And the Mountains Echoed

Khaled Hosseini, an Afghan-born American novelist, is one of the most prominent literary voices to emerge from the early 21st century. Born on March 4, 1965, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Hosseini spent his early years in a privileged environment, as his father was a diplomat and his mother a teacher. In 1976, his family moved to Paris due to his father’s diplomatic post. However, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 prevented their return, and they sought asylum in the United States in 1980, settling in California. Originally trained as a physician, Hosseini practiced medicine for over a decade before dedicating himself fully to writing. His debut novel, The Kite Runner (2003), was an international bestseller and marked a turning point in contemporary fiction, bringing Afghan culture, history, and emotion to a global audience. This was followed by A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007) and And the Mountains Echoed (2013), both of which further cemented his reputation for crafting deeply human, emotionally resonant stories. Hosseini’s works are known for their exploration of themes such as exile, family, guilt, and redemption. Beyond literature, he is also a goodwill envoy for UNHCR and founder of The Khaled Hosseini Foundation, which provides humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. His voice continues to influence discussions about identity, displacement, and empathy through both fiction and advocacy.