Ana Pejčinova to promote ‘Desert Heart’ book about Afghanistan

Ana Pejčinova will host a book promotion for ‘Desert Heart: Fifteen Years in Afghanistan’ at Laboratorijum this Thursday at 20:00. The event will feature a discussion with the author led by Natasha Atanasova and Aleksandar Madzharovski.

The book provides a personal and professional account of Pejčinova’s fifteen years living and working in Afghanistan, spanning from the early years following the fall of the Taliban regime to the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021. Drawing on her experience with the United Nations and USAID, Pejčinova offers a documentary prose perspective that moves beyond political and military narratives to document the daily lives, fears, humor, and human connections of those living through the conflict.

Pejčinova, a Macedonian author with a background in international development and political science, uses the work to present a complex view of Afghanistan, challenging simplified media portrayals by focusing on the lived experiences of ordinary people, including families, doctors, and local workers.