Khaled Hosseini – Author Biography
Early Life
Khaled Hosseini was born on 4 March 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan, the eldest of five children. His father was a diplomat, and the family lived in Paris before the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan made return impossible; they were granted asylum in the United States in 1980. Hosseini studied biology at Santa Clara University and earned his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego, practising as a physician in California.
Career
While working as a doctor, Hosseini wrote his debut novel, The Kite Runner (2003) — the story of Amir and Hassan, two boys in Kabul whose friendship is shattered by betrayal and war. It became an international phenomenon, spending years on bestseller lists. He followed it with A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007), centred on two Afghan women, and And the Mountains Echoed (2013), a multi-generational saga. Sea Prayer (2018) is a short illustrated meditation on the refugee crisis. He left medicine to write full time and serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Major Works
His novels are The Kite Runner (2003), A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007), And the Mountains Echoed (2013), and Sea Prayer (2018).
Writing Style and Themes
Hosseini writes lyrical, emotionally direct prose that makes Afghanistan’s recent history intimate and personal. His recurring themes are guilt and the search for redemption, the bonds of family and friendship tested by war, the resilience of women under oppression, and the long shadow of choices made in youth. His novels consistently humanise a country many readers know only through headlines.
Legacy
Hosseini’s books have sold tens of millions of copies in dozens of languages and brought Afghan stories to a global audience. The Kite Runner was adapted into an acclaimed film (2007) and a stage play. Through his UNHCR work and the Khaled Hosseini Foundation, he advocates for refugees and humanitarian aid.
