Afghanistan Diary: 1992-2000 [Hardcover]

Edward Grazda (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2000

Afghanistan Diary is a provocative introduction to the recent history of the troubled country since the Mujahideen capture of Kabul in 1992. Documentary photographer Edward Grazda witnessed firsthand this hugely transformative period in modern Afghan history, from the destruction of the capital city five years into a ruinous civil war between Mujahideen factions, to their defeat by the Pakistani-supported Taliban militia, whose radical interpretation of Islamic law--and its draconian enforcement--is unarguably the most extreme in the Islamic world. Photographer Edward Grazda's sharp, penetrating lens distills the simple beauty of the place and its people alongside the horror of state-sanctioned human rights abuses. Over the course of nine years, Grazda secured unprecedented access to the country through friends and ex-officials, in both Afghanistan and in the U.S., to document the profound changes there caused by the great differences between the moderate Mujahideen and their arch enemies, the Taliban. Grazda's grasp of Afghan history and culture create an explosive expos of this outlaw nation.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: powerHouse Books; 1 edition (December 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576870472
• ISBN-13: 978-1576870471
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,772,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Kabul turns to Rubble, March 24, 2001

By 

Allan M. Gathercoal "fdoamerica" (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Afghanistan Diary: 1992-2000 (Hardcover)

Edward Grazda shot these black and white photos during his visits to Afghanistan's Capitol, Kabul, over a period of eight years. For him, these photos reflect "A history and culture" being erased. Afghanistan today is one of the poorest, most devastated countries in the world. The ruling power, the Taliban, is very reluctant to allow visitors into their country because of their fear of the stories the visible suffering would generate. Because of this self imposed quarantine, Afghanistan is also one of the least understood countries. Grazda, through his photographs, has given us insights into the plight of these people.

I am not sure what it is about death and destruction that captivates a photographer's camera, but it must be a tinge of macabre. In "Afghanistan Diary," and through the eye of Edward Grazda, you will get a glimpse of the demented effect that the Taliban zealots have had in Afghanistan. Their oppressive and harsh treatment of women is well documented. The Talibans continue to be in the world news because they support terrorist training camps and harbor the accused terrorist Osama bin Laden. Most recently, March 2001, the Talibans blew up several enormous, priceless, Buddhist statues, which were carved into mountain walls between the second and fifth centuries AD.

Grazda's photographs, while interesting, are not captivating. The reproduction of the photos are often too dark, thus greatly diminishing their impact. If ever a story of struggling common people, amidst despair and depravation, needs to be told, it is in Afghanistan. But, this story is not visible here. Grazda has not laid out the photographs in a coherent manner. One photo will be of buildings riddled with bullets, then another of turbaned, armed Afghanistani's; which then, nonsensically gives way to another photograph of office workers and then a photo of an empty office with a calendar on the wall. Also, the five pages that journal Grazda's thoughts while he was in Afghanistan were uninspiring. Though I am grateful for the glimpse into the sorrow of this section of the world, I was disappointed by the reproduction quality, thematic layout and writing. Conditionally Recommended.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic black & white photojournalism of a tragic conflict, January 22, 2001

By 

David C. Isby (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Afghanistan Diary: 1992-2000 (Hardcover)

These photographs are the authentic face of Afghanistan in the 1990s. Those that have been there will recognize the situations, people, and places. For those that have not, this is as close to the spirit as images can get. The tragedy of the conflict and the endurance of the Afghans despite it all are shown throughout this collection.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A photographic documentation of a land torn by war, May 17, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Afghanistan Diary: 1992-2000 (Hardcover)

The Taliban of Afghanistan have forbidden and banned the taking of photographs of its citizens. This religion-based edict has been severely enforced since the mid 1990s. Edward Grazda's Afghanistan Diary: 1992-2000 is a photographic documentation of a people and a land torn by war, religious fanaticism, power politics, pandemic poverty, and the collapse of cultural, educational, political, and economic institutions. Grazda's powerful, gripping black-and-white photography and text are a stirring testament to the force and authority of an Islamic fundamentalism in total control of the daily life and functions of a battered people.