Explore a sweeping and immersive history of modern Afghanistan through the lens of its most enduring landmark in The Finest Hotel in Kabul. Written by leading war correspondent Lyse Doucet, this hardcover book weaves together the intimate experiences of the Afghan staff who kept the Hotel Inter-Continental running through decades of conflict, from the Soviet evacuation to the return of the Taliban.

This work offers a unique perspective on the nation's hopes, transformations, and resilience, using the hotel as a microcosm for the country's turbulent journey since 1969.

• Winner of the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction 2026.
• Chronicles modern Afghan history from the perspective of the Hotel Inter-Continental staff.
• Features intimate portraits of individuals like Hazrat, Abida, Malalai, and Sadeq.
• Documents the era when Kabul was known as the 'Paris of Central Asia.'
• Authored by Lyse Doucet, a renowned war correspondent.
• Includes stories spanning the Soviet evacuation, civil war, US invasion, and Taliban shifts.

• Author: Lyse Doucet
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Publication Date: September 18, 2025
• Print Length: 448 pages
• ISBN-13: 978-1529151022
• Dimensions: 163 x 42 x 243mm
• Weight: 714 g
• Publisher: Hutchinson Heinemann

For readers interested in Business & Economic History, this book provides a compelling narrative of how a nation's economic and social fabric endured through continuous upheaval, anchored by the constant presence of the Inter-Continental hotel.