Pashtun Tales from the Pakistan-Afghan Frontier: From the Pakistan-Afghan Frontier

Book Description
These oral tales were collected in the tribal areas on the Pakistan-Afghan frontier, a region described as the last free place on earth. With their blend of wit, fantasy, comedy, and romance, they reflect the Pashtun code of honor and way of life that are now seriously threatened by social changes and recent political events. Most of them, such as the epic tale of Hazrat Ali, have never been recorded before, and might otherwise have been lost forever. Some are recognizable as universal types, such as a version of Androcles and the Lion and of the tale that provided Shakespeare with the plot of King Lear.


About the Author
Aisha Ahmad has worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization.

Roger Boase is Honorary Research Fellow, Queen Mary College, University of London.



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"These tales were collected in the tribal areas of the Pakistan-Afghan border, a region once described as 'the last free place on earth', where the caravan routes from Persia, India and China historically converged." With their blend of wit, fantasy, comedy and romance, the tales reflect the Pashtun code of honour and way of life now seriously threatened by social changes and recent political upheavals. Most of them, such as the epic tale of Hazrat Ali, have never been recorded before and might otherwise have been lost forever. Some are recognisable as universal types, such as a version of Androcles and the Lion and the tale that provided Shakespeare with the plot of King Lear.


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