'Real Men Keep Their Word': Tales from Kabul, Afghanistan

by Akram Osman, Arley Loewen (Translator)

This English translation of Akram Osman's collection of Dari short stories will help readers understand traditional Kabul culture. The stories bring to life the popular folk culture of urban Kabul during the mid-twentieth century.

213 pages, Paperback

First published January 12, 2005

Reviews

[Zohra Star · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rare translation in English. Akram Osman's depiction of Kabul is vivid. The stories are rough and the translations need a little more Afghan-knowledge. But it is one of the only translations one can get by a popular Afghan short story writer.

[Ehsanullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I'm about to read the most interesting tale and I was indeed right, now I'm loving it.

[Wes F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and insightful stories on life & family & community in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Most the stories were written in the 1960/70s, so it was a little different time--but time in Afghanistan with regards to culture, community/family and values has not changed that much for many, many hundreds (or thousands) of years. Great job on the translation, Arley!