Description

In January 2002 Rory Stewart strolled across Afghanistan-surviving by his wits, his understanding of Local dialects and Islamic traditions, and the kindness of strangers. By evening he transferred through hills covered in nine-feet of snowfall, hamlets emptied and burnt by the Taliban, and towns flourishing amid the remains of ancient cultures. By night he provided their meals, rested on villagers' surfaces, and paid attention to their tales of the historic and new past. On the way Stewart fulfilled people and rogues, teen-age troopers and tribal parents, Taliban commanders and foreign-aid personnel.