Pashtun Tales From the Pakistan-Afghan Frontier [Hardcover]

Aisha Ahmad (Author), Roger Boase (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 4, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0863564380 | ISBN-13: 978-0863564383

These oral tales were collected in the tribal areas on the Pakistan-Afghan frontier, a region described as the last free place on earth. With their blend of wit, fantasy, comedy, and romance, they reflect the Pashtun code of honor and way of life that are now seriously threatened by social changes and recent political events. Most of them, such as the epic tale of Hazrat Ali, have never been recorded before, and might otherwise have been lost forever. Some are recognizable as universal types, such as a version of Androcles and the Lion and of the tale that provided Shakespeare with the plot of King Lear.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Witty, macabre, beautiful and poignant ... populated by dozy princes and charming demons, these ancient tales are characterised by yearning: the desire for a past Eden to become a future utopia.' Independent On Sunday 'The first substantial anthology of Pashtun tales, scrupulously edited. The stories retain a power to charm and shock by turns.' Irish Times 'The authors of this volume have performed a great service. This utterly charming, beautifully illustrated book is wonderful food for the imagination.' The Tablet 'Essential reading for anyone who wishes to challenge the thesis that world cultures are in a state of inevitable clash. Great fun besides.' Akbar Ahmed, American University, USA 'All the passion, devotion, humour, and wisdom of Pashtun society can be read in the tales in this collection.' Andre Singer, Adjunct professor of Anthropology, University of Southern California and author Lords of the Khyber 'Reading this, I felt I was sitting about a campfire high in the Hindu Kush mountains, listening to tales full of enchantment and laughter. An excellent and well-crafted work that I recommend to everyone.' Eric Margolis, author of War at the Top of the World

Book Description

These oral tales were collected in the tribal areas on the Pakistan-Afghan frontier, a region described as the last free place on earth. With their blend of wit, fantasy, comedy, and romance, they reflect the Pashtun code of honor and way of life that are now seriously threatened by social changes and recent political events. Most of them, such as the epic tale of Hazrat Ali, have never been recorded before, and might otherwise have been lost forever. Some are recognizable as universal types, such as a version of Androcles and the Lion and of the tale that provided Shakespeare with the plot of King Lear.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 380 pages
• Publisher: Saqi Books (July 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863564380
• ISBN-13: 978-0863564383
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,575,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not particularly enlightening, September 12, 2010

By 

Ariana Arghandewal (Fairfied, Ca) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pashtun Tales: From the Pakistan-Afghan Frontier (Paperback)

Every story ends with skeptic of the hero giving him his daughter's hand in marriage. Every story has a moral that is either openly expressed or implied at the end. Some of them left me confused. Clearly these tales date back hundreds of years and some of them likely aren't "Pashtun" as the title claims. I got through 3-4 stories before I had to close this book for good.