The World's Largest Collection of Recent Afghan History (An American Woman Has Devoted Her Life to Afghanistan)

Half a century ago, she wrote five guidebooks on the country's rich antiquities, traveling to study ancient relics like the Buddhas of Bamyian — which he Taliban later destroyed — and the towering Minaret of Jam. Her guides are still widely used today. Dupree came to Kabul as the young wife of an American diplomat. But when that marriage quickly fell apart, she fell in love with Louis Dupree, then the world's pre-eminent Afghan scholar. She and Louis later married at the palace grounds. "There was deep, deep snow, which was considered good luck," she said. "And it was because we had a very good marriage." Her husband traveled around the country researching Afghan history, she said, "and I tagged along with my notebook."