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Sea Prayer

Sea Prayer

The Sunday Times and New York Times Bestseller
PoetryHistorical FictionLiterary Fiction
Pages
48
Published
2018
Language
English

Synopsis

A father writes a letter to his young son as they prepare for a perilous sea journey. He reflects on their former life in Homs, Syria, before it was destroyed by war, and the dangers that lie ahead. This short, powerful work offers a glimpse into the refugee experience.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

SadEmotionalReflectiveThought-Provoking
SurvivalSacrifice

Genres

Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Politics & Society History Poetry

About the author

K
Khaled Hosseini

Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. In 1970 Hosseini and his family moved to Iran where his father worked for the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tehran. In 1976, when Hosseini was 11 years old, Hosseini's father obtained a job in Paris, France, and moved the family there. They were unable to return to Afghanistan because of the Saur Revolution. They sought political asylum in the United States and made their residence in San Jose, California. Hosseini graduated from Independence High S...

Frequently asked questions

  • What inspired Khaled Hosseini to write Sea Prayer?

    Khaled Hosseini wrote "Sea Prayer" in response to the Syrian refugee crisis, specifically inspired by the image of Alan Kurdi, a young Syrian boy whose body washed ashore in Turkey. The story was originally commissioned by The Guardian newspaper as a virtual reality experience.

  • Is Sea Prayer connected to Khaled Hosseini's other novels?

    While "Sea Prayer" shares thematic concerns with Hosseini's other works, particularly the experiences of displacement and loss, it is a standalone short story and not directly connected to the characters or plotlines of his novels like "The Kite Runner" or "A Thousand Splendid Suns."

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