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After September 11th Afghanistan came back into Western media focus by Operation Enduring Freedom. But Afghanistan has not only been a battlefield after 2001, it has been so before. Rory Stewart travels The places in between, Colin Thubron follows the Shadow of the Silk Road, Greg Mortenson drinks Three Cups of Tea with his alleged captors and for Eric Newby, it is just A short walk in the Hindu Kush. Robert Byron finds his Road to Oxiana and Peregrine Hudson does not only travel through Soviet-occupied Afghanistan, but also Under a Sickle Moon. All those accounts of travel have in common that fearless, well-educated white men dare going into a mad, war-torn country - and write about it. This seminar will focus on warrior stereotypes, imperial history and a country, that marks a border where civilization ends and empires allegedly are buried. Also the claim of telling "true" stories will be examined. Is it necessary to write "true accounts" about a dangerous country, which no one can verify?
A selection of secondary texts will be made available. Students are asked to buy their own copies of:
Newby, Eric. A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush.
Stewart, Rory. The Places in Between.
Hodson, Peregrine. Under a Sickle Moon.
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