The book that has changed lives. An Unexpected Light was greeted by universal critical acclaim and is now widely acknowledged as one of the most influential contemporary works on Afghanistan. Written on the eve of 9/11 at the height of Afghanistan’s isolation from the world, this prescient account of a winter journey through a country torn by civil war is as pertinent today as it was on publication. Part travelogue, part historical evocation, Elliot’s poignant account of a perilous journey is both a passionate work of description as well as a heartfelt reflection on the experience of travel itself.