Caravans

Published in 1963 by Random House, this first edition with original dust jacket represents one of Michener's most ambitious works. The novel demonstrates his characteristic blend of historical research, cultural exploration, and sweeping narrative scope.

Set in Afghanistan in 1946, the novel follows Mark Miller, a young American embassy officer tasked with finding Ellen Jaspar, an American woman who has disappeared after marrying an Afghan engineer and converting to Islam. Miller's search takes him across Afghanistan's treacherous landscape, where he encounters the nomadic Kochi tribe and witnesses their ancient way of life. The journey becomes a profound exploration of cultural clash, personal freedom, and the complexities of East-West relations during the early Cold War period.

Caravans marked Michener's venture into contemporary Middle Eastern politics and culture, preceding the region's prominence in American foreign policy. The novel's prescient examination of Afghan society and the challenges of cultural understanding proved remarkably prophetic given later historical events. It showcased Michener's ability to weave extensive historical and anthropological research into compelling narrative fiction.

Michener spent extensive time in Afghanistan researching the novel, living among nomadic tribes and studying their customs firsthand. The book's publication coincided with increasing American interest in the region during the Cold War. The novel's detailed descriptions of Afghan landscape, customs, and social structures provided many Western readers with their first literary glimpse into a culture that would later become central to global politics.