About The Book

“Vivid and intriguing . . . Hodson’s account of his travels with mujahedin of Afghanistan is the same quality that we find in spy novels, tales of the quest and superior travel writing.” –Jonathan Kirsch, Los Angeles Times Book Review

In 1984 journalist Peregrine Hodson crossed the Pakistan border into Afghanistan with rebel mujahedin smuggling arms and ammunition, beginning a thousand-mile journey through the war-torn nation. Fluent in Farsi, he was able to observe the war with stunning intimacy and eloquently capture the essence of the Afghan people and their culture. As the travelers survived bombings by Soviet aircraft, an ambush by a rival faction, and becoming swept up in a major offensive, Hodson would come to gain a unique perspective on their hopes for peace and religious devotion. Bringing together travel writing, war reportage, and history, this is a richly rendered portrait of a complex people.

Praise

“Gripping and moving . . . [a] powerful account of a war that has often been described as ‘forgotten.’” –Gail Pool, The Christian Science Monitor

“Vivid and intriguing . . . I was hooked from the first page.”–Jonathan Kirsch, Los Angeles Times Book Review

“A textured and well-detailed description of the beautiful Afghan landscape and of the deadly scene there” –Kirkus Reviews

“In this well-written, vivid, poignant account, he paints a portrait of a struggle that seems to resemble the Vietnamese battle against U.S. forces 20 years ago’Highly recommended.” –Publishers Weekly

“There is also a bit of humor here and there as Hodson records some of his own experiences as an inept if adventurous explorer.”

“Will long remain the most vivid account of a strange and horrible wrong.” –Ahmed Rashid, The Independent (London)

“Hodson joins the select band of travel writers like Bruce Chatwin, Colin Thubron, and Vikram Seth who can make us alive to the human condition in the most inhumane places.” –The London Evening Standard