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New York Times journalist Rod Nordland discusses his new book The Lovers, a story of one couple's unshakable self-determination in the face of a repressive society.

Journalist Rod Nordland joins us for Radio 2 Book Club: Fact Not Fiction to discuss his new book The Lovers.

Zakia and Ali grew up as neighbors and fell in love from afar. Defying their families and Afghan custom, the young lovers-both from different Muslim sects-eloped and went into hiding. When Rod Nordland came upon them, he felt obligated, having shared their story in the pages of the New York Times, to help them to safety-but there was a limit to how well he could protect them.

Despite more than a decade of American good intentions, women in Afghanistan are still subjected to some of the worst human rights violations in the world. Rod Nordland tells a compelling tale of forbidden love, governmental bungling, and reckless disregard for basic human rights, and illustrates the degree to which mysogyny persists in traditional Afghan culture. The Lovers is a story of one couple's unshakable self-determination and the irrepressibility of human feeling in the face of a shockingly repressive society.

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Fri 12 Feb 2016 22:00

Music Played

  • Bee Gees

    Night Fever

    • Bee Gees - Their Greatest Hits.
    • Polydor.
  • Cilla Black

    Alfie

  • The Rolling Stones

    Not Fade Away

    • The Rolling Stones - Forty Licks.
    • Abkco.
  • Prince

    Alphabet St.

    • 4Ever.
    • Paisley Park.
  • Elvis Presley

    Surrender

    • Presley - The All Time Greatest Hits.
    • RCA.
  • Harpers Bizarre

    The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

    • The Complete Singles Collection.
    • Now Sounds.
    • 006.
  • Billie Holiday

    Sometimes I'm Happy

    • Classics.
  • Tammy Wynette

    Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad

    • Best Of.
    • Epic.
    • 10.
  • Ella Fitzgerald

    What Is This Thing Called Love

    • Essential Ella.
    • Verve.

Broadcast

  • Fri 12 Feb 2016 22:00