The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad
Two weeks after September 11th, award-winning journalist Asne Seierstad went to Afghanistan to report on the conflict. In the following spring she returned to live with a bookseller and his family for several months.
The Bookseller of Kabul is the fascinating account of her time spent living with the family of thirteen in their four-roomed home. Bookseller Sultan Khan defied the authorities for twenty years to supply books to the people of Kabul. He was arrested, interrogated and imprisoned by the communists and watched illiterate Taliban soldiers burn piles of his books in the street. He even resorted to hiding most of his stock in attics all over Kabul. But while Khan is passionate in his love of books and hatred of censorship, he is also a committed Muslim with strict views on family life.
As an outsider, Seierstad is able to move between the private world of the women - including Khan's two wives - and the more public lives of the men. The result is an intimate and fascinating portrait of a family which also offers a unique perspective on a troubled country.
About the Author
Asne Seierstad (born 1970) has reported from Russia, China, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, amongst many other countries. She has received numerous awards for her journalism.
Format: Paperback | 288 pages
Dimensions (cm): 19.7 x 12.5 x 1.8 | 228g
Publication Date: 09 Aug 2004
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Imprint: Virago
Publication City/Country: London, United Kingdom
Language: English
Edition Statement: reprint ed.
ISBN10: 1844080471
ISBN13: 9781844080472
Condition: Good
A vintage book that has been read but is in good condition. Some minor damage to the cover including very minor scuff marks along the edges, and a minor crease on the top-right corner of the front cover, but no holes or tears. Some damage to the pages with minimal creasing, but no tearing, and wrinkling on pages 109-118 (possibly due to water damage), which in no way compromises the legibility or understanding of the text. No pencil underlining of text, no highlighting of text and no writing in margins. No missing pages.