Despite its age, this book offers a truly wonderful and in-depth insight into the ongoing instability that has plagued Afghanistan.

It delves into the complex web of issues and shows how various parts of the many problems have evolved over time.

By Michener's standards, it is considered a "quick" read, which is quite remarkable considering the depth and breadth of the subject matter it covers.

The author manages to present a comprehensive picture of the situation in Afghanistan, from its political turmoil to its social and economic challenges.

This book is not only a valuable resource for those interested in Afghan history and current affairs but also a captivating read that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

Whether you are a student, a researcher, or simply someone who wants to learn more about this fascinating country, this book is definitely worth checking out.

This is an outstanding and highly thought-provoking book. Just like all of Michener's works, it was meticulously researched, which encompassed his extensive travels in Afghanistan.

The story is robust and offers profound insights into the Afghan people, their ways of life, their religion, and their culture. Even though the book is set shortly after World War II and was written in the sixties, it can serve as a primer for those of us who desire to understand how the Afghans and Americans arrived at the current stage of our military efforts in that country.

It inaccurately implies that the secular forces in Afghanistan would prevail, yet it highlights the influence of the tribal and feudal culture of the nation. I have a favorable opinion of the story, which revolves around some very interesting and often romantic characters. However, I cannot rid my mind of the descriptions of the culture of this country.

The vivid portrayals of the Afghan culture have left a lasting impression on me, making me more aware of the complexity and richness of this land.

This book not only entertains but also educates, providing a valuable perspective on a country that has played a significant role in recent history.

I am never disappointed when I read a Michener book.

For readers who have a penchant for a meticulously researched, exquisitely written historical fiction that features well-developed characters, Michener is indeed an excellent choice.

This particular book is set in Afghanistan right after World War II. At that time, both the US and Russia were vying for supremacy, eager to enhance their influence in this country where life had remained largely unchanged for centuries.

First published in 1963, this literary work provides profound insights into the Afghan culture, their rich history, their unique ways of living and thinking. It also delves into the kinds of people who inhabit this land, exploring why and how they manage to survive in such a harsh climate. Moreover, it reveals the arduous task faced by those who attempt to modernize and transform the country, as they are pitted against the many who desire to keep it pretty much the same as it has been for so long.

I was truly engrossed in this story as it afforded me at least a modicum more understanding of what has transpired in this region more recently. It is, without a doubt, a great read.

I have read, or at least started, most if not all of Michener's books. Looking back over the decades, "Caravans" comes to mind most often. The book's focus is not fragmented.

Recently, I read this one again and was surprised to find how applicable it is to our contemporary world. It seems as if the stories and themes within the book have a timeless quality that still resonate today. If I were more prone to using that 5th star, I would definitely do so after this reread.

The characters in "Caravans" are well-developed and the plot is engaging, taking the reader on a journey through different cultures and landscapes. It makes one think about the similarities and differences between our own lives and those of the people in the book.

Overall, "Caravans" is a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or stories about different cultures. It is a book that can be read multiple times and still offer new insights and perspectives each time.

When I think of James Michener, what often comes to my mind are his epic, multi-generational sagas like Hawaii and The Source. However, he actually made his name writing about WWII and its immediate aftermath in works such as the short story collection Tales of the South Pacific and the short novel The Bridges at Toko-Ri. Michener, who had served in the Navy, also wrote other tales of military men in foreign lands, like Sayonara.

In that sense, despite its compressed timeline and relatively contemporary setting, Caravans is quite similar to Michener's earlier work. It tells the story of Mark Miller, a US serviceman who transfers to the diplomatic corps after the war ends. He is assigned to the US embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, a foreign and inhospitable place for a Westerner in the late 1940s. Miller gets the unenviable task of trying to find a missing American woman, Ellen Jaspar. She married an Afghan engineer she met in the US while he was in college. After returning to Afghanistan as his wife, she disappeared and her parents haven't heard from her in many months. There is concern that she has been imprisoned or killed, and Miller's job is to figure it out.

Given this setup, one might expect this novel to be a bit of a mystery, with Miller traveling the country like a detective. Instead, the book reads almost like a travelogue. Miller starts in Kabul, the most civilized or modern place in the country, but then travels further and further west, passing through Ghazni, Kandahar, and Qala Bist, before finally reaching the deep western deserts. Each location is more foreign than the last, and Miller finds himself淹没 in strange customs and behaviors. Along the way, he meets Dr. Otto Stiglitz, a German physician hiding in Afghanistan to avoid trial for war crimes, and eventually, Nazrullah, the husband of Ellen Jaspar. The book provides vivid descriptions of the people, food, architecture, and customs of the land.

Michener's point in this novel seems to be that the foreign can truly be alien, and the more we try to understand it, sometimes the less we comprehend. Miller travels with a young Afghan official, Nur, who serves as a guide, interpreter, and fixer. It takes Miller some time to realize that Nur is more than he appears; he is more highly placed within the Afghan government than his lowly position might suggest, and may be more of a spy than a guide. In addition, Miller shows a typical American arrogance but soon finds himself humbled by the inexplicable and even brutal events around him - thievery, lying, and two brutal public executions that leave him (and the reader) speechless.

The latter part of the novel has Miller joining a group of Koshi nomads and traveling back to Kabul on horse and foot. In this, he learns more about the history and nobility of the country and its people, but also sees how politics, war, and other forces have severely disrupted the country. He also has to struggle with how best to report what he has learned about Ellen Jaspar (I won't give any spoilers here). The meandering pace of this section mirrors the meandering pace of the caravan he travels with. The novel comes to an unexpected, but not unsatisfying conclusion when Miller's duties as an American diplomat conflict with his friendships and hard-earned understanding of the Afghan mind.

I really enjoyed a lot of this book. Although it is set in a real place and time, it has an otherworldly feel to it and at times reminded me of the "epic quest" motif common in fantasy novels. I also appreciate Michener's desire to approach the other with humility and curiosity. He seems very aware of how Western power and privilege can override local customs and mores, leaving chaos and disaster in their wake. Long before the term quagmire was used to describe US involvement in this region, Michener described the problems of the culture clash with clarity and acuity. I also liked the ways in which Michener helps us think about the ongoing effects of WWII and how even a country outside the immediate scope of the combat was affected by this massive conflict.

My complaints about Caravans are fewer but still significant. I felt that Michener went too far in his attempts to show the Afghan people as different. He forces the action at times, making Miller witness a rough attack by Mullahs on a woman in non-religious dress or bloody examples of local justice (e.g., a public stoning). A couple of these scenes are jarring and shocking - which I think is the point. However, I wondered if less might have been more here. The scenes do show that Miller doesn't understand what he is dealing with as he travels to the far corners of the country, but they also took me out of the narrative for a while, as I was repulsed by the graphic descriptions of the bloodshed. Furthermore, by using "immoral" examples to emphasize difference, the novel suggests that the Afghans may be inferior to their Western counterparts.

Caravans may make you question your own assumptions about more "primitive" cultures. It will also offer you some of the wildness, history, and majesty of Afghanistan. Just be aware that, as a product of an earlier time, it also has limitations. Michener recognized the mystery and difference, but his portrayal of this rugged, mountainous country and its people still contains some of his American biases.

Even though this book is set a bazillion years ago (I don't know, like in the 1940's or something), whenever I think of Afghanistan, I think of this book.

I read it in high school. I still remember a particular scene where a woman was stoned to death in public. It never really disturbed me when I read in the Bible about people being stoned to death until I came across this book.

To this day, I still get chills each time I read about a stoning in the scriptures. It is truly a surprisingly gruesome event, considering how little it's described biblically.

Anyways, it is a good book. It is one of the few that has stuck with me after all these years. It's not a light and cheery tale, but it is very interesting. It offers a unique perspective on a particular time and place, and the events described in it have left a lasting impression on me.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about Afghanistan or who enjoys reading historical fiction. It is a powerful and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you've finished it.

4.75 stars

This time, Michener crafts a captivating story set in the Kingdom of Afghanistan in 1946. It was a truly lovely read, and relatively short compared to his hefty tomes. Here, there is a single story, in contrast to most of his other books. Michener has masterfully portrayed the social and economic life in Afghanistan, seamlessly integrating its rich history, vibrant culture, and, most importantly, the unique terrain. It's truly lovely!

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“Afghanistan, one of the most inconspicuous nations on earth. In 1946 it was just emerging from the bronze age, a land incredibly old, incredibly tied to an ancient past. At the embassy we used to say, “Kabul today shows what Palestine was like at the time of Jesus.”
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He also delves into the harsh reality of the ill-treatment of women in the country who are held responsible for adultery. This was both terrifying and, unfortunately, the truth then and still is in some aspects. Additionally, a great deal is written about the life of caravans, the people involved, and their perceptions and opinions of the essences of life. And there is so much more!

The book also presents ideas and opinions through opposing characters, exploring the 'unspoiled' and 'civilized' world of Afghanistan versus the so-called 'civilized world of the West' and how we are, in fact, destroying ourselves.

Considering it is a smaller book compared to the author's other works, this is an excellent choice for those who wish to embark on a journey into James Michener's literary universe. It is certainly recommended! :)

I read one Michener book, The Source, long ago.

In fact, it was long before I became Christian.

I read it just as a compelling way to travel through the history and people of a region.

I still recall much of it vividly.

Michener was brought to my attention recently when I was looking through Kindle samples and reviews of more recent versions of geographical/gigantic historical fiction.

As I discarded author after author, I found myself captivated by the couple of Michener samples I'd downloaded, specifically Caravans and The Source.

And I realized I'd forgotten his shorter fiction such as Sayonara and The Bridges at Toko-Ri.

Like an H.V. Morton travel guide, but with a fictional veneer, Michener takes the reader through all the faces of 1946 Afghanistan from city life to nomad caravans.

Simultaneously, he ponders civilization, faith, and man's essential nature.

Written in 1966, this book also contains ponderings from those who adhere to traditional thinking versus those who feel that progress means breaking away from civilization.

Altogether, it is a fascinating combination that offers readers a unique and engaging exploration of a distant time and place.

I had a truly great experience in Afghanistan that was filled with both harshness and a good story. The moment I arrived, I was struck by the rugged and unforgiving landscape. The mountains towered above, their peaks covered in snow, while the dusty plains stretched out as far as the eye could see.

During my stay, I met a local man named Ali. He had lived through many difficult times in Afghanistan, but his spirit remained unbroken. Ali shared with me his story of how he had lost his family in a war, but had managed to rebuild his life and start a small business.

Despite the harshness of the environment and the challenges that came with it, I was inspired by Ali's resilience and determination. His story taught me that even in the most difficult of circumstances, it is possible to find hope and create a better future. This experience in Afghanistan will always stay with me, a reminder of the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Caravans, a remarkable 1963 novel by James Michener, delves into the then-obscure country of Afghanistan. It is a historical novel in multiple aspects.

Written a full sixteen years before the Soviet invasion that would unleash three decades of war, it transports the reader even further back to the U.S. Embassy in Kabul just after World War II.

The allure of this novel lies in the fact that the reader, armed with more knowledge of Afghan history than Michener had while penning it, and Michener himself knowing more than the characters due to the 16-year gap he creates, witnesses the layers of history unfold before their eyes, adding a poignant depth to the narrative.

Michener's extensive travels in Afghanistan are evident in his work. He often expressed his desire to return to the country, and his love for the Afghan people and culture radiates throughout the book. I, having written my college thesis on Afghanistan, produced television series aired there, and visited Kabul last spring, found Michener's work to be without a single error. I adored how he seamlessly incorporated a wealth of fascinating history and culture into the novel while maintaining a fast-paced plot. The opening chapters in Kabul were my favorite, as Michener masterfully captures the emotions of his main character, Mark Miller, a young State Department employee. Miller experiences a complex mix of awe, fear, confusion, and excitement as he discovers Afghanistan. There are beautiful moments when he pauses to gaze at the mountains surrounding Kabul and feels a sense of timelessness that I too remember from my own visit.

However, Caravans is not merely a history lesson or a travelogue. It also features an engaging plot set in motion by a young American girl, Ellen Jaspar, who meets an Afghan student, falls in love, and marries him against her parents' wishes. After returning to Afghanistan, Ellen vanishes, and it becomes Miller's task to traverse the deserts and mountains in search of her. Ellen is a sort of proto-hippie, rebelling against the structures of modern society. Placing her within the context of Afghan culture gives rise to some very interesting moral and sociological questions.

Nevertheless, Michener does not entirely escape the gender bias of his era. He portrays Ellen as a flighty and manipulative girl, while Miller, who seduces a nomad girl and then abandons her without a second thought, is depicted as simply acting in accordance with what men do. There are also some disturbing moments early on when Miller seems excited rather than repelled by seeing women in burkas. From a historical perspective, it is interesting to observe how people viewed the issue of women wearing hijab prior to significant U.S. involvement in the region, but I was put off by Miller's blatant "Oriental" fantasies. Despite these reservations, I would highly recommend that readers give Caravans a chance. You'll be so engrossed in the exciting story that you'll hardly notice how much you're learning about Afghanistan.

Overall, Caravans is a captivating novel that offers a unique blend of history, culture, and adventure. It provides valuable insights into a country that has since become a focal point of global attention. While it may have its flaws, it remains a significant work that is well worth reading.

This account is not overly spectacular.

It is also marred by the cliched anti-hippy attitudes of the "Greatest Generation."

However, it was penned nearly fifteen years ago and Michener was clearly making a sincere effort to impart information about Afghanistan.

I am engaged in the process of learning about that region of the world and this was a rather pleasant exploration.

Similar to many of Michener's books, there are passages that describe intense cruelty.

For instance, I simply cannot bring myself to read his book on Mexico.

I am completely unable to get into it because I know the descriptions of cruelty are lurking within.

But in "Caravans," I could sense when those episodes were approaching.

Michener writes in a manner that provides ample warning, allowing me to skip those parts.

I would rate it two stars, yet I did truly enjoy reading about this particular part of the world.

It’s been a considerable number of years since I last delved into any work by James Michener. In fact, I had completely forgotten just how remarkable a storyteller he truly was.

Take "Caravans" for instance. This novel is set in post-World War II Afghanistan. The backdrop against which the story unfolds is the nascent struggle between the United States and Russia for political sway in the region.

A young employee from the State Department is sent from Kabul to Qala Bist. His task is twofold: to look into the disappearance of an American woman who is married to an Afghan engineer and to discreetly gather information regarding the travel routes utilized by nomadic tribes.

It is a testament to Michener’s writing prowess that every single part of this story is utterly fascinating. This includes his detailed and vivid description of how dams and bridges were constructed.

The book was published way back in 1963, yet it feels as if it were just recently released, with its themes and content remaining highly relevant even today.