The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet WINNER OF WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2026

When the Inter-Continental Hotel opened in Kabul in 1969, it reflected the hopes of the country: a glistening white edifice that embodied Afghanistan”s dreams of becoming an affluent, modern power.

Five decades later, and the Inter-Continental is a dilapidated, shrapnel-damaged shell. It has endured civil wars, terrorist attacks, the US occupation, and the rise, fall and rise of the Taliban. But its decaying grandeur still hints at ordinary Afghans” hopes of stability and prosperity.