Lyse Doucet

The story of a hotel. The story of a nation. When the Inter-Continental Kabul opened in 1969, Afghanistan's first luxury hotel symbolised a dream of a modernising country connected to the world. More than fifty years on, the Inter-Continental is still standing. It has endured Soviet occupation, multiple coups, a grievous civil war, a US invasion and the rise, fall...

The Finest Hotel in Kabul is described by Elif Shafak as "A book brimming with deep insight, courage and conscience. Astonishingly beautiful, subtle and simply unforgettable." The Finest Hotel in Kabul is the winner of the Women's Prize Non-Fiction Prize 2026 and has been recognised as Book of the Year by major publications including The Times, Financial Times, Guardian, Observer,...

A book brimming with deep insight, courage and conscience. Astonishingly beautiful, subtle and simply unforgettable. Elif Shafak Ingenious KAMILA SHAMSIE Incredible PETER FRANKOPAN Beautiful RORY STEWART In 1969, the luxury Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul opened its doors—a glistening white box, high on a hill, that reflected Afghanistan's hopes of becoming a modern country, connected to the world. Lyse Doucet first checked...