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Caravans  By  cover art

Caravans

By: James A. Michener
Narrated by: Larry McKeever
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Publisher's summary

First published in 1963, James A. Michener's gripping chronicle of the social and political landscape of Afghanistan is more relevant now than ever. Combining fact with riveting adventure and intrigue, Michener follows a military man tasked, in the years after World War II, with a dangerous assignment: finding and returning a young American woman living in Afghanistan to her distraught family after she suddenly and mysteriously disappears. A timeless tale of love and emotional drama set against the backdrop of one of the most important countries in the world today, Caravans captures the tension of the postwar period, the sweep of Afghanistan's remarkable history, and the inescapable allure of the past.

©2014 James A. Michener; 2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Brilliant...an extraordinary novel.... The old nomadic trails across the mountains spring into existence." ( The New York Times)
"Romantic and adventurous.... [Michener] has a wonderful empathy for the wild and free and an understanding of the reasons behind the kind of cruelty that goes with it." ( Newsday)
"Michener has done for Afghanistan what...his first [book] did for the South Pacific." ( The New York Herald Tribune)

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What listeners say about Caravans

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

afghanistan After WW2

a very good dive into the culture of Afghanistan in the 1940s. I learned a lot, and there is an amazing passage from a German doctor about how he fell into going along with the Nazi -- a timely warning for Americans in 2018!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Intriguing adventure in a country like no other

Captivating adventure that I couldn’t put down. The visual images conjured by descriptions of people and places captured my imagination. It was easy to become connected to the female characters and intrigued by the male characters. All in all, an adventure story like no other. Loved this story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An exciting story love story set in Afghanistan

It's a highly readable love story set in Afghanistan right after World War II. As the story unfolds we get to learn a lot about Afghanistan and its long and complicated history, plus a deep dive into nomadic life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

Very educational. This is a chance to learn about Afghanistan and why it is what it is today. Totally recommend it for anyone interested in that part of the world.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • vb
  • 07-19-22

Must be an Audible Computer-Generated Voice?

I anxiously awaited listening to Michener via AudioBook. Read numerous other titles by this author on Kindle. Alas, I'm thoroughly disappointed in the quality of the narration. If this isn't computer generation, PLEASE redo with a little enthusiasm in the performance!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Michneresque

Michneresque in that you never what you will get from his creative talent and imagination

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Unbeknownst:

Lies the future.

NYC. 9-11-2001. I need 10 more words and cant think of. Why. So i am so finished

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love Michener for his details!

Have a map of the area to get an education. And story line has philosophical enlightenment! A must read if you are curious.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story but terrible narration

I loved this story and greatly enjoyed the detail of it all. Having spent significant time in Central Asia I enjoyed the history and the cultural accuracy of it all.

I however did not enjoy the narration as it was drab and monotone. All characters sound similar and it seems not much effort was put into the role. Unfortunately all of Michener’s books are narrated the same.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Helped me to understand this ancient civilization

Afghanistan is much more than the res t of the world can understand,now or ever.

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