This historical fiction work takes place in Afghanistan just after World War II. Much of the novel is about a tribe of nomads and their lifestyle, which is the reason that this book is included here. The book accurately portrays their lives and many of the events in the book were witnessed by Michener during his travels there making this a very interesting book for those who are interested in the nomadic lifestyle.

In the years immediately following World War II, a young American woman, married and living in Afghanistan against her parents' wishes, suddenly and mysteriously disappears. Michener's magnificent novel combines historical fact with a gripping adventure of romance, danger, and intrigue as it follows the story of the military man who is assigned the task of finding and returning the young woman to her distraught family. Caravans captures the tension of the postwar period, the sweep of Afghanistan's remarkable history, the allure of the past, and the inescapable pull of the future.

In this romantic adventure of wild Afghanistan, master storyteller James Michener mixes the allure of the past with the dangers of today. After an impetuous American girl, Ellen Jasper, marries a young Afghan engineer, her parents hear no word from her. Although she wants freedom to do as she wishes, not even she is sure what that means. In the meantime, she is as good as lost in that wild land, perhaps forever....

The New York Times
"An extraordinary novel....Brilliant."

Stephen, a retired SFWO
Beautiful details of a beautiful people. I loved the book and it prepared me for my life living in western Pakistan. Every detail was true and it was wonderfull living among these colorful people. The political and tribal details were also very useful in corectly dealing with these people, in a manner useful to them and to my purposes.

Alice, book lover
I just read this book for the first time, saw it mentioned in a newspaper article. I enjoyed it more than I would have in 1963 because of the newspaper headlines today. I felt as if I knew the places mentioned in the book from hearing the names on the news reports. Anyone interested in the Afghan lifestyle will enjoy this book.

Peter Wijninga (peter -- maxwell.demon.nl)
In view of what is going on in Afghanistan right now, this timeless book is a must-read for anyone who tries to understand the complexity of the problems facing that country. And us, by the way....

A reviewer
I read CARAVANS about 20 years ago and thought it was timely and fascinating at that time. After the recent terroist attacks I re-read it. The story is set in 1946. At the end there are 'Readers Notes' telling of the changes in Afghanistan at the time this was published in 1963. Now we are back to 1946 and maybe much earlier. Gives an amazing insight into Afghanistan, the thinking and the geography.

harry.stokes -- stgrep.com
I have read most all of James Michener's books. Caravans is one of his shortest but a fantastic read. So much that I have re-read it 5 times. I first read this book 25 years ago. You feel as if you are on the caravan with Ellen Jasper and in someways, you don't want to return. As usual, Michener causes you to feel the heat of the desert and smell the aroma of the camels. This would be a great weekend read.

A reader from Walla Walla, WA USA
The novel Caravans, was an exciting and educating book to read. Michener writes a great story about a missing girl in Afghanistan and a CIA agent tracking her down. But he delves deep into each character, giving them great personalities, so you never know what's going to happen next. He also writes about the different religions, the society and environment of Afghanistan. He puts a great story together, with of these facts. You can learn a lot about the Afghan culture after World War II and read something entertaining at the same time.

A reader from Los Angeles, CA USA
I don't like Michener as a rule, however, Caravans is for the inquisitive and the seeker of fantastic places, a wonderful map of the country, its culture,the beauty of Islam and the sage tirany and power of the Muslem Prists (Mullahs). Even though published in 1962-63 and with the story taking place in 1946, the basics are as true today as 56 years ago! Michener made 9 trips to the country before writing this book and was fascinated by its fabulous beauty, the cruelty of its life-style and terrain, the fantastic legends of past cultures of the Silk Route, the intrinsic problems of its own-going self destruction and the ever changing magic of the Serais,the travellers and Caravans! The Story is easy and a fair yarn. It bespeaks of another time thru the interplay of its main characters and Helen who is one of the first of her generation to realize what now is common knowledge. Michener was a visionary of sorts here and don't be surprise if you pull out your dusty Atlas and search for the "Seventy Mile City," Kandakhar, Kabul, the Palmirs and the high valleys of the Hindu Kush and Khayber Pass. Any one can read this but you need imagination and a bit of the wonderlust for lost places and past civilizations. It makes a good book on tape also. Dead-heads stay away!

Denis Benchimol Minev from Manaus, Brazil
This is one of Michener's early books, when his style was still evolving. In it, we follow the sotry of an American woman who is lost in Afghanistan and the diplomat that seeks to find her.

I picked this book up after the US war on Afghanistan in order to try to better understand the history of the place without the more recent complications. It was a very good intorduction to the country and its people; we see the deep clash better the Kabul population, which is more "civilized" according to Western standards than the countryside, where the mullahs dominate. These happen to be the same mullahs that we get to see on CNN.

The story itself is told from the perspective of a westerner, so the striking nature of the local culture is highlighted. The mystical nature of caravans and local customs is dissected, which I found very interesting. Also there were many references to the country's history, enough to wet the appetite about reading further on Afghanistan, but not enough to make one knowledgeable about it.

Overall, it is clear this is an early Michener, and the author is evolving into the national novel model he adopts later on.