The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif

Insight Text Guides – The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif is designed to help secondary English students understand and analyse the text. This comprehensive study guide to Najaf Mazari and Robert Hillman's book contains detailed character and chapter analysis and explores genre, structure, themes and language. Essay questions and sample answers help to prepare students for creating written responses to the text.

The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif traces an Afghani refugee's extraordinary journey - from his early life as a shepherd boy in the mountains of Northern Afghanistan, to his forced exile after being captured and tortured by the Taliban, to incarceration in an Australian detention centre... and finally, to freedom. A poignant and powerful, yet often humourous, story of suffering, injustice and survival that explores the resilience of the human spirit. Najaf's memoir gives a rare insight into what compels people to leave their homes, families and histories behind in search of peace and security for themselves and their children.