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Crossing the River Kabul : an Afghan family odyssey / Kevin McLean.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: Lincoln, Nebraska : Potomac Books, an imprint of the University of Nebraska Press, [2017]Copyright date: ©2017Description: 1 online resource (286 pages)Content type:
  • text
Media type:
  • computer
Carrier type:
  • online resource
ISBN:
  • 9781612349237 (e-book)
Subject(s): Genre/Form: Additional physical formats: Print version:: Crossing the River Kabul : an Afghan family odyssey.DDC classification:
  • 958.104/5092 B 23
LOC classification:
  • DS361 .M36 2017
Online resources:
Contents:
Kabul airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, October 1980 : flight -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 1980 : Behsood Bridge -- Abdien, Afghanistan, October 1980 : Nasir -- Somewhere near Afghanistan-Pakistan border, October 1980 : minefield -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1920 : the British -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1920 : General Nadir -- Paris, France, 1920 : Hélène -- Kabul, Afghanistan 1929 : Nadir Shah -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1933 : Zahir Shah -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1934 : Tajwar -- Kabul, Afghanistsan, 1947 : Pashtunistan -- Faizabad, Afghanistan 1955 : Badakhshan -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1959 : Baba Naeem -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1961 : kite flying -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1962 : the new great game -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1963 : the king acts -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, winter 1963 : duck hunting -- A farm north of Kabul, Afghanistan, 1964 : Buzkashi -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1965 : lessons -- Ghazni, Afghanistan, 1967 : Sia -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1966 : the mystic -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1967 : basketball -- Jalabad, Afghanistan, 1969 : Afsana -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1970 : a Turkish bride -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 1971 : Daoud -- Kandahar, Afghanistan, 1972 : the wind -- Kabul, Afghanistan, April 1973 : coup d'état -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1974 : sitar lessons -- Paghman, Afghanistan, 1974 : Shabir leaves for Japan -- Moscow, USSR, 1977 : Daoud and Brezhnev -- Kabul, Afghanistan, April 1978 : Russia invades -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1978 : Professor Wazir -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1979 : Hafizullah Amin -- Kabul Afghanistan, February 1979 : Pol-i-charki Prison -- Kabul University, 1979 : the final exam -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1979 : Kandahari -- Kabul, Afghanistan, October 1980 : exodus -- A minefield somewhere near the Pakistan border, October 1980 : Landi Kotal -- Landi Kotal, Pakistan, 1980 : prison -- Landi Kotal, Pakistan, 1980 : connections -- Peshawar, Pakistan, 1980 : Pir Gailani -- Peshawar, Pakistan, 1980 : Hazrat Sepgotolah -- Peshawar, Pakistan, 1980 : the United Nations Humanitarian Aid Office -- Afghanistan, somewhere near the Pakistan border, 1980 : Mujahideen -- Karachi, Pakistan, 1981 : train ride -- Ankara, Turkey, 1981 : shoeshine -- Istanbul, Turkey, 1981 : U.S. Consulate -- U.S. Consulate, Istanbul, 1981 : Hazaras -- Frankfurt, Germany, 1981 : the parcel -- Frankfurt, Germany, 1981 : the interview -- Frankfurt, Germany, 1989 : warlords -- San Diego, California, 1992 : SpeeDee Oil -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1995 : the Taliban -- New York City : September 11, 2011 -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : the dance of the dead -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : Karta-i-char -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : the gate -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : ghosts -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2002 : Hazrat Ali -- A cemetery near Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : the cemetery -- Kandahar, Afghanistan, 2002 : Wali Karzai -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : money -- San Diego, California, July 4, 2002 : citizens -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2003 : number three -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2003 : rebuilding -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2003 : orders -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2003 : Din Mohammad -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2003 : Hazrat Ali -- Office of the Governor of Jalalabad, 2003 : Gul Agha Sherzai -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan 2003 : Hadji Jawid -- Security headquarters, Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2003 : the gardener -- Abdien, Afghanistan, 2003 : the funeral -- Compound Hazrat Ali, Afghanistan, 2003 : Jirga -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2004 : the King's Arabians -- Karta-i-char, Kabul, Afghanistan 2008 : Rasoul.
Summary: In Crossing the River Kabul, author Kevin McLean tells the true story of Baryalai Popal's amazing excape from Afghanistan during the Communist takeover and his return after 9/11.
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Item type Current library Call number Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Ebrary Online Books Ebrary Online Books Colombo Available CBERA10002352
Ebrary Online Books Ebrary Online Books Jaffna Available JFEBRA10002352
Ebrary Online Books Ebrary Online Books Kandy Available KDEBRA10002352
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Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Baryalai Popal sees his Western-educated professors at Kabul University replaced by communists. He witnesses his classmates "disappearing." The communist takeover uproots Popal from his family and home. Thus begins Crossing the River Kabul , the true story of Popal's escape from Afghanistan and his eventual return.



Kevin McLean weaves together Popal's stories in this memoir, which is also a fascinating look at Afghanistan from the viewpoint of Popal and generations of his politically influential family. From the exile of Popal's grandfather from Kandahar in 1898 to his father's tutoring of two boys who as adults would play important roles in Afghanistan--one as king and the other as president--to his uncle's presence at the fateful meeting that led to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Popal's family history is intertwined with that of his nation.



Popal fled his country following the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in 1980. After being imprisoned as a spy in Pakistan, he managed to make his way to Germany as a refugee and to the United States as an immigrant. Twenty years later he returned to Afghanistan after 9/11 to reclaim his houses, only to find one controlled by drug lords and the other by the most powerful warlord in Afghanistan.



Popal's memoir is an intimate, often humorous portrait of the vanished Afghanistan of his childhood. It is also the story of a father whose greatest desire is to see his son follow in his footsteps, and a son who constantly rebels against his father's wishes. Crossing the River Kabul is a story of choice and destiny, fear and courage, and loss and redemption.

Includes bibliographical references.

Kabul airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, October 1980 : flight -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 1980 : Behsood Bridge -- Abdien, Afghanistan, October 1980 : Nasir -- Somewhere near Afghanistan-Pakistan border, October 1980 : minefield -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1920 : the British -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1920 : General Nadir -- Paris, France, 1920 : Hélène -- Kabul, Afghanistan 1929 : Nadir Shah -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1933 : Zahir Shah -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1934 : Tajwar -- Kabul, Afghanistsan, 1947 : Pashtunistan -- Faizabad, Afghanistan 1955 : Badakhshan -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1959 : Baba Naeem -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1961 : kite flying -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1962 : the new great game -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1963 : the king acts -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, winter 1963 : duck hunting -- A farm north of Kabul, Afghanistan, 1964 : Buzkashi -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1965 : lessons -- Ghazni, Afghanistan, 1967 : Sia -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1966 : the mystic -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1967 : basketball -- Jalabad, Afghanistan, 1969 : Afsana -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1970 : a Turkish bride -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 1971 : Daoud -- Kandahar, Afghanistan, 1972 : the wind -- Kabul, Afghanistan, April 1973 : coup d'état -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1974 : sitar lessons -- Paghman, Afghanistan, 1974 : Shabir leaves for Japan -- Moscow, USSR, 1977 : Daoud and Brezhnev -- Kabul, Afghanistan, April 1978 : Russia invades -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1978 : Professor Wazir -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1979 : Hafizullah Amin -- Kabul Afghanistan, February 1979 : Pol-i-charki Prison -- Kabul University, 1979 : the final exam -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1979 : Kandahari -- Kabul, Afghanistan, October 1980 : exodus -- A minefield somewhere near the Pakistan border, October 1980 : Landi Kotal -- Landi Kotal, Pakistan, 1980 : prison -- Landi Kotal, Pakistan, 1980 : connections -- Peshawar, Pakistan, 1980 : Pir Gailani -- Peshawar, Pakistan, 1980 : Hazrat Sepgotolah -- Peshawar, Pakistan, 1980 : the United Nations Humanitarian Aid Office -- Afghanistan, somewhere near the Pakistan border, 1980 : Mujahideen -- Karachi, Pakistan, 1981 : train ride -- Ankara, Turkey, 1981 : shoeshine -- Istanbul, Turkey, 1981 : U.S. Consulate -- U.S. Consulate, Istanbul, 1981 : Hazaras -- Frankfurt, Germany, 1981 : the parcel -- Frankfurt, Germany, 1981 : the interview -- Frankfurt, Germany, 1989 : warlords -- San Diego, California, 1992 : SpeeDee Oil -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 1995 : the Taliban -- New York City : September 11, 2011 -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : the dance of the dead -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : Karta-i-char -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : the gate -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : ghosts -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2002 : Hazrat Ali -- A cemetery near Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : the cemetery -- Kandahar, Afghanistan, 2002 : Wali Karzai -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002 : money -- San Diego, California, July 4, 2002 : citizens -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2003 : number three -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2003 : rebuilding -- Kabul, Afghanistan, 2003 : orders -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2003 : Din Mohammad -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2003 : Hazrat Ali -- Office of the Governor of Jalalabad, 2003 : Gul Agha Sherzai -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan 2003 : Hadji Jawid -- Security headquarters, Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2003 : the gardener -- Abdien, Afghanistan, 2003 : the funeral -- Compound Hazrat Ali, Afghanistan, 2003 : Jirga -- Jalalabad, Afghanistan, 2004 : the King's Arabians -- Karta-i-char, Kabul, Afghanistan 2008 : Rasoul.

In Crossing the River Kabul, author Kevin McLean tells the true story of Baryalai Popal's amazing excape from Afghanistan during the Communist takeover and his return after 9/11.

Description based on print version record.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest, 2016. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest affiliated libraries.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

This fascinating biography tells the story of Baryalai Popal, a member of a politically prominent family in Afghanistan who was forced to flee his country in 1980 at the beginning of the Soviet-Afghan War. Weaving in a history of the political turmoil of Afghanistan and details of Afghan culture, the book chronicles Popal's early life through the arduous, risky process of his flight to his eventual return to Afghanistan in 2002 and subsequent fight to reclaim his childhood homes. Though Popal's remarkable story is no doubt described with factual accuracy, McLean's decision to write in Popal's voice is peculiar. The narration by the author, a former lawyer, gives the work an inauthentic, fictive feel though the work is categorized as biography. Verdict If readers can suspend disbelief and look past the narrative caveat, they are in for an absorbing, unforgettable read. Hand to readers especially looking for an intimate glimpse at Afghanistan's history and culture.-Molly Hone, Pequannock Twp. P.L., NJ © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

A Western writer affectingly takes up the voice of a beleaguered Afghan man and his harrowing flight out of his war-torn country.McLean assumes the first-person point of view of Baryalai Popal, an Afghan refugee who is now an American citizen. Popal, who hails from one of two "royal families" of Afghanistan, was forced to flee the country with the invasion of the Soviets in 1980 because of his deep family ties. McLean moves back and forth in time to tell Popal's story, from his perilous flight out of Kabul in October 1980, when the Soviet police were searching his home for him, through an arduous journey into Pakistan and eventual flight out of Karachi to Turkey, and then Germany, where he was able to claim asylum and bring his wife and children, thanks to help from the American consulate. Through the story of Popal, a shortening of the family name Popalzai, the historic enemy of the Barakzai, McLean weaves a fascinating story about family and tribal ties within a culture used to being overrun by foreigners (British, Russian, American) and marked by ongoing traditions that mark loyalty to family, such as hospitality to foreigners. Popal's father, Abdul Rahman Popal, studied in Paris in the 1920s at the dictates of the modernizing King Amanullah and Gen. Nadir. He was subsequently summoned to serve in many advisory roles, as leaders changed sides depending on the way the political wind was blowing. As a result, Popal the son could rely on many extended friends and acquaintances in his flight to Pakistan, although he largely depended on his wits to survive. Ultimately, the book delineates a sense of what it means to hail from a proud Afghan family in the throes of violence. Details of Afghan tribal life and family well-delineated. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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