One of the best things about having written a particular book about a genuine person, is that once in a while someone contacts you with a letter or an e-mail, with an additional perspective or additional information. This week I was most fortunate to have received an e-mail from a gentleman named Mike Parwana.
Mr. Parwana had read a book called "Afghanistan Venture: The Life, Contacts and Adventures of an American Civil Engineer During His Two Year Sojourn in the Kingdom of Afghanistan", by Paul S. Jones. In the book, he mentions Lawrence Kelsey, a number of times. Passages from his book helps to provide an additional voice, information and perspective in addition to the chapters relating to Afghanistan in my own book. I also can't help but think that since Dad's father, grandfather and great grandfather had all been Civil Engineers, that Dad may have enjoyed a kinship with Mr. Jones who was also a Civil Engineer. Certainly, the varied, unusual and sometimes rocky terrain of Afghanistan would have been a challenging place to which to provide roads and bridges. Interestingly, the original publisher of Mr. Jones book was the University of California which coincidentally is the institution that granted Dad's father and forefathers their Civil Engineering degrees. I can't help but wonder if Mr. Jones himself had also studied there.
So I am happy to include the excerpts sent to me of Paul S. Jones book, and also to provide information on it, should anyone like to obtain either an electronic copy, a hardcover version or perhaps even a first edition signed copy, which I noticed is for sale. I also plan to buy one as soon as I can.
These pages can also be enlarged by clicking on them.
Although there were no copies of "Afghanistan Venture" for sale on Amazon, this is the Bibliographic information:
One should be able to get a copy by googling the title, from other used book sources. I hope you enjoy these excerpts and windows into Afghanistan in that day, as much as I did.
Many thanks to Mike Parwana for this information.
Title: Afghanistan Adventure: Discovering the Afghan People:
The Life, Contacts and Adventures of an American Civil Engineer During His Two Year Sojourn in the Kingdom of Afghanistan.
By: Paul S. Jones
Publisher: Naylor Company, 1956
Originally from: The University of California
Digitized: October 10, 2007
Length: 454 pages.
