The Finest Hotel In Kabul: A People's History Of Afghanistan

WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2026



The Sunday Times Bestseller

Shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards

Shortlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize

Shortlisted for the RSL Christopher Bland Prize

Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction

The Times, Financial Times, Guardian, Observer and Economist Book of the Year 2025



A sweeping and immersive history of modern Afghanistan - the first book from one of the world's leading war correspondents.



'Simply unforgettable' ELIF SHAFAK

'Terrific' THE TIMES

'Incredible' PETER FRANKOPAN

'Powerful and charming' FINANCIAL TIMES

'Utterly compelling' PHILIPPE SANDS

'Masterly' TELEGRAPH

'Ingenious' KAMILA SHAMSIE

'A must-read' SUNDAY TIMES

'Beautiful' RORY STEWART



In 1969, the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul opened its doors: a glistening white box, high on a hill, that reflected Afghans' hopes of a modern, democratic future.



In the decades since, its staff have endured two coups, a Soviet occupation, the US invasion, and the rise, fall and rise of the Taliban. The Inter-Con has never closed its doors.



Here, Lyse Doucet offers a vividly human history of modern Afghanistan through the lives of the people who have passed through its battered halls.



It is the story of a hotel, and the story of a people.



_



'Haunting, hopeful and occasionally harrowing . . . much more than a history. It is a love letter to Afghanistan and its people.' Sunday Times



'Full of warmth, wit, and a lovely eye for the human stories that make the hotel not just a monument to tragedy, but also love and resilience.' Financial Times



'Beautifully written and observed . . . One of the finest journalists of her generation.' Observer



'Wonderfully human . . . A masterly evocation of a supremely complex decade in Afghanistan's history.' Daily Telegraph



'A monument to Afghan resilience and to the bravery and persistence of its staff . . . Witty, observant and sometimes heartbreaking.' Guardian