Empire's Son, Empire's Orphan

This book explores the intriguing story of father and son Ikbal and Idries Shah, who crafted captivating and increasingly fantastical accounts of the Middle East and Islamic world from their origins in colonial India through their influential years in London, Oxford, and California. Nile Green uncovers the web of conspiracies, pseudonyms, and self-created myths that shaped nearly a century of perceptions about Afghanistan and the broader Muslim world. With a mix of deception, cultural influence, and bold schemes, the Shahs captivated a diverse array of figures, from poets and spies to politicians, fostering a collective dream of an elusive Afghan Shangri-La.