Introduction

This mesmerizing portrait of a proud man who, through three decades and successive repressive regimes, heroically braved persecution to bring books to the people of Kabul has elicited extraordinary praise throughout the world and become a phenomenal international bestseller. The Bookseller of Kabul is startling in its intimacy and its details - a revelation of the plight of Afghan women and a window into the surprising realities of daily life in today's Afghanistan.

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Excerpt

The Proposal



When Sultan Khan thought the time had come to find himself a new wife, no one wanted to help him. First he approached his mother.

“You will have to make do with the one you have,” she said.

Then he went to his eldest sister. “I’m fond of your first wife,” she said. His other sisters replied in the same vein.

“It’s shaming for Sharifa,” said his aunt.

Sultan needed help. A suitor cannot himself ask for a girl’s hand. It is an Afghan custom that one of the women of the family convey the proposal and give the girl the once-over to assure herself that she is capable, well brought up, and suitable wife material. But none of Sultan’s close female relations wanted to have anything to do with this offer of marriage. ... view entire excerpt...

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»	The real Bookseller's Site Take a look to hear his side of the true story.

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