Deeper into the story Michener drops out of teacher mode and lets the story flow without interruption, so I'd say that's the more exciting portion of the book. I thought it was a more than fair trade-off for what I got to learn about Afghan culture, history, and terrain. Plot and character development are somewhat sacrificed early in the book in the interest of educating the reader. He witnesses appalling barbarity but also finds great warmth and hospitality, and just barely begins to comprehend the complexity of the Afghan mind and culture. He suffers extremes of heat (130 degrees!!) and cold. Miller's travels take him to the remotest reaches of Afghanistan's deserts and mountains. Mark Miller is sent on a diplomatic mission to find Ellen Jaspar, an American woman who married an Afghan man and then disappeared. This book is only about 340 pages-a mere novella by Michener standards.

I don't envy him the physical discomfort that must have entailed, but I loved the authenticity it brought to the story. He traveled extensively in Afghanistan prior to writing this novel. We shan't see the likes of him again, more's the pity. Intrepid adventurer, brilliant scholar, prolific author.

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