What is it about?
I argue that Lillias Hamilton, who served as court physician to 'Abd al-Rahman Khan, practiced self-censorship. She largely avoided writing anything her patient and employer while in Afghanistan, but upon fleeing Afghanistan, penned a book and numerous articles, and delivered a series of lectures. However, these writings and talks were censored. Only after 'Abd al-Rahman Khan's death in 1901 did Hamilton finally "untie" the pen and tongue and write her polemical views of her erstwhile patient.
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Why is it important?
Utilising a stash of primary and secondary sources, the present article sheds light on an important issue which has never been discussed before.
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It was an absolute pleasure to research and write this article. I hope this year-long project makes a small contribution to the field of Afghan studies.
Namatullah Kadrie
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This page is a summary of: “Pen and tongue” untied: Lillias Hamilton's uncensored view of ʿAbd al-Rahman Khan, Afghanistan, April 2020, Edinburgh University Press,
DOI: 10.3366/afg.2020.0043.
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