Publication of The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner is the first novel by the Afghan-American writer Khaled Hosseini, who was a doctor before becoming a full-time author. It is narrated by Amir, a boy from a wealthy family in Kabul, and tells of his friendship with Hassan, the son of his father's servant, and of a betrayal that haunts him for decades. The story follows Amir through the Soviet invasion, his emigration to California and his return to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to atone for his past. Kite fighting gives the book its central image. It became an international bestseller, was made into a film in 2007, and for many Western readers it was an introduction to Afghan history and culture.

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