Sunday, May 18, 2008
Afghanistan: A Companion and Guide
With over 20 years of civil war and its connection with terrorism, Afghanistan is now unjustly thought to guide West as a bastion of barbarism. Afghanistan: guide and aims to dispel the image in an introduction to 3500 years of Afghan culture. In a complete history of the country from 1500BC, each chapter examines the major cities and regions, describing their distinctive cultural and ethnic traditions, their associations with poets, artists, musicians, travelers, and holy men and warriors and conquerors. Ancient and modern sources in Afghanistan have been cited frequently as well as thoughts, reflections and experiences of the authors from America, Europe, Russia, China, India and the Middle East, including luminaries such as Wilfred Thesiger, Bruce Chatwin.
Afghanistan expert Matthew Leeming Traveler provides detailed information for those who visit the country as tourists, with guides to specific cities and regions, and more general advice. A number of specialized appendages short, by experts from other illustrate topics such as archeology, architecture, carpets, miniature paintings, calligraphy, music, flora and fauna.
Beautifully located with stunning images by renowned photographer Michael Yamashita and Roland and Sabrina Michaud illustrated. includes etchings, engravings, paintings and other valuables from the museum.
This guide shows the enormous resources of the culture of luxury, historic and natural, all too often forget what is in Afghanistan.
- Written by authors from science and knowledge at first hand the country
- Essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Afghanistan
- It contains beautiful photos of world famous photographers such as Michael Yamashita and Roland and Sabrina Michaud
- Rare pictures include black-and-white photographs by Wilfred Thesiger
- Literary passages from Herodotus, to Robert Lowell, Robert Byron, Bruce Chatwin, Peter Levi
- Extensive coverage of Alexander the Great to the new constitution
- 110 beautiful color photos
- 512 pages of valuable information on Afghanistan
Product Details
Editorial Reviews
Review
Goes a long way towards humanising both the country and its people. -- Asian Affairs Journal
If travel books came with warnings, [this one] would read 'Caution, may inspire actual voyage.' -- Time
Strong on history and sumptuously produced, can be enjoyed even by adventurers who never leave their armchair. -- Daily Telegraph
Thorough and beautifully illustrated, this book is a comprehensive—and fun—window into Afghan history, culture, and traditions. -- Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner
About the Author
Bijan Omrani was educated at Wellington and Lincoln College, Oxford. He is an occasional contributor to the Spectator, and lives in Berkshire, England. Matthew Leeming was educated at Trinity College, Oxford. He first visited Afghanistan in 1993 to help restart the traditional tile-making industry, after which he became an extensive traveler throughout the country, writing on the subject for the Times, Sunday Telegraph, Spectator and the Literary Review. When not in Afghanistan, he lives near Winchester in southern England.
Customer Reviews
The unknown Afghanistan
This hefty tome oozes quality. From its 768! pages printed on very fine paper to the wonderful photographs to the heavy duty binding. The authors convey a deep love for this intriguing country so often only heard of in terms of war and violence. This is also a most comprehensive history of Afghanistan. Its blue lapis lazuli was used as ornament on The Mask of Tutankhamun. Coins of the Graeco-Bactrion kingdoms of Afghanistan reveal life in the lost "Atlantis of the East". As a travelling guide you get "down to earth" advice: "Driving in Kabul is a contact sport. (An airline)... fly, when they feel like it. "The Worst Hotel in the World." etc. Some places are presently out of reach for the ordinary traveller due to war - again. For the Afghans, I sincerely hope peace will prevail. They are proud and tough people despite, or maybe because of, their many hardships. This book tenfold improved my understanding of their beautiful and complex country. Possibly you would bring the several pounds of guide book along in your rucksack? Probably not. On the final page, as in many places in this "tour de force", there is a fine underlying humour: "Published to appeal to the armchair traveller". I'll be travelling often with this good companion.
afghan guide
A comprehensive guide to everything about Afghanistan from carpets to stupas. Its excellent photographs and abundant maps leave the reader with a desire to visit this fascinating country. The book is heavy to hold but difficult to put down. A must for all travelers (armchair or footworn) of distant horizons.
Excellent Book
Very helpful. Filled throughout with fact and history, as well, as suggestions for modern day travelers. I have purchased a lot of books on Afghanistan, and this one gets a LOT of use.
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