AFGHAN-AMERICAN DIASPORA LITERATURE AND ITS DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS (BASED ON THE WORKS OF KHALED HOSSEINI)

Abstract

Afghan-American diaspora literature emerges as a vital expression of postcolonial and migrant experiences, capturing the complexities of displacement, cultural hybridity, and identity formation following Afghanistan's prolonged conflicts. This article examines the distinctive characteristics of this literary tradition through the works of Khaled Hosseini, the most prominent Afghan-American author. Drawing on his major novels—The Kite Runner (2003), A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007), and And the Mountains Echoed (2013)—as well as the illustrated short story Sea Prayer (2018), the analysis highlights recurring themes such as cultural clash and hybrid identities, nostalgic reconstruction of the homeland, intergenerational biographical narration, and resilient humanism amid suffering. Hosseini's narratives, written in English and rooted in personal exile, humanize Afghan lives beyond stereotypes, bridging cultural divides while preserving heritage in diaspora. Ultimately, his oeuvre defines Afghan-American diaspora literature as both testimony to trauma and a transformative force for empathy and cultural continuity.