The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan

About this book

This book presents a history of modern Afghanistan, told through the lens of the Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul. Opened in 1969, the hotel symbolised Afghanistan's aspirations for modernity. Author Lyse Doucet first stayed there in 1988 and has since witnessed major historical events from within its walls, including Soviet evacuation, civil war, the US invasion, and the rise and fall of the Taliban. The narrative focuses on the experiences of Afghans who have kept the hotel running, such as Hazrat, a housekeeper from its 1970s heyday; Abida, the first female chef after 2001; and Malalai and Sadeq, who experienced two decades of democracy before the Taliban's return in 2021. Through these personal stories, the hotel's history reflects that of the nation.