Younghusband: The Last Great Imperial Adventurer

by Patrick French

Sir Francis Younghusband was the last of the great imperialists and a dashing adventurer. In 1903 he single-handedly turned a small diplomatic mission into a full-scale military invasion of the last unexplored country on earth, Tibet. Yet he subsequently became an outlandish mystical philosopher and an Indian nationalist. Admired by Bertrand Russell, Lord Curzon, H. G. Wells and John Buchan, Younghusband held the world record for the 300-yard dash, was The Times correspondent during the siege of Chitral, became the first European since Marco Polo to find a new overland route from China to India, and organized the early assaults on Mount Everest.
In a life that provides a rare glimpse into the spirit of his times, Younghusband embraced and personified, without apparent contradiction, the two cultures of late British imperialism. He spent much of his early life as a leading player in the Great Game - the battle of wits for control over the uncharted territory of High Asia - and his presumed death as a spy in the Pamirs almost sparked off a war between British India and Tsarist Russia. But despite being a classic Edwardian, full of pomposity and repression, in the post-First World War era he led the way in religious, philosophical and sexual free-thinking.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Travel, China, Asia, India

440 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Patrick French was a British writer and historian, based in London. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh where he studied English and American literature.

French is the author of several books including Younghusband: The Last Great Imperial Adventurer (1994), a biography of Francis Younghusband, The World Is What It Is (2008), an authorized biography of Nobel Laureate V.S Naipaul which won the National Book Critics Circle Award in the United States of America, and India: A Portrait, an intimate biography of 1.2 billion people.(2010)

During the 1992 general election, French was a Green Party candidate for Parliament. He has sat on the executive committee of the Tibet Support Group UK, and was a founding member of the inter-governmental India-UK Round Table.

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly thorough biography of Sir Francis Younghusband - almost reaching a point of being too thorough for me. It turned into quite slow read - which is not what I expected.

Without peer in the achievements he made for the British army, Indian Civil Service and as an explorer in his own right, he is a fine example of mental and physical ability. Small of stature, and as Partrick French discloses in this book, being thoroughly bizarre in some of his thoughts, was no bar to his overtaking of obstacles.

His expedition through the uncharted Gobi desert undertaken in much hardship, and his headstrong taking of Tibet are probably his most active achievements, but some of his activities post military are also worth mention. It is a confident man who can change his option based on newly learned fact - his wholehearted support of Indian Independence having spent a good many years of his life in the British army in the control of British India, and pushing out into Central Asia and Tibet to secure and increase her borders.

Younghusband was also elected the youngest member of the Royal Geographical Society and received the society's 1890 Patron's Gold Medal. He was later the president of the Royal Geographical Society from 1919 to 1922, and Chairman of the Mount Everest Committee which set up various expeditions, including the ill fated Mallory expedition in 1924.

However, hand in hand with his achievements, Patrick French also describes in great detail the odd sexual repression Younghusband felt, having been brought up devout Christian. This impacted nearly all his relationships with women, including a relationship with his sister (hinted at being incestuous), and various women he came to fixate on (some of which became lovers, others asexual relationships). He was in later life to become open to a multitude of religions, in fact founding the World Congress of Faiths, and wrote a large number of terrible sounding books on spirituality. It was this part of the biography I could have survived with far less of. His terribly infantile sounding love letters - almost enough to stop me reading.

Nevertheless - a full biography it is, and without doubt his achievements outweigh his personal issues, which really only became public knowledge due to the archiving of his personal paperwork.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: Was saddened to read that Patrick French passed away last week at the age of 56 - saw it in the news and thought "that can't be this Patrick French," but sadly...

Younghusband was French's first book, fittingly published when he was still in his 20's, since much of Younghusband's early fame also came at a similar age, (I hate people like that). But French then went on to write several other acclaimed biographies, as well as his Tibet, Tibet: A Personal History of a Lost Land, which has been sitting on my shelf for far too long and which I should now get to.

You can read the NYT obit of French here: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/bo.... Gerald Brenan said "middle age snuffs out more talent than even wars or sudden death;" so use your time wisely and well, my talented middle-aged friends...

ORIGINAL REVIEW: Even ten years on, this book still lives up to its original rave reviews. This will certainly be the definitive biography of one of the 19th century's greatest - and least remembered today - adventurers. Previous books on Younghusband focused on his physical adventures - rightfully so, as they remain the true accomplishments of his life, and are as amazing today as they were at the time (crossing China from Manchuria to India - including the then-unexplored Gobi Desert - virtually by himself, and at the ripe old age of 24!). But French takes the more difficult path of tackling the whole life, including the much more complex second "metaphysical" act, and generally does a good job making even the relatively dull stretches come alive. Overall the book does a better job of humanizing Younghusband than has been tackled before - both pro (Seaver) and con (Verrier) - and while this includes sometimes voyeuristic details of his unhappy marriage and slide into far-left-field eccentricity (even by British standards); it paints a complex, three dimensional portrait that - to me at least - only makes his achievements that much greater. (And yes, as the facts really speak for themselves, French could have downplayed his own 21st century opinions at times - doing away with the unnecessary and at times unsupported commentary on Younghusband's "fantasies," "instability," etc. - again, we're generally talking Victorian England here - who wasn't a little crazy?)

I've been a fan of Younghusband since first discovering him in Bayonets to Lhasa some thirty years ago, and so thought I knew him pretty well. But thanks to French's literary sleuthing this book offered a wealth of new information. And the name-dropping of those Sir Francis knew and befriended in his various roles: all the expected Great Gamers of course; but also Sven Hedin, Aurel Stein, Howard Carter, George Mallory; Lindbergh, Gandhi, Churchill, Rhodes; Verne, Russell, Kipling, J.M. Barrie, H.G. Wells, A.C. Doyle, G.B. Shaw - what a time, what a life!

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Younghusband, a strange name for an strange man. As the confluence point of Victorian imperialism, interwar theosophatic volkisch willthrust, and new age proto-hippy dom (though those latter two ideologies do share more in common than many think) I always wanted to know more about him. I even once wrote him into the role of a minor villain under the shadow of more ominous antagonists like Julius Evola, Uchida Ryohei, and Aleister Crowley in an alternate history graphic novel script I wrote a few years ago. That was a strange time period with lots of Alex Jones-meets-Pazuzu Algarad type of people having larger platforms than one might expect, and lesser known people like Younghusband are ripe for uses in works of fiction.

This book does his complex legacy, with its admiral feats of endurance and adventure as well as his bizarre ideas, good justice. As his life got less interesting, Younghusband's inner life became more strange. This included 'spiritual experiences' with beings who had translucent flesh and lived in a solar system orbiting the star Altair.

Patrick French as a biographer does a great job weaving in his search for the subject. Normally, I would not like this in a work of history biography or not. I find this (usually British) interjection of travelogue from author with subject to be narrative ruining and narcissistic in most instances. But the authors examples from research (mostly) add to the narrative. The author made some original discoveries during his time writing and thus succeeded to what most biographers would aspire to.

[George Ilsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born near the Himalayas, the child of empire, Younghusband led a fascinating —almost unbelievable— life.

It is not widely mentioned how British politics played a role in betraying the sovereignty of Tibet, but Younghusband's invasion of Tibet in 1903 should be known for its brutality. In fact the slaughter of Tibetans using Maxim guns foreshadowed the industrial scale slaughter on the battlefields of World War I.

Younghusband's foray into Tibet seems to have touched him, however, perhaps awakening a spiritual side. A story which needs to be read to be believed.

[Stephen]

French mixes his own personal journey to Younghusband's stamping ground with history. So far, a gripping yarn....

But I didn't finish it. Despite Patrick French's wonderfully engaging writing, in the end I wondered why the hell I was reading something about a fervent, misguided, egotistical imperiaist. I couldn't answer this question and stopped reading.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never going to finish this. Younghusband was a fascinating man in interesting times. Patrick French, however, is not. And given that he devotes a goodly half of the book to his own adventurous followings of Younghusband, the balance for my interest is, in technical parlance, all out of whack.

[Tom Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This, Patrick French's first book (1994) is excellent. I recently read Patrick's biography of V.S. Naipaul which lead me to Younghusband. French seems to be drawn to unusual personalities. Would liked to have given this book five stars but the malarkey of F.E.Y.'s later year's mysticism put me off a tad too much.

in his twenties, Frances Edward Younghusband negotiated the Mustagh Pass, at 19,000 feet a parlous bit of trekking. Located on the edge of K2, world's second highest mountain famous for its nasty weather, the pass marks the watershed between India and Central Asia. From there Frances's legend began to blossom. A smallish man he possessed enormous resilience. Reading of his Asian adventures it's small wonder that he excited the imagination of his fellow Englishmen. Next up was a twenty-month epic from Manchuria through China, the Gobi Desert, then continuing down through Chinese Turkestan. At the Gate of Hunza facing grim warriors armed with matchlocks, peoples from the dim past. Given the modern weapons the Brits possessed it was an asymmetrical war. The British were a driven, doughty race. The adventures of F had such a romantic vocabulary - the bearding of the Mir of Hunza, the Kanjutis tribe, or when first met with the Nawab of Tonk. F.E.Y. preferred bleak wilderness more than human society.

Page 128, here we meet the tall and beautiful Flora Shaw, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_S... - a fit personage for her own biography. For the times, she received high praise for it was said that "she had the reasoning capacity of a man". Perhaps a bit of hyperbole. (heh heh) This aside occurred during F's sojourn in South Africa where he seemed out of place - he soon returned to his more befitting environment, India.

Page 155: short imperial thought: "...to rule and guide their Asiatics and Africans who cannot govern themselves." So also did the early Younghusband believe. Later on he came to realize that the Indians deserved self government.

Oddly this text does not mention how put off the locals were about the nasty British habit of slaughtering the animals encountered during their explorations of the Himalayas. Other than the occasional offhand reference. Because the animals and birds were never threatened by humans they were exceedingly tame - killing them was hardly a sporting venture.

The whole Younghusband Expedition into Tibet was a dismal affair. Back home in England it made a name for F.E.Y. A decidedly asymmetrical war; Tibetan matchlocks, swords, spears, and slings vs. the cannon, Maxim guns, and modern rifles of the British. A massacre ensued. Average temperature during the foray, minus thirty, C or F it doesn't matter as at that temp they are about the same.

Page 215 "To be the ruler of an isolated force, high in the forbidden land of the Himalayas was for him a dream come true." - from the frozen desolation of Tuna.

Tenuous supply lines strung over the mountains; every Sikh Pioneer needed a backup of eight coolies." The coolies died, the bullocks died, the mules died.

High point for Imperial Frances: 1906, he becomes British Resident in Kashmir (Kashmir, to this day remains a flashpoint twixt Pakistan and India). 80,000 sq. miles / ruled since 1846 by a British-imposed Hindu Dynasty / 90% of its population of 3,000,000 are Muslim

At this point the book becomes less interesting as it relates the yearning of Younghusband to understand the concept of God. He wants to be known as a great thinker and philosopher. Frances hasn't a great mind and his writing shows it. At home in England he has attained a celebrity status. Oddly enough he becomes a good friend of Bertrand Russell.

Have to admit that I find this book both entertaining and interesting.

The Mt. Everest tie-in consisted mostly of his becoming a cheerleader for British exploration/mountaineering. I have read a few books on the subject and recall having come across Younghusband's name on numerous occasions.

Page 339 how the Lhasa Apso found its way into British society. The rest of the book is chock full of British quirkiness. All together a fun and worthy read about an endearing and eccentric man.

I will, no doubt, be reading more books by Patrick French. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick...

[Patrick Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not many historical figures counted both Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India, and Bertrand Russell as good friends. Francis Younghusband made a name for himself on Victoria's imperial frontier, then had a second act as writer and organizer on spiritual and religious issues. He did an about-face and fully supported India's independence after years of paternalistic writings and actions.

This works best as social history, covering the late 19th to mid 20th centuries and roaming from Imperial India to the attempts to summit Everest in the 1920s, from the first glimpses by Westerners of Lhasa, Tibet, to the invention of the hymn "Jerusalem" as a patriotic soundtrack to World War I.

[Ryan Murdock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written biography of the Central Asian explorer and Great Game legend Sir Francis Younghusband. Definitely worth a read.

[Robin Braysher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another podcast recommendation ('Empires') and a cracking good read. An amazing first book by Patrick French - who, sadly, died earlier this year at too young an age. I rather like non-fiction books where the author is present, rather than simply a disembodied narrator, and it's interesting to hear French's adventures in following Younghusband from remote parts of India to Dorset. Younghusband is a remarkable and fascinating chap. A product of the Victorian public school system he went out to the Empire as a 'muscular Christian' with the necessary hang-ups about race, class and women, profound confidence in the Empire and a dose of political naivety and paranoia about the Russians, who often took on recalcitrant foreigners with nothing more lethal than his walrus moustache and a firm belief in the superiority of an English gentleman - although the poorly armed Tibetans were dealt with by Maxim and mountain guns and magazine rifles. Then, his life took a change and, as much as I enjoyed about the imperial derring-do, I found the latter part of his life and the book even more interesting. I won't give it away, but simply say that it's not quite the trajectory you would have expected from a public school chap who made his name exploring and soldiering 'out East'. It's a thoroughly researched and entertaining read, with plenty of humour and moving in parts, too.

[gargamelscat · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellently written biography of a fascinating and decidedly odd man: a New Age philosopher avant la lettre.

Subject matter makes this very much a book of 2 halves - his truncated Empire career period and his post-Tibet increasingly bizarre spiritual self-discovery period. In the latter he crosses paths with a wide range of notable figures (Bertrand Russell, George Mallory, Charles Lindbergh even!).

Only criticism is the lack of cross references to his brothers, and particularly to Major General George Younghusband, with whom FY co-wrote a book (Relief of Chitral) - early on they served in much the same places (India) at much the same time (late 19th century). This absence is pronounced, I counted only 2 mentions, very much in passing.

[Huma Malika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author retraces the footsteps of the imperial explorer, which provides some insight, but distracts from the story. I would have liked this book a lot more if it was half the length and provided more cultural context. The subject opened up about his emotions in letters to female admirers. But in India, he became disillusioned with his fellow Englishmen, but found solace in exploring unknown territory. At the time, there was a blank spot between India and Russia. He built a reputation and career on that heroic bend. But eventually he had a change of heart or spiritual awakening. Unfortunately this is not always obvious from his actions.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography of an extraordinary man.
Francis Younghusband was an adventurer, colonial administrator, mystic and unconventional man. He disregarded orders and went his own way, including an unauthorised invasion of Tibet and some personal relationships which were totally against current social norms.
In tracking down the details of hid subject, French took on some exceptional journeys and interviewed many people. With a mixture of persistence and luck he was able to present a detailed story of a man who was in touch with many of the leading lightscof his day, and fell out with not a few of them.
The book is well researched, well written and very readable.

[Peter Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched and presented life of Sir F.Y. An evolving character, explorer and administrator. I think I would enjoy having talked to Sir F. but probably would not like to have been on an expedition with him. His opinions on Indian independence went though dramatic change during his life; being thoroughly paternalistic in his early years and being a member of the Indian National Congress later.

[Nick Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps a little unfair on the author with 3 stars, as the main reason my interest drifted was Younghusband himself. I just found his travels and the account of the Tibet invasion more interesting than his later life. All in all a good read and i liked how French allowed the narrative to move between the biography and his own research.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent biography of a fascinating character who veered from professional Englishman abroad who believed that the Empire should never stop expanding, to proto-hippy and religious mystic and back again in a largely futile search for fulfilment.

[Wangshi Xibu · Rating 4 out of 5]

a man a history

[David Iverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an extraordinary life he led! From a colonial imperialist in India to the last years of his life as a mystic, who advocated free love & the existence of extraterrestrials...

[Peter Jennetten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and thoroughly researched.

[Adam Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really more like 3 1/2 stars. A fine biography of this adventurer turned philosopher. Initially I was hoping for more adventure stories though about halfway through the book the exploration of the physical world ends and we learn more about his feeling on the spiritual or at least the ephemeral. I also found the author's personal accounts of his following on the footsteps of Younghusband distracting at first but then began to enjoy them as the author intended; to make the subject more accessible yet also more remote.

[Bob Peru · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book. dude who wrote it kind of followed younghusband ("bloody rum name, that") all over asia and europe. he (the author, patrick french) is coming out with a new joint on v.s. naipaul. which i will read as i am now a fan of patrick french and a big fan of naipaul.

[Nobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

That they don't make 'em like that any more.

[Nick Pengelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written book about an incredible man.