Book read: The places in between by Rory Stewart

You might know Rory Stewart as a conservative MP - who sometimes appears on Newsnight as an expert on the Middle Eastern/North African countries.

He always provides really balanced sensible opinion - much lacking in our woeful politicians today.  But just viewing him as a politician undersells him by a huge amount - he started life a Foreign Office and overseas.

This book recounts the epic journey on foot through Afghanistan in 2002 - part of a large 6000 mile journey that took in Pakistan, India, Iran and Nepal.  At this time the collation forces were fighting the Taliban and Afghanistan was not the safest of places.  He visits remote villages, stays with villagers and really puts across the state of isolation in the country.

You always feel he is walking a tight rope of acceptance and often comes close to being harmed.  The feudal nature of the communities is put across as each stage of the journey involves carrying recommendations from the village he was travelling from.

One interesting episode is the historic background of Britain's empire.  He often gets asked about the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koh-i-Noor diamond - which was obtained by Britain under dubious circumstances.

This is the number one travel guide for Afghanistan - well deserved even though it is a limited market!