I Circled the Fortress

A novel by Rahnaward Zaryab, one of Afghanistan's most respected fiction writers, whose title echoes a familiar folk rhyme. Told in ten parts, it weaves together two strands: a band of small boys in old Kabul who see wonders others cannot, and an Afghan living in exile in Russia after the wars scattered his family. Written in rich Kabuli prose with touches of magical realism. The text is in Persian (Farsi/Dari).

Author: Rahnaward Zaryab

Persian title: چارگرد قلاگشتم

Bought from a Kabul bookshop and hand-delivered — the recipient inspects it at the door before accepting. The edition and cover may differ from the photo.