The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge A Wednesday Special ... with the BBC's Lyse Doucet
Nov 5, 2025
Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent and author of The Finest Hotel in Kabul, shares her profound connection to Afghanistan, where she has reported since 1988. She discusses her mission to capture the everyday bravery and humor of Afghans beyond their struggles. Doucet reflects on the international efforts in Afghanistan, the resilience of women under Taliban rule, and the narrative choices in her new book. With her Acadian heritage influencing her storytelling, she hints at future writing projects, including a potential exploration of her roots.
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First Trip That Shaped A Career
- Lyse Doucet first went to Afghanistan at Christmas 1988 and stayed nearly a year, making Kabul her first Afghan home.
- She formed lasting friendships at the Intercontinental Hotel that informed decades of reporting and inspired her book.
People Over Headlines
- Lyse Doucet argues that to understand a country you must know its people beyond news snapshots of suffering.
- She emphasizes everyday courage, humor, and hope as central to Afghan life even amid conflict.
A Hotel As A Narrative Anchor
- Lyse returned repeatedly to the Intercontinental Hotel and it became her constant base through momentous Afghan moments.
- Hotel staff became friends she kept contact with and whose lives populate her book.
