S. S. Thorburn’s Bannú; or, Our Afghan Frontier is a vivid and authoritative account of the Bannú district and the wider frontier region of north-western India, written from the perspective of a British officer with extensive on-the-ground experience.

The book offers detailed descriptions of the country, its geography, climate, tribes, and settlements, along with valuable observations on the political situation, tribal customs, and the relationship between the frontier peoples and the British administration. Thorburn’s narrative provides rare insights into the daily life, character, and traditions of the Pashtun tribes, as well as the challenges of managing this strategically important region.

Combining travel narrative, ethnographic detail, and historical analysis, Bannú; or, Our Afghan Frontier remains an important primary source for understanding the social, political, and cultural landscape of the Afghan frontier in the late nineteenth century.