Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns is the story of two women living in Afghanistan. Throughout the story, there is a background history of the last thirty years and the devastation that the war has brought to their city and country. After reading the book, it was really interesting to read the author’s biography and learn that Khaled Hosseini was actually born in Afghanistan. As well, the city that most of the setting took place in, Kabul was the city that he grew up in. Khaled and his family were granted political asylum in America when the war broke out in Kabul. After 27 years, Khaled returned to Afghanistan and was shocked by the devastation that the war had brought to his hometown. He spoke with many people on the street and found that there was still a traditional spirit of hospitality and generosity with their tragic stories. This trip not only sparked the beginning of his work to provide humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan through The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, but also his next book, A Thousand Splendid Suns. The story wasn’t necessarily based on a specific life story he heard on the streets, but rather on the collective impact the war had on specifically women and children.