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The Rugmaker of Mazar e Sharif cover art

The Rugmaker of Mazar e Sharif

By: Najaf Mazar, Robert Hillman
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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Summary

An Afghan refugee’s extraordinary journey - from his early life as a shepherd boy in the mountains of Northern Afghanistan, to his forced exile after being captured and tortured by the Taliban, to incarceration in an Australian detention centre...and finally, to freedom. 

This moving and poignant work gives the listener a rare insight into the contented ‘milk and honey’ life of a simple Afghan family before the civil war ripped their country apart. The lives and centuries-old livelihood of farmers, craftsmen and small business owners were destroyed in just weeks and months.  

As a member of the Hazara tribe, hated and targeted by the Taliban, Najaf was forced to flee the brutal attacks on his people when the Northern Alliance fell to the advancing Taliban insurgents. His flight to Pakistan, from there to Indonesia, then by boat to Australia, ends with incarceration in Woomera, where the story begins.  

From the compelling opening sentence to the beautiful final chapter, Najaf’s integrity, his extraordinary optimism and his generosity of spirit will win the hearts and minds of all listeners.

©2007 Najaf Mazari & Robert Hillman (P)2019 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

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Important

Books such as this should be compulsory reading in an age of tribalism and bigotry.
Horrifying, unimaginable, touching, gentle, tragic and ultimately uplifting, I defy anyone to not shed tears at the ending.
I'm not certain about the narrator's accent - an Afghani one would be preferable! - nonetheless it was well-read.
We in the West can scarcely comprehend what others live through, yet we need to.

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A heart warming story

A well told story, always with humility and grace even when describing the most awful of experiences. The narration is warm and embracing and I didn’t want the book to end. I feel like Najaf is a friend and I wish him well. Maybe one day I’ll get one of his rugs! Well worth listening to.

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3 people found this helpful