Caravans A Novel of Afghanistan (Audible Audio Edition) James A Michener Larry McKeever Random House Audio Books
Download As PDF : Caravans A Novel of Afghanistan (Audible Audio Edition) James A Michener Larry McKeever Random House Audio Books
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.
Caravans A Novel of Afghanistan (Audible Audio Edition) James A Michener Larry McKeever Random House Audio Books
I had expected "Caravans" to read like the only other Michener book I've read, "Hawaii": a sweeping, multi-generational narrative holding together an entertaining history of the kingdom(s) turned state.Instead, I lived a year of a young American man's life as he comes of age in post-WWII Afghanistan.
I can't remember the last time I wanted climb inside a novel. The prose is fluid and clean and perfect. The exotic scenes are richly described, the characters layered and living.
"Caravans" is wise and philosophical, but crisp as the night desert air he makes you breath, and as seemingly simple as the "primitive" culture main characters witness.
An epic journey.
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Caravans A Novel of Afghanistan (Audible Audio Edition) James A Michener Larry McKeever Random House Audio Books Reviews
As usual with Michener, the story line and writing are compelling. This epic is somewhat different from most of his others (The Source, Hawaii,etc.) in that the entire novel takes place in modern times; that is, in post-World War II Afghanistan. But he has first-hand experience there to give the book veracity, The author traveled throughout the country for a year or so just after WWII. As usual in his novels, history and geography are mixed with romance. In this book, a beautiful, young, blond college student runs off with a married Afghan man, disappears, and is the subject of a search by a young American man from the U.S. embassy. The author gives us an honest look at life in Central Asia and it is captivating, if not inviting. The only thing that is the least bit disappointing is his outlook for the future of the country as judged from pre-Taliban times (ca. 1960). While he accurately predicts the battle for the country's resources between the U.S. and the Soviets, he didn't recognize the coming threat to the region and the world coming from radical Islam. But then, who did?
Although the book did not start with a detailed chronicle of the geology of the region; through the eyes of one man, the influence of the geology on the many great armies that passed through it were noted along with the bits and pieces of cultures, religions and tongues that were drawn to it over millinea, took root and were reshaped by the harshness of the arid land and then rose into great cities and new civilizations sustained by the water that was tamed and brought down from the mountains and nourished by the vital overland trade routs that connected the Orient, Mediterranean, and Europe. An amazing account of a little understood land and its many peoples.
This is a good story, along with some geography lessons and history. The book was published in 1963 and written from Michener’s experiences in Afghanistan. Michener was witness to some of the last caravan culture that had crossed mountains, deserts and national borders for thousands of years.
The story is set in 1946. That story is a bit dated, but also prescient. Educated Afghans are pitted against the stone age theology of rural mullahs. One of the leading characters has taken part in WW II atrocities; that and the coming civil rights battles in the U.S. and the possibility of nuclear holocaust lurk as background for some of the characters’ anguish. One of the western educated Afghans predicts to the lead character (a junior staffer from the American embassy in whose voice the tale is told) that if they, the Afghans, don’t straighten their country out the Russians will come and do it for them.
The protagonist doesn’t appear until half way into the story. She is a young American woman, a prototype hippie; a free spirit disgusted by her family and life in America. She is repelled by any society with structure and believes the old saw of discovering freedom and independence in a simple life in a primitive, but noble culture. She’s continually disappointed to find humans are political animals who create societies in which they can manipulate others.
This all makes a good work of fiction, beyond that, Michener was optimistic that the educated class, independent minded Afghans (especially nomad tribes) and moderate mullahs would win out and begin to build a nation (and relieve Afghan women from being shrouded, second class human beings). Michener’s hopes for a modern nation still remain only hopes. Today we know the result for independent, free spirits who seek to find themselves in this part of the world. They start out attempting to assimilate into the local culture and end up being traded among groups until the most radical make them the star attraction in a horror video for cable news.
But, that’s beside the point, this is still, all in all, a good story.
Michener creates a compelling story of a search across Afganistan, of a desert journey by jeep and then journey by foot/horse/camel that allows him to portray some of the grandeur and history of Afganistan and its people post World War II. The relevance of this country has only increased in current times, which contributed to my fascination with his portrayal of life in the late 1940s. Michener's story addresses universal questions about the nature of evil and forgiveness through invoking the particulars of a German doctor/war criminal who has taken refuge in Afganistan who unknowingly tells his story to a Jew, Mark MIller, the protagonist. Mark's desire to take vengeance but his ultimate ability to have compassion give rise to questions about the meaning of forgiveness. This theme gets repeated in interactions between the 'missing' American' young woman, whose rejection of gender and societal expectations in post-War America lead her to a series of unconventional choices and relationships, and her husband, and the other men who love/desire her. Ultimately, her utter self absorption mars the reader's ability to empathize with her, but we are reassured that she will embrace whatever adventures come her way and land on her feet. Michener weaves a compelling tale and his fascination and love for the land come through vividly. A worthwhile read that is still relevant and carries universal themes-- a 'coming of age' novel set in a country with a dramatic history and people.
I had expected "Caravans" to read like the only other Michener book I've read, "Hawaii" a sweeping, multi-generational narrative holding together an entertaining history of the kingdom(s) turned state.
Instead, I lived a year of a young American man's life as he comes of age in post-WWII Afghanistan.
I can't remember the last time I wanted climb inside a novel. The prose is fluid and clean and perfect. The exotic scenes are richly described, the characters layered and living.
"Caravans" is wise and philosophical, but crisp as the night desert air he makes you breath, and as seemingly simple as the "primitive" culture main characters witness.
An epic journey.
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