The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
Praise for The Lone Leopard
Dr Sharifullah Dorani’s The Lone Leopard is…a powerful book that tells a story I will never forget...an emotional roller coaster...an eye-opener...that has the potential to become a classic over time. —The Rest Journal of Politics and Development
a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades…an extremely good read —Bedfordshire Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support
a generous, sensitive, well-researched novel which offers an informative perspective on Afghanistan’s past, and projects a strong sense of hope for the future. —US Studies Online
an interesting, suspenseful, and impactful story that…gradually rises in intensity and drama…[The book] should especially appeal to those who want to learn more about Afghanistan’s complex culture and recent tumultuous history.—The Strategy Bridge
Libraries looking for literary fiction that can reach an exceptionally wide audience will find The Lone Leopard hard-hitting, attractive, and educational, all in one. Ideally, it also will reach into book club discussions with its special brand of personal and political reflection.—Midwest Book Review
a must read for anyone working with or interested in learning about Afghanis. It would also be an excellent option for book clubs. —Keith Shortley
thought-provoking and engaging —Review Tales
fascinating —Andrea Jones, BRASS
an absorbing...sensitive, heartbreaking, and bold…story...It touches your heart —Review Vue
Thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and engaging... a must-read historical fiction Middle Eastern and contemporary romance drama novel. The author’s thoughtful and brilliant writing style… and the mesmerizing and emotional story…will have readers hanging onto the author’s every word. —Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
An eye-opening story that saturates the mind and heart on many different levels. —Donovan's Literary Services
a story of…young lives, teenage angst, human affinity and grief. —Sarah Collier, USSO
an eye-opener…absorbing…and revealing...I heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to 'enter' Afghanistan mentally and emotionally. —Jane Marriott, BRASS
an ideal choice for university/college courses on... South Asia and...the Greater Middle East. —CESRAN
Reviews of the author’s previous book
His is the art of synthesis: of letting the known, verifiable facts speak for themselves... America in Afghanistan documents forensically how the incapacity or unwillingness of the powerful to imagine the conditions of the conquered can prove devastating to the imbalances of geopolitical power ... The book is most powerful precisely when the anthropological distance is set aside and Dorani allows everyday Afghans to speak...Their voice gives the book a human scale. ―Charged Affairs
The fact that Dorani spoke to Afghans from 'all walks of life' in researching the book is a strength that yields many of his most cutting insights...Dorani’s Afghan perspective is truly invaluable. Americans and Westerners should pay attention. ―The Strategy Bridge, Carter Malkasian
The new book by Dr. Sharifullah Dorani...is not just another story of Afghanistan’s troubled past, but rather is a remarkable account of the country’s modern history with details, facts and figures that presents in its entirety the reasons that made Afghanistan, in spite of its ancient and rich civilization, renowned globally for all the wrong reasons. ― U.S. Studies Online
A valuable contribution to understanding the complex motivations, causes and consequences of US policy towards Afghanistan and the internal disagreements between the actors. ―LSE US Centre
The book is extremely valuable in terms of understanding decision making towards Afghanistan...crucial to courses relating to Foreign Policy Analysis, especially those on the Foreign Decision Making Models. ―CESRAN International
Dorani’s work ... provides an interesting overview of U.S. political history throughout the course of the Afghanistan war. ―The Palestine Chronicle
Eminently readable ... a must-read for Afghans and others alike. ―Peggy Mason, Rideau Institute, Canada
Product Description
15-year-old Ahmad finds it hard to live by tradition among Russians and ‘Communist Afghans’ in the liberal Makroryan, known as the ‘Little Moscow of Kabul’. It becomes harder with the arrival in the neighbourhood of the 16-year-old and fervently pro-women’s rights Frishta. Naturally, their conflicting outlooks on tradition clash. Frishta calls Ahmad backward and, worse, a shameful coward, and Ahmad accuses Frishta of being a foreign agent and, worse, a ‘bad woman’ who has picked a war with half of the population and their way of life.
It is 1990s Afghanistan, where a man is stripped of character if he is proved a coward, and where a woman is merely seen as valuable goods, and even a perception of unchastity will lose her all her worth. By the time Ahmad and Frishta really get to know each other, it is too late as they have seriously harmed each other, and their lives will never be the same. The mujahedeen run over Kabul, and the civil war begins, compelling Ahmad to flee to Russia and then to England.
But Ahmad does not realise that one day he will be forced to return to the homeland where his past catches up with him and puts him in a situation in which he has to choose to either live like a coward, by betraying a once-loyal friend, or die with courage.
About The Author
SHARIFULLAH DORANI was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan, and claimed asylum in the UK in 1999. He completed his PhD on the US War in Afghanistan at Durham University and authored the acclaimed America in Afghanistan. Sharifullah frequently returns to Afghanistan to carry out research and is currently South Asia and the Middle Eastern Editor at CESRAN International.
Author's Note
The idea for writing this book was conceived in 1992 when the ‘pro-Communist’ Najibullah regime collapsed and the mujahideen took over Kabul. Turning Shia against Sunni and vice versa, setting Afghanistan’s main ethnic groups of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara and Uzbek against each other, and accusing each other of uniting with the remnants of pro-Communist members and thus not being Islamic enough, the 15 or so mujahideen groups fought each other in the streets of Kabul, killing tens of thousands of innocent Kabulis, displacing hundreds of thousands, and turning half of Kabul into mudbrick rubble with bombs, rockets and cannon fire.
Taking refuge in the basements of our blocks while the gunfire, shelling and fighting continued, I decided (if I made it alive) to write about what we ordinary Afghans went through. Unlike thousands of Kabulis, I was fortunate enough to live, and 18 years later, in 2010, I started writing about the experience: after 12 years of writing (and extensive research), The Lone Leopard is the result. Ahmad, the protagonist, therefore, gives a first-hand account of what I (and most Afghans) have experienced over the past four decades in Afghanistan (and in exile).
Frequently asked questions
Is The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The narrative includes references to the horrors of war, gunfire, shelling, and the impact of tribal and religious feuds on the protagonist and those around him, indicating a backdrop of violence in Afghanistan. The book describes the fears and anxieties of the protagonist, including the threat of violence and the emotional turmoil stemming from war, which may be distressing for some readers.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have violence?
The narrative includes references to the horrors of war, gunfire, shelling, and the impact of tribal and religious feuds on the protagonist and those around him, indicating a backdrop of violence in Afghanistan.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have scary content?
The book describes the fears and anxieties of the protagonist, including the threat of violence and the emotional turmoil stemming from war, which may be distressing for some readers.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have religious themes?
The book addresses aspects of Afghan culture and politics, including insights into Islam and its impact on society, particularly in the context of nationalistic and religious conflicts in Afghanistan.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have racial/cultural content?
While the book features Afghan characters and discusses cultural aspects, race is not a central theme or plot point. The narrative focuses on personal and national struggles rather than racial dynamics.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have profanity?
No profanity is indicated in the book. The narrative centers on serious themes without mention of inappropriate language.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have climate change?
No climate themes or environmental issues are mentioned in the book's narrative or in the search results.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have sexual identity?
No sexual content is mentioned in the book's narrative or in the search results. The focus remains on family and cultural themes.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have gender roles?
The book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. It features characters navigating cultural expectations but does not center on gender as a theme.
Does The Lone Leopard A novel about a heart-wrenching, yet hopeful story of family, friendship and love set against the nationalistic and religious conflicts of Afghanistan's last four decades have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes are mentioned in the book's narrative or in the search results. The focus is on family, friendship, and the conflicts in Afghanistan.
