more like a thriller than a history text ... Mesmerizing and informative, The King's Shadow is narrative history at its best. Fans of Tom Reiss or Nathaniel Philbrick are sure to enjoy Richardson's writing ... Gripping.
Readers familiar with Afghanistan’s Great Game will appreciate this version of an unfolding catastrophe. History buffs and espionage fans will be fascinated with Richardson’s cast of characters, which included Victorian megalomaniacs, Afghan princes, Russian adventurers, and corrupt East India employees. Masson seemed consigned to obscurity, but today his discoveries are collected and cataloged at the British Museum and the British Library. Richardson’s biography, of a man who burned with the fire of discovery, completes his story ... Captivating biography of an archaeological pioneer sure to please history fans and students of the spy game.
... intriguing ... Though Richardson occasionally veers into extraneous minutiae, he spins a colorful tale of adventure and intrigue. This well-researched account restores an explorer to his rightful place in history.
