author

Howard Hensman

d. 1916

A firsthand chronicler of the Second Anglo-Afghan War, this British journalist turned battlefield reporting into vivid narrative history. His books on Afghanistan, Rhodesia, and Cecil Rhodes reflect the interests and attitudes of the late imperial age.

1 Audiobook

The Afghan War of 1879-80 Being a Complete Narrative of the Capture of Cabul, the Siege of Sherpur, the Battle of Ahmed Khel, the Brilliant March to Candahar, and the Defeat of Ayub Khan, with the Operations on the Helmund, and the Settlement with Abdur Rahman Khan

The Afghan War of 1879-80 Being a Complete Narrative of the Capture of Cabul, the Siege of Sherpur, the Battle of Ahmed Khel, the Brilliant March to Candahar, and the Defeat of Ayub Khan, with the Operations on the Helmund, and the Settlement with Abdur Rahman Khan

by Howard Hensman

About the author

Howard Hensman was a British journalist and author who died in 1916. He is best known for The Afghan War of 1879-80, a book drawn from his reporting as a special correspondent for the Pioneer of Allahabad; contemporary catalog and library sources also note that he was the only journalist to accompany the Kurram Valley Field Force on its march toward Kabul.

He wrote in a direct, on-the-ground style that gave readers a close view of campaigning, military movement, and imperial politics. His later books included A History of Rhodesia and Cecil Rhodes, showing how his work ranged from war correspondence to broader historical and biographical writing.

Because reliable biographical material on him is limited, many personal details remain unclear. What stands out most securely is his role as a reporter of major British imperial conflicts and his value today as a witness to how those events were seen and described at the time.