First published in 1963, James A. Michener’s gripping chronicle of the social and political landscape of Afghanistan is more relevant now than ever. Combining fact with riveting adventure and intrigue, Michener follows a military man tasked, in the years after World War II, with a dangerous assignment: finding and returning a young American woman living in Afghanistan to her distraught family … after she suddenly and mysteriously disappears. A timeless tale of love and emotional drama set against the backdrop of one of the most important countries in the world today, Caravans captures the tension of the postwar period, the sweep of Afghanistan’s remarkable history, and the inescapable allure of the past.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener’s Hawaii.
Praise for Caravans
“Brilliant . . . an extraordinary novel . . . The old nomadic trails across the mountains spring into existence.”—The New York Times
“Romantic and adventurous . . . [Michener] has a wonderful empathy for the wild and free and an understanding of the reasons behind the kind of cruelty that goes with it.”—Newsday
“Michener has done for Afghanistan what . . . his first [book] did for the South Pacific.”—The New York Herald Tribune
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Afghanistan 1946 after WWII, before the Russians, before the US. He shows the reader the cultural conditions that account for present day strife. Predictions about 50%. Good read.
Wonderful Michener tale of Afghanistan. In his usual form, one is drawn to the characters and their stories, while learning about the country of Afghanistan. Beautiful and enriching.
great historical read in the Michener tradition, well-developed storyline, great character development
A great tale, Mitchener-style, set against the vast, beautiful country that was Afghanistan in the post-WWII years. A long book that seems much shorter due to a brilliant author of romantic tales and in an idyllic setting. You also get an education in the tribal and nomadic culture of the Afghan people.Great read.
A window into the complicated world of Afghanistan … From many points of view.
A classic. Want to know why our ongoing military adventure in Afghanistan is a horrible waste of lives and treasure? See what Mitchener experienced almost 70 years ago and let him recount how every would be conqueror dating back thousands of years has failed to subdue Afghanistan. A superb read. We miss Michener.
This was my “least favorite” Michener book. A story of an American college girl running after boyfriend who goes back to Afghanistan. Thought it would encompass more of the history of Afghanistan and Muslim culture but mainly portrayed young Americans acting like immature idealists. The time frame of this book was only one year in the late 1940’s so had very little to do with whats happening there today. Disappointed.
I have read this book twice. Anything by JM is always a treat. It is one of my favorites along with The Source.
Terrific story
Love and enjoy his books. For me this was a hard to get through. Very descriptive of land and peoples
read this book years ago and it’s more enjoyable this time around…maybe I’m a bit worldly and better educated now… I like historical novels and I think Michener is the master of the genre…
Some Mitchener’s tomes are too drawn out but this is a fast page turner.
I started reading Michener’s books in about 1968, and he had written several prior to “Hawaii”, the first one I found. The others I caught up on, one after another. This was a very early one and, as it’s been about 50 years ago, I’ve largely forgotten which one this was. I just remember being entranced with everything he’d done up until “Centennial”, and then the quality seemed to fall off. All the early ones are well worth your time.
Classic
Read this in high school a very long time ago. Probably one of the best I have ever read. Michener is my absolute favorite author. I learn so much with his books.
Not your typical Michener book in that it’s much shorter, but it’s well written and remains timely today. The history and descriptions of Afghanistan are fascinating.
Excellent! Michener has to be the best in describing a society that existed ages ago!
Book transports you to a different world. Love it.
I could not put this book down–worth ever hour you put in to this book
Read it in the sixties, love to find again