The Escape from Kabul, authored by Karen Bartlett and winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2026, delivers the never-before-told story of the perilous evacuation of nearly 200 Afghan women judges and their families following the withdrawal of Western forces in August 2021. This gripping narrative focuses on the fight for survival and the vital role of female solidarity in the face of mortal danger from the Taliban.

The book chronicles the achievements of Afghan women who gained legal degrees and worked to transform their country over two decades, only to be abandoned when international allies departed. It highlights the international network of professional friends, female judges, and lawyers who orchestrated their rescue.

• Winner of the Orwell Prize for Political Writing 2026.
• A searing insight into the challenges of building a new life overseas and the fate of women under the Taliban.
• Tells the story of nearly 200 women judges and their families who escaped danger.
• Focuses on themes of survival, female solidarity, and international professional networks.

• Author: Karen Bartlett
• Brand/Publisher: Duckworth
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: Standard Edition
• Language: English
• Print Length: 272 pages
• ISBN-10: 1914613937
• ISBN-13: 978-1914613937
• Publication Date: August 28, 2025
• Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 20mm (19.8 x 12.9 x 2 cm)
• Weight: 242g
• Reading Age: 18 years and up

This essential work of social and urban history provides detailed accounts of the lives these educated women built and what was lost when they were forced to flee, emphasizing the humanity displayed by fellow female judges where governments failed.