JOSHUA PARTLOW is The Washington Post's bureau chief in Mexico. Between 2009 and 2012, he was the Post's Kabul bureau chief, and has also worked as a correspondent in South America and Iraq. In 2010, Partlow shared an Overseas Press Club award with Rajiv Chandrasekaran for the best newspaper or news service reporting from abroad, in recognition of their series on the war in Afghanistan.
A Washington Post Notable Book of 2016
A Publisher's Weekly Top 10 Book of 2016 "Timely... A detailed
portrait... Karzai's legacy, as Partlow shows, will be
intrinsically based on the American intervention, and on his own
responsibility for what Partlow calls the Afghan Disaster." --The
New York Review of Books "[Partlow] does a splendid job of tracing
the history of President Karzai and his sprawling family... There
have been very few well-written, deeply reported, well-balanced and
interesting accounts of what transpired during America's longest
war. Partlow's is one of them." --The Washington Post "Those who
followed Partlow's byline over his years in Afghanistan will find
his typically gripping combination of fine narrative and telling
detail replicated in this admirable book." --Foreign Affairs
"Finely reported." --The Economist "No-nonsense... Partlow removes
some of the doubt Americans may have about the long and costly
effort in Afghanistan although the country's long-term governance
remains unknown... Partlow has changed the popular image of Hamid
Karzai from inept, corrupt leader who accomplished nothing." --St.
Louis Post-Dispatch "Nuanced... American military and political
arrogance butts up against deep-rooted cultural customs and family
networks throughout this excellent account of a vastly difficult
topic." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Partlow provides an
insightful, revealing dissection of the failures of the U.S.
government in Afghanistan... Partlow's character portraits are
masterful... An excellent introduction to the Karzai family and to
the disastrous consequences of the Americans' inadequate
understanding of Afghan culture." --Kirkus Reviews "Meticulously
documented... Readers are left with a better understanding of the
complexities faced by leaders and diplomats through first-hand
reportage that takes us as close to the action as we've ever been,
and expert analysis." --Booklist "A strong assessment of Karzai's
government and an important contribution to any well-rounded
collection on contemporary Middle Eastern politics and society."
--Library Journal
"When the Americans chased the Taliban from Kabul after the 9/11
attacks, they put all their money on one man, a little-known leader
named Hamid Karzai. Fifteen years later, the American mission is
veering toward collapse, and Karzai looms larger than life. Joshua
Partlow traces our catastrophe with peerless skill and style. A
Kingdom of Their Own is the essential book for understanding how it
all went so wrong." --Dexter Filkins, author, The Forever War
"Incisive, superbly written and meticulously reported, Joshua
Partlow's A Kingdom of Their Own illuminates the war in Afghanistan
through the lives of the fascinating, quarrelsome, maddening Karzai
family, once the West's hope for change in the Middle East, now a
living reminder of our mistakes in the region. A riveting read."
--Rajiv Chandrasekaran, author, Imperial Life in the Emerald City
"Read this fine book and weep. I have followed Afghan events in the
newspapers for 13 years, but found surprises throughout Partlow's
vivid account. He gives us unforgettable lessons in the
folly--still apparently irresistible to many Americans--of nation-
building in remote nations whose cultures we do not fathom. And he
writes beautifully." --Robert G. Kaiser, author, Act of
Congress
"[Partlow] does a splendid job of tracing the history of President
Karzai and his sprawling family... There have been very few
well-written, deeply reported, well-balanced and interesting
accounts of what transpired during America s longest war. Partlow s
is one of them." The Washington Post
Those who followed Partlow s byline over his years in Afghanistan
will find his typically gripping combination of fine narrative and
telling detail replicated in this admirable book. Foreign
Affairs
"Finely reported." The Economist
No-nonsense Partlow removes some of the doubt Americans may have
about the long and costly effort in Afghanistan although the
country s long-term governance remains unknown Partlow has changed
the popular image of Hamid Karzai from inept, corrupt leader who
accomplished nothing. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Nuanced... American military and political arrogance butts up
against deep-rooted cultural customs and family networks throughout
this excellent account of a vastly difficult topic." Publishers
Weekly (starred review)
Partlow provides an insightful, revealing dissection of the
failures of the U.S. government in Afghanistan Partlow s character
portraits are masterful An excellent introduction to the Karzai
family and to the disastrous consequences of the Americans
inadequate understanding of Afghan culture. Kirkus Reviews
Meticulously documented Readers are left with a better
understanding of the complexities faced by leaders and diplomats
through first-hand reportage that takes us as close to the action
as we ve ever been, and expert analysis. Booklist
A strong assessment of Karzai s government and an important
contribution to any well-rounded collection on contemporary Middle
Eastern politics and society. Library Journal
When the Americans chased the Taliban from Kabul after the 9/11
attacks, they put all their money on one man, a little-known leader
named Hamid Karzai. Fifteen years later, the American mission is
veering toward collapse, and Karzai looms larger than life. Joshua
Partlow traces our catastrophe with peerless skill and style. A
Kingdom of Their Own is the essential book for understanding how it
all went so wrong. Dexter Filkins, author, The Forever War
Incisive, superbly written and meticulously reported, Joshua
Partlow s A Kingdom of Their Own illuminates the war in Afghanistan
through the lives of the fascinating, quarrelsome, maddening Karzai
family, once the West s hope for change in the Middle East, now a
living reminder of our mistakes in the region. A riveting read.
Rajiv Chandrasekaran, author, Imperial Life in the Emerald City
Read this fine book and weep. I have followed Afghan events in the
newspapers for 13 years, but found surprises throughout Partlow's
vivid account. He gives us unforgettable lessons in the
folly--still apparently irresistible to many Americans--of nation-
building in remote nations whose cultures we do not fathom. And he
writes beautifully. Robert G. Kaiser, author, Act of Congress"
"Nuanced... American military and political arrogance butts up
against deep-rooted cultural customs and family networks throughout
this excellent account of a vastly difficult topic." Publishers
Weekly (starred review)
Partlow provides an insightful, revealing dissection of the
failures of the U.S. government in Afghanistan Partlow s character
portraits are masterful An excellent introduction to the Karzai
family and to the disastrous consequences of the Americans
inadequate understanding of Afghan culture. Kirkus Reviews
A strong assessment of Karzai s government and an important
contribution to any well-rounded collection on contemporary Middle
Eastern politics and society. Library Journal
When the Americans chased the Taliban from Kabul after the 9/11
attacks, they put all their money on one man, a little-known leader
named Hamid Karzai. Fifteen years later, the American mission is
veering toward collapse, and Karzai looms larger than life. Joshua
Partlow traces our catastrophe with peerless skill and style. A
Kingdom of Their Own is the essential book for understanding how it
all went so wrong. Dexter Filkins, author, The Forever War
Incisive, superbly written and meticulously reported, Joshua
Partlow s A Kingdom of Their Own illuminates the war in Afghanistan
through the lives of the fascinating, quarrelsome, maddening Karzai
family, once the West s hope for change in the Middle East, now a
living reminder of our mistakes in the region. A riveting read.
Rajiv Chandrasekaran, author, Imperial Life in the Emerald City
Read this fine book and weep. I have followed Afghan events in the
newspapers for 13 years, but found surprises throughout Partlow's
vivid account. He gives us unforgettable lessons in the
folly--still apparently irresistible to many Americans--of nation-
building in remote nations whose cultures we do not fathom. And he
writes beautifully. Robert G. Kaiser, author, Act of Congress"
When the Americans chased the Taliban from Kabul after the 9/11
attacks, they put all their money on one man, a little-known leader
named Hamid Karzai. Fifteen years later, the American mission is
veering toward collapse, and Karzai looms larger than life. Joshua
Partlow traces our catastrophe with peerless skill and style. "A
Kingdom of Their Own" is the essential book for understanding how
it all went so wrong. " "Dexter Filkins, author, "The Forever
War"
Incisive, superbly written and meticulously reported, Joshua
Partlow s "A Kingdom of Their Own" illuminates the war in
Afghanistan through the lives of the fascinating, quarrelsome,
maddening Karzai family, once the West s hope for change in the
Middle East, now a living reminder of our mistakes in the region. A
riveting read. " "Rajiv Chandrasekaran, author, "Imperial Life in
the Emerald City
" Read this fine book and weep. I have followed Afghan events in
the newspapers for 13 years, but found surprises throughout
Partlow's vivid account. He gives us unforgettable lessons in the
folly--still apparently irresistible to many Americans--of nation-
building in remote nations whose cultures we do not fathom. And he
writes beautifully. " "Robert G. Kaiser, author, "Act of Congress""
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