The attention to details of the Afghanistan locale and culture remains the essence of the film throughout. Though the human dramas that take place in this context are what creates the substance of the story. Mainly it is a romance story that involves the central characters that sort of emerges in the search of the female protagonist, Ellen. Moreover, it is a coming-of-age of the lead character, in that he gets a glimpse of the facets of humanity in the context of a totally different culture than his. The journey through the Afghan desert delves into the complex history of the people through the eyes of an outsider. The author portrays the splendor of the cultural practices that saw their decline at the end of World-War II as the influence of rural mullahs also wilted.
Set before the Soviet-Afghan War and also Pre-Taliban, Michener exalts this period, as it was a pivotal and critical moment at which the future outcome could have been molded. Following an American woman as the protagonist who is seeking freedom and independence in Afghanistan. She is disillusioned by the manipulative nature of men seeking power and hoping to pursue a more primitive lifestyle that is honorable. Through this premise, the book offers a view of a different Afghanistan that we know currently. Only through this period could such a plot be realistic in the Afghanistan setting. Michener writing the book in 1960s when he was certain the political climate in Afghanistan will take a drastic shift following the impending war and emerging radicalism. He takes the readers back to a time when the traditional norms began clashing with the modern view, hence uses the imagery of caravans as a symbol of this dynamic. Michener expresses the appeal of the past before the tensions and dangers of the modern climate arose.
