Amazon.com description: Product Description: John Simpson first set foot in Afghanistan in the early days of 1980 and was captivated by the savage beauty of its lands, the tenacity and endurance of its people. It is a rich and complex country, long fought-over for its strategic significance. From the early Iranian settlers and the coming of Islam - via the invasions of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the Persians, Ephinstone's British Army and the Soviets; through defeat, victory, occupation and civil war - to the current tensions as the West withdraws, John Simpson offers a personal celebration of the Afghans and their country, its unforgettable wild beauty and excitement.