AND OF THE HIGH FLAGS

by Rosanne Mass ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 29, 1964

Three years as an English teacher in Afghanistan's capital city are refashioned by the author into a readable melange of travel observation, Afghani reportage and the random experiences of an American innocent abroad in Central Asia. In the pre-Corps days from 1951-54, foreign arrivals in Kabul had to fend for their own transportation, lodgings, and sometimes as in the author's case, even for their supposedly prearranged employment. She describes the overland journey from Karachi's port through the Khyber Pass to Kabul, and then relates her efforts to find a new teaching position. Her experiences in householding, the Afghanis and foreigners she met, the young men to whom she taught English, the tripos into the historically important areas of Afghanistan--all are vignetted here along with the history, lore and pride in the country that she picked up along the way. Vivid and personal, her descriptions manage to convey the largely unfamiliar aura of Afghani life--ancient tribal codes of honor contrasted with the sudden attack of Western modernity. The reminiscences stand as an interesting introduction to a country that is once again playing its role in the larger Asian context.

Pub Date: Oct. 29, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1964

Categories: NONFICTION