Younghusband

More about the book

From Calcutta to the Himalayas, Patrick French's biography explores the life of Francis Younghusband, a figure who encapsulates the romance and folly of Britain's imperial past. Younghusband's journey began as a military adventurer and evolved into that of a radical visionary advocating free love. French chronicles the unpredictable life of this maverick, who led the 1904 British invasion of Tibet, discovered a new route from China to India, and organized early expeditions up Mount Everest, all while attempting to establish a new world religion. Critics have praised the narrative as "full of excitement and insight, humour and curiosity" (Michael Holroyd) and "breathtakingly accomplished" (Observer). The writing is described as "beautifully written, wise, balanced, fair, funny, and extremely original" (William Dalrymple), and the work has been called "dazzling" (Niall Ferguson). The Independent on Sunday noted the book as a "rare gem" that sets new standards for historical biography. Patrick French is an acclaimed author, having received multiple awards for his works, including the Somerset Maugham Award and the Royal Society of Literature W. H. Heinemann Prize, among others.