Author Richard Parsons, for many years a buyer in Afghanistan for the well-known firm O.C.M (London) Ltd, treats the reader not only to a veritable feast of carpets and rugs, all with their attendant tribal origins and motifs vividly explained, but also to a fascinating journey through the history of a diverse and colorful country. The author shares his respect and admiration for Afghanistan's stoic people, who, somehow, despite political upheavals, forced resettlement, a harsh climate and often primitive nomadic conditions, manage to fashion exquisite works of art which reflect their pride in their many-faceted heritage. Afghan rugs, which are instantly appealing due to their traditional colors and bold designs, open up a whole vista for the collector, from sumptuous piled purdahs to flat woven prayer rugs, all of them well illustrated in the 154 color and 90 black and white plates.