The honey thief

by Najaf Mazari, Robert Hillman

Overview

A compelling and beautifully told superb collection of spell-binding modern fables from Afghanistan that portray a vivid landscape of hardship and brotherhood, catastrophes and miracles, that bring to life the mystery and wonder of that country and its people. Whether the tale is of beekeepers or kings, The Honey Thief conveys in stories of surprising tenderness the stark beauty of the interwoven lore from a land of bloodshed and brotherhood, of miracles and catastrophes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780980757040
Publisher:	Wild Dingo Press
Publication date:	01/02/2011
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Najaf Mazari was born in 1971 in a small village near Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. At the age of 12, he left school and apprenticed himself to a master rugmaker. Thus began his love affair with rugs! He fled Afghanistan in 2000, ending up in Woomera Detention Centre.
After his release, he settled in Melbourne, Australia, where he now owns a rug shop, selling traditional Afghan rugs. His wife and daughter were finally given permission by the Australian government to join him in 2006 after a 6-year separation.
In April 2007, he was granted Australian citizenship. He is a sought-after speaker at schools, literary festivals, community and church groups, and to numerous business groups and non-profit organisations. He founded a philanthropic fund - AusGhan Aid - that supplies health and education aid to remote villages in the mountains outside Mazar-e-Sharif.

Robert Hillman is a Melbourne-based writer who has written more than 60 works of fiction and non-fiction. As well as a having a devoted general readership, his books feature in school libraries all over Australia and his autobiography, The Boy in the Green Suit, won the 2005 Australian National Biography Award. His publications cover sports, Australian history, nation building, Young Australian achievers, and the plight of refugees and asylum seekers. His biographies include My Life as a Traitor written with Zarha Ghahramani, and Gurrumil: his life and music, Shining written with Abdi Aden. His latest book is Shining: the Story of a Lucky Man, which he co-wrote with Somali refugee, Abdi Aden.

Table of Contents

1 Hazara 1

2 The Wolf is the Most Intelligent of Creatures 7

3 The Honey Thief 29

4 The Life of Abdul Khaliq 40

5 The Death of Abdul Khaliq 68

6 The Music School 79

7 The Snow Leopard 107

8 The Behsudi Dowry 138

9 The Beekeeper’s Journey 168

10 The Russian 204

11 The Richest Man in Afghanistan 226

12 The Cookbook of the Master Poisoner

Ghoroob-e-astab of Mashad 240

13 Thoughts on Growing and Eating 247

Recipes 261

Glossary & Notes 281

Editorial Reviews

‘Moving effortlessly from the oral to the written, from folktale to modern-day fable, and from the earthly to transcendent, this beatiful, life-affirming book probes the heart and soul of a remarkable culture, while paying homage to the universal power of story.’

– Arnold Zable, award winning Australian writer, storyteller, educator and human rights advocate.

From the Publisher