BookNight with Rod Nordland

For February’s BookNight we are delighted to welcome Pulitzer Prize-Winning New York Times journalist and Frontline Club member, Rod Nordland. Nordland’s latest book, The Lovers, tells the true story of a young Afghan couple from different ethnic backgrounds who are willing to risk everything for love.

The book grew out of a series of articles Nordland wrote for the NYT in which he described the star crosses lovers as a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Zakia is a Sunni, her lover Mohammad Ali a Shia, and although as children they would play together in their village, as they grew older contact was strictly forbidden.

This is a riveting, real-life equivalent of The Kite Runner and an astonishingly powerful and moving portrayal that puts a human face to the ongoing debate about women’s rights in the Muslim world.

Guests are encouraged to read the book before the event, although you are also welcome to join if you’ve just started your exploration. This will be an in-depth discussion rather than a standard format Q&A. The evening will start with drinks at 7:00 PM, followed by a sit-down dinner at 7:30 PM. We will get to know one another over starters before the introduction of the evening’s guest author.

The event will be hosted by Frontline Club director, Pranvera Smith, and founding member and senior correspondent at the Guardian and the Observer, Ed Vulliamy.

Menu £25 per person excluding drinks.

For more information about membership and other benefits on offer, please contact membership coordinator Sophie Kayes.