Indian diplomat and author Mohan Lal (1812–1877) describes the life cycle of Amir Dost Mohammed Khan (1793–1863), the ruler of Afghanistan. The work also includes an eye-witness account of the disastrous First Anglo-Afghan War. Lal, who was attached to the British mission to Kabul, had prepared an account in English and Persian which was lost during the chaos of the war, but he later put the story together again. In his Preface, Lal apologises to the reader for his abundant errors both in grammar and idiom and explains that anecdotes about the real life of Amir's adventures and morals were generally communicated to him second-hand. However, the book, which contains illustrations and draws personal correspondence, is a fascinating account of the ruler himself and of his political dealings with the English, Russian and Persian governments at the time of the 'Great Game' in Central Asia.