The Lion's Grave: Dispatches from Afghanistan

by Jon Lee Anderson

The New Yorker correspondent and author of Che A Revolutionary Life shares a series of reports from Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, describing a dangerous world of violence, feudal society, conspiracy, religious fanaticism, hardship, and war. 50,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, Middle East, Military Fiction, Journalism

Hardcover

First published November 1, 2002

About the author

Jon Lee Anderson has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1998. He has covered numerous conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, reported frequently from Latin America and the Caribbean, and written profiles of Augusto Pinochet, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez, and Gabriel García Márquez. He is the author of several books, including The Lion’s Grave: Dispatches from Afghanistan, Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life, Guerillas: Journeys in the Insurgent World, and The Fall of Baghdad.

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The way I got turned on to this book is kind of weird; I was browsing on Amazon.com in a half-assed sort of way this past Summer, and noticed that the first review of this book was apparently written by Mr. Anderson's kid brother, who essentially said that while he of course thought his older brother was pretty damn cool, it was in fact true, and everyone should read his books. I have two younger brothers myself, and I know that they have at various times over the years felt trapped in my shadow to some degree. I would hope that my own brothers have as much respect for me as Mr. Anderson's brother obviously does for him.
I had been aware for many years of Jon Lee Anderson's first book, 'Guerrillas', which had been published in the late 1980s and is now considered to be a classic work, but have never read it because I thought, incorrectly, that it was solely about Afghanistan. My interests did not extend to that part of the world until roughly 7 years ago, when I was re-reading a memoir by William Colby (former U.S. DCI who died in mysterious circumstances in 1996), a man for whom I have great respect, who had decided at one point in his career to develop a secondary field of expertise in Middle Eastern affairs. In any case, when I noticed the other books that Mr. Anderson had written during the last several years, I was quite impressed & immediately placed most of them on my "to-read" list. I was lucky enough to pick up this book for a Dollar at the DPL book sale this Fall, and it has turned out to be well worth reading.
This book is valuable both for Mr. Anderson's insights into the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud and also as reportage of the situation in Afghanistan during and immediately after the final Northern Alliance offensive against the Taliban. It is extremely well-written, and I very much look forward to reading the author's other books, particularly his biography of Che Guevara.

[Gerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anderson spent a lot of time traveling around Afghanistan just before and during the U.S. invasion in 2001. It's up close and personal and the story of Massoud is fantastic -- he was assassinated by suicide bombers on September 10, 2001. He clearly explains why this cleared the way for the 911 attacks. Perhaps the best parts of the book are the memos and emails sent back and forth between Jon Lee and his editors at the New Yorker. They very vividly portray the difficulties he was experiencing in the field in unforgettable ways.

[Anne Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are books about Afghanistan by soldiers, by historians, by policy makers, but this book gives a different boots-on-the-ground perspective--the war through the eyes of a reporter. The author, a veteran war correspondent, provides a well written, insightful and informative narrative that falls just short of intriguing.

Three Stars: Good book, but there are better books about Afghanistan--read Horse Soldiers instead.

[Aran Gilmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories provide a valuable insight into the internal social climate and political structure of Afghanistan. If you have any interest in understanding more about the Middle East, this is one of many books you should read.

[Najila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short but informative book. It was the author's personal experience in Afghanistan right after the 9/11 attacks when America got involved.

[Mary Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been looking for this book for a while. I had a copy that I took with me when I deployed for the first time during OAF. Being in intel, it was fascinating to read about the warlords and people involved in the war, just hanging out and sitting on their porch, talking to this journalist. I just ordered another copy, and can’t wait to read it again after 22 years.

[Matti Paasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique, first-hand account of the death and destruction that Taliban and al Qaeda brought to Afghanistan. At the same time, the book is a homage to Ahmed Shah Massoud - the Lion of the title - who pushed bin Laden and Mullah Omar out of the country. Being dead wouldn't stop him.