The story of a hotel. The story of a nation.
When the Inter-Continental Hotel opened in central Kabul in 1969, it reflected the hopes of Afghanistan: a glistening white edifice that embodied the country's dreams of becoming an affluent, modern power.
Five decades later, the Inter-Continental is a dilapidated, shrapnel-damaged shell. It has endured civil wars, terrorist attacks, the US occupation, and the rise, fall, and rise of the Taliban. But its decaying grandeur still hints at ordinary Afghans' hopes of stability and prosperity. Lyse Doucet, the BBC's Chief International Correspondent, has been staying at the Inter-Continental since 1988. She has spent decades meeting its staff and guests, and listening to their stories. And now, she uses their experiences to offer an evocative history of modern Afghanistan. It is the story of Mir, the supervisor who for five decades has witnessed diplomats, soldiers, journalists, and politicians visit the hotel. It is the story of Fatima, who stayed at the Inter-Continental long before the arrival of the Taliban, and who fondly recalls its early glamour. And it is the story of Sadeq, the 24-year-old front-desk worker who personifies the ambitions of a new generation of Afghans.
The result is a vivid exploration of daily life in one of the most dangerous cities on earth. It captures the soul of Afghanistan from within the walls of the Kabul Inter-Continental.