In a Land Far from Home
€17.90
Product Information
| ISBN | 9781399802505 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Syed Mujtaba Ali |
| Publisher | John Murray Press |
| Format | Paperback |
| Number of pages | 336 |
| Weight (kg) | 0.280 |
| Publishing Date | 07/07/2022 |
| Price (excl. tax) | €16.89 |
| Tax | €1.01 |
| Price (incl. tax) | €17.90 |
| Availability | 4 units in external warehouse |
Product Description
WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY TARAN KHAN, author of Shadow City
TRANSLATED FROM BENGALI BY NAZES AFROZ
An intrepid traveller and true cosmopolitan, legendary Bengali writer Syed Mujtaba Ali spent a year and a half teaching in Kabul from 1927 to 1929. Curious to explore Afghan society, Mujtaba Ali had access to a cross-section of Kabul''s population, and in In a Land Far from Home he chronicles his experiences with a keen eye and a wicked sense of humour.
Mujtaba Ali''s travels coincided with a critical point in Afghanistan''s history: when the reformist King Amanullah tried to steer his country towards modernity by encouraging education for girls and giving them the choice of removing the burqa. Branded a ''kafir'', Amanullah was overthrown by the bandit leader Bacha-e-Saqao. With striking parallels to twenty-first century events in the region, In a Land Far From Home is the only first-hand account of this tumultuous period by a non-Afghan.
Providing a unique perspective, Mujtaba Ali''s fascinating account is brought to life by contact with a colourful cast of characters at all levels of society -- from the garrulous Pathan Dost Muhammed and the gentle Russian giant Bolshov, to his servant, Abdur Rahman and his partner in tennis, the Crown Prince Enayatullah.