Books on Central Asia: What's your favourite?

[Crazy Diamond]

Hello,

I've been thinking for a while about expanding my very humble library of books on Central Asia. I realise that there must be some real literary jewels about the region with such a rich and complex nature! I want to hear your suggestions: what is the best book related directly to the Central Asia (both fiction and non-fiction) that you've read?

The first book in the library will be Platonov's "Soul" (Dzhan)!

Waiting to hear your choices,

CD

[Samimiy]

Nice topic, Crazy Diamond. After reading your post, I tried to come up with the list any books on Central Asia, not just "favorites". Turns out I haven't read many books about our region :(
But I think that's not only because I am not very interested, but also because there aren't a whole lot of good books written about CA, particularly by foreign authors. This is especially true for non-fiction books. I am guessing you'd like to focus on books by forein authors? Or can we discuss uzbek (or Soviet) authors's works, as well?

More on topic: One good book I have read about the history of our region is Vambery's memoir. I think I read it in Uzbek or Turkish, but the english version seems to be this:

The Life and Adventures of Armenius Vambery: Written by himself

http://www.amazon.com/Life-Adventures-Arminius-Vamb%e9ry-Appreciation/dp/1402159978/sr=8-1/qid=1157990855/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5285489-6968718?ie=UTF8&s=books

Can you provide a little more info about the book you want to buy, Platonov's "Soul"? Amazon sells it, but does not provide any info. Thanks.

I hope this topic will become popular (it should be).

[Crazy Diamond]

Hello Samimiy,

I would strongly recommend to read "Dzhan" in Russian (downloadable from lib.ru or other online source - it is not a long novel). English translation by R. and E. Chandler is also good - if anyone can do justice translating the book, it is probably these two. Dzhan is about a small doomed nation that lives in the harsh environments by the Aral Sea.

It will be interesting to learn about all kinds of books - written both by local authors as well as foreign ones.

Another book I bought recently was "The Railway" by Hamid Ismailov, which I am still to read. I found the English translation of the book - I will be grateful if anyone could let me knows where to get it in Russian.

I hope we can learn more from these books about "our common land" - and think about lessons from the past we can take into the future.

Cheers,
CD

[Samimiy]

It will be interesting to learn about all kinds of books - written both by local authors as well as foreign ones.


O'zbek yozuvchilaridan Xurshid Davronning "Sohibqiron nabirasi" degan kitobi juda chiroyli yozilgan. Uzi tarixiy qissa, lekin adabiy jihatdan ham juda yuqori darajada, orada she'rlar ham bor. Xurshid Davron ham shoir, ham yozuvchi, ham tarixchilik mahoratlarini tuliq ishga solgan. "Sohibqiron nabirasi" Amir Temur, temuriylar va jumladan mirzo Ulugbek haqida hikoya qiladi. Undan tashqari kitobda O'zbekistonning qadimiy tarixi haqida ham juda qiziq qissalar bor. Hammaga tavsiya qilaman.

[UzbekGirlie]

I recently read The Zahir:A Novel of Obsession by Paula Coehlo... It is not about Central Asia, but half of the book is set in Central Asia and has awsome descriptions of the region...

Another really good one is titled Samarkand by Amin Maalouf... It is about Omar Khayyam and is set in Cental Asia and simply a must read...

The Bookseller of Kabul by Asne Seierstad... It is a great read- but it is about Afganistan more than the other stan republics...

Central Asia's Second Chance by Marth Brill Olcott- is intesting and a must read as it summarizes the US point of view on Central Asian situation.

A Feast in Exile is another good one to read about Timur... It is by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro...

Enjoy... :D

[Iqbol]

I recently read The Zahir:A Novel of Obsession by Paula Coehlo... It is not about Central Asia, but half of the book is set in Central Asia and has awsome descriptions of the region...

Enjoy... :D
Assalom alaykum.
Paulo Coelho's book Zahir is really good one, one can say. I started to read it when in a friend's house. Liked the first part, where he describes how he wrote "Alchemist". But, the part on Kazakhstan really disappointed me. Author describes not real Kazakhstan, but his own imaginary Kazakhstan where "enlightened" shamans are at work. Especially, when I read the last pages, where he describes his wife feeling very happy among her shaman brothers and not caring who from among the made her a baby, I was just disgusted. So, I didn't continue the book.
But I took two benefits from the book:
1) Before reading this book, I was of good opinion of Paulo Coelho and that his book "Alchemist" could lead someone to good path. But, after I learned from "Zahir" how and why he wrote the book, I decided that the only way to call to good path was to do it in clear terms, I mean without using alternative terms to Islam;

2) The Western intellectuals (Paulo Coelho is one of them I think) just couldn't recognize that there are good things to learn from outside their own civilization. That's why where ever they go they look for the resemblancies or the influences of their own culture and they just ignore the originalities of other cultures. If they don't find influences of their culture, they start to invent its imaginary marks. On the other hand, they think, outside western culture, there are only exotic cultures where shamans and magicians guide people deprived of logic and rationality. They can't just imagine rational society other than Western. "Zahir" follows the same pattern.

[Iqbol]

Olivier Roy is a specialist deserving respect. He is at least more informed than many of his fellow central asian specialists. You can guess it from his interview in Berkeley and his recent articles I am attaching
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people2/Roy/roy-con0.html


His book on nationalism in Central Asia is an original and very interesting read. :



The New Central Asia: The Creation of Nations

http://www.amazon.com/New-Central-Asia-Creation-Nations/dp/0814775551/sr=8-4/qid=1158044347/ref=pd_bbs_4/104-8342511-4319962?ie=UTF8&s=books

"A daring exploration. This book is a corrective of stunning power."
--Boston Book Review
"This book is essential reading for all interested in the late 20th century evolution of movements of religious activism and revival."
--Middle East Journal
During the anti-Gorbachev coup in August 1991 most communist leaders from Soviet central Asia backed the plotters. Within weeks of the coup's collapse, those same leaders--now transformed into ardent nationalists--proclaimed the independence of their nations, adopted new flags and new slogans, and discovered a new patriotism.
How were these new nations built, among peoples without any traditional nationalist heritage and no history of independent governance? Olivier Roy argues that Soviet practice had always been to build on local institutions and promote local elites, and that Soviet administration--as opposed to Soviet rhetoric--was always surprisingly decentralized in the far-flung corners of the empire. Thus, with home-grown political leaders and administrative institutions, national identities in central Asia emerged almost by stealth. Roy's analysis of the new states in central Asia--Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikstan, Kirghizstan and Azerbaijan--provides a glimpse of the future of an increasingly fragmented and dangerous region.

[Iqbol]

Central Asia's Second Chance by Marth Brill Olcott- is intesting and a must read as it summarizes the US point of view on Central Asian situation.


Enjoy... :D
Even if I don't see her as the authority in Central Asian affairs (she is considered one in USA and regularly testifes before differents high official commissions there), one can read her books as she is in contact with different groups in Central Asia and USA.
Here another book of her in Russian "Kazahstan Neproydenniy put"
http://www.carnegie.ru/ru/pubs/books/80790903mbo-full.pdf


В книге рассмотрены события первых десяти лет существования независимого Казахстана с точки зрения исторического и политического наследия этой страны, ее географического положения, экономического и социального развития.

Значительное внимание уделено национальной политике, проблеме коррупции, а также роли западных стран в современном развитии Казахстана.

[Iqbol]

Другая Центральная Азия Автор: Бисенбаев А.К. Год издания: 2003
Издательство: Аркас
Город: Алматы
ISBN: 9965-25-049-9
Количество страниц: 300
Тип издания: Книга
Тематический раздел: Общественно-политическая литература

Центральная Азия всегда привлекала внимание исследователей. Парадокс заключается в том, что несмотря на огромное количество опубликованной литературы, она по-прежнему остается неизведанным пространством. Еще большее количество старых и новых мифов искажают реальную картину региона. Новый этап в жизни Центральной Азии, начавшийся немногим более десяти лет назад, привел к возникновению новых вызовов истории. Автор анализирует причины взлетов и падений цивилизаций, существовавших в прошлом, традиции, которые влияют на формирование настоящего и будущего Центральной Азии.

http://www.kyrgyz.ru/?page=161


==========================
ЗАЩИТНОЕ ВООРУЖЕНИЕ СРЕДНЕАЗИАТСКОГО ВОИНА ЭПОХИ ПОЗДНЕГО СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЬЯ

Оригинал: Сборник научных статей "Военное дело номадов Северной и Центральной Азии", Новосибирск, 2002, С. 106-168
http://www.kyrgyz.ru/?page=197

http://www.kyrgyz.ru/bbr/bobrov_16.jpg

Реконструкция внешнего облика тяжеловооруженных среднеазиатских воинов XVI–XVIIвв.

[Crazy Diamond]

Olivier Roy is a specialist deserving respect. He is at least more informed than many of his fellow central asian specialists. You can guess it from his interview in Berkeley and his recent articles I am attaching
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people2/Roy/roy-con0.html


His book on nationalism in Central Asia is an original and very interesting read. :



The New Central Asia: The Creation of Nations


Thanks, Nostalgique. I've just started Roy's book. I must admit, I find it really hard to read it - being French-speaking, Roy's writing style is not seamingless, imho. (I attended his lecture a couple of years ago too.) He has interesting and new view on notions of national'nost', narodnost', and structural foundations of the nation which Soviets put in place in all republics.

Cheers,
CD

[Iqbol]

Ahmed Rashid is also one of the leading and mostly sollicited authorities on questions relating to Central Asia, islam, "islamism", etc.
Usually Olivier Roy and Ahmed Rashid come to my mind together, there are some parallells in them, at least their serious knowledge of their field.

The Resurgence of Central Asia: Islam or Nationalism?
http://www.amazon.com/Resurgence-Central-Asia-Nationalism-Contemporary/dp/1856491323/sr=8-7/qid=1158068105/ref=pd_bbs_7/104-8342511-4319962?ie=UTF8&s=books
'Ahmed Rashid is one of Pakistan's most gifted and astute political commentators. This account will be of interest to scholars and lay readers alike. What makes it especially valuable is that Rashid's priorities are very different from those of most Western observers.' - Tariq Ali

'Ahmed Rashid writes concisely, keeping up a rapid pace starting with the historical background of the region, looking in turn at its five republics - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - and finally at their common interests and rivalries... Rashid's book is eminently dispassionate and unideological.' - International Herald Tribune

***************************

Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia
http://www.amazon.com/Jihad-Militant-Islam-Central-Asia/dp/0142002607/sr=8-3/qid=1158068105/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-8342511-4319962?ie=UTF8&s=books
Amazon.com
In the aftermath of September 11, as Americans tried to figure out what they were up against, many of them turned to Ahmed Rashid's masterful book Taliban (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0300089023/${0}), the single best account of Afghanistan's murderous regime. With Jihad, Rashid offers an indispensable companion volume on five of Afghanistan's neighbors--Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan--and "the New Great Game" about to be waged over them between China, Russia, and the United States...

[Iqbol]

Land Beyond the River: The Untold Story of Central Asia by Monica Whitlock
http://www.amazon.com/Land-Beyond-River-Untold-Central/dp/031227727X/sr=8-1/qid=1158067922/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8342511-4319962?ie=UTF8&s=books
Domla Hindistoniyning hayotlari haqida kattagina bo'limi bor. Ichida kamyob rasmlar ham bor.

[Iqbol]

I would like also to recommend "Orientalism" of Edward Said.
It is a must read for anyone thinking to read seriously on any particular region. It gives deep insights into the function and importance of scholarship on regions. Just read, whether you agree with the author or not, you will certainly get many benefits from the book.

[Crazy Diamond]

Land Beyond the River: The Untold Story of Central Asia by Monica Whitlock
http://www.amazon.com/Land-Beyond-River-Untold-Central/dp/031227727X/sr=8-1/qid=1158067922/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-8342511-4319962?ie=UTF8&s=books
Domla Hindistoniyning hayotlari haqida kattagina bo'limi bor. Ichida kamyob rasmlar ham bor.

I read Whitlock's "Beyond the Oxus". I enjoyed it, it was informative and easy to read. I guess though that the fact she is married to a Tadjik influenced her thinking about Central Asia. Did ane esle had a chance to read any of M.W's books? What did you think?

Hey, how about Uzbek writers - both contemporary and from the long-gone past? What is the best Uzbek book about the Uzbeks?

Cheers,
CD

[Crazy Diamond]

I wanted to share a little piece from "Dzhan" that I think could be paralleled to our times:

".. Народ был весь живой, но жизнь в нем держалась уже не по его воле и была почти непосильна ему. Люди глядели перед собой, хотя и не сознавая ясно, как надо им пользоваться своим существованием; даже темные глаза теперь посветлели от равнодушия и не выражали ни внимания, ни силы собственного зрения, точно ослепшие или прожитые насквозь; только одна Айдым хотела быть живой, она не истратила еще детства и материнского запаса энергии, она смотрела в песок все еще блестящими глазами."

And another citation, which I don't necessarily agree with or, frankly, understand fully, however it has certainly made me think:

"О чем же думала сейчас душа этой девушки, - неужели до нее не жили старшие люди, которые за нее должны бы передумать все мучительное и таинственное, чтобы она родилась уже на готовое счастье? Зачем раньше ее люди жили, если она, эта туркменская
незнакомая девушка, стоит теперь озадаченная своей мыслью и печалью? Насколько же были несчастными ее родители, все ее племя, если они ничем не могли помочь своей дочери, прожили зря и умерли, и вот она стоит опять одна, так же как стояла когда-то ее нищая, молодая мать... "

Impressive imaginative language, hey?

CD

[Iqbol]

A classic by an established French historian René Grousset, a nice read:
The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia
http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Steppes-History-Central-Asia/dp/0813513049/sr=8-4/qid=1158151098/ref=sr_1_4/104-8342511-4319962?ie=UTF8&s=books

[Samimiy]

A classic by an established French historian René Grousset, a nice read:
The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia
http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Steppes-History-Central-Asia/dp/0813513049/sr=8-4/qid=1158151098/ref=sr_1_4/104-8342511-4319962?ie=UTF8&s=books
Nostalgique, yaxshi kitoblarni tavsiya qilyapsizu, kupi qimmatroq ekan :)
Hozircha faqat "Land beyond the river"ni oldim, usha arzonroq ekan :) Kutubxonadan esa Amin Maaloufning 2ta kitobini oldim. Lekin qachon uqiy olaman, bilmadim...

CD, you must read very fast. Impressive :)

Also, I was able to download an electronic version of "Djan", but it was in some bizarre, illegible font. If you have a good e-copy, can you please upload it on, say, www.yousendit.com and post the link here? Thanks.

[Lady_G]

The Life and Adventures of Armenius Vambery: Written by himself


Manda huddi shu kitob bor. Bilmiman bilasizlarmi yo'qmi Xivada hattoki uni muzeyi ham bor. Uni otini eshitmagan odam bo'masa kere, ayniqsa turklar tarihiga qiziqqanlar.
Haqiqiy sekratnyj agent bo'gan :) . Eng kulgilisi vengerlar manmanlab kokragiga urishadi Vámbéry venger, o'Zimizi odamimiz deb. O'shanda o'rto Osiyodan tirik qaytganida (cunki u paytlar O'rto osiyo to'risida hech kim hech nima bilmagan, Marco Polodan boshqa hech kim tirik qaytmagan, faqat Vámbéry) Vengerskaja Akademija eshitgisiyam kemagan lekciya o'qiy, aytib beray nimalar ko'rganimi deb iltimos qiganida, ko'tiga tepvorganla. Londonda esa korolevani o'zi kutvogan..:)

[UzLand]

Please, read all of Peter Hopkirk's books. You will thank me after reading them:)


The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia


Setting the East Ablaze: Lenin's Dream of an Empire in Asia

On Secret Service East of Constantinople
Trespassers on the Roof of the World: The Secret Exploration of Tibet
Like Hidden Fire: The Plot to Bring Down the British Empire
Foreign Devils on the Silk Road: The Search for the Lost Cities and Treasures of Chinese Central Asia
Hunted through Central Asia: On the Run from Lenin's Secret Police
The Great Game: On Secret Service in High Asia
Quest for Kim: In Search of Kipling's Great Game
Mission to Tashkent by F.M. Bailey and Peter Hopkirk
A Ride to Khiva by Frederick Burnaby and Peter Hopkirk
Buried Treasures of Chinese Turkestan (Oxford in Asia Paperbacks)

[Crazy Diamond]

CD, you must read very fast. Impressive :)

Also, I was able to download an electronic version of "Djan", but it was in some bizarre, illegible font. If you have a good e-copy, can you please upload it on, say, www.yousendit.com and post the link here? Thanks.

Samimiy,

Check your PM for the link to the novel. I do hope you enjoy it.

I don't read fast at all. I've been collecting books on Central Asia, including Peter Hopkirk's "Great Game" (which I am ashamed to admit I have not even openned yet - it looks soooo big and scary!). The latest addition is Murrey's "Murder in the Samarkand", which I am reading now.

Cheers,
CD

[UzLand]

Samimiy,

Check your PM for the link to the novel. I do hope you enjoy it.

I don't read fast at all. I've been collecting books on Central Asia, including Peter Hopkirk's "Great Game" (which I am ashamed to admit I have not even openned yet - it looks soooo big and scary!). The latest addition is Murrey's "Murder in the Samarkand", which I am reading now.

Cheers,
CD

Don't look at the size of his books. They don't bore you with theories and analyses. They are fun to read, like tales. Once you start, you won't be able to do anything else and will finish this 500-page-long book in 3 days. Believe me:) I wish all books were like his.

[UzLand]

Samimiy,

уже укиб булдизми "рахмат" беряпсиз менга?:) Тезсизку:)

[Samimiy]

Please, read all of Peter Hopkirk's books. You will thank me after reading them:)

Hehe, aytishga oson ekan-da :) Kitoblarning har biri 10-15 sumdan - 200-250 sum bularkan. Kambagal studentda buncha pul nima qilsin?

Gorkiydan "Alesha, kup puling bulganda nima qilarding?" deb surashganda "Kuuup kitob sotib olardim",- degan ekan :)

Uqishni bitirib, ishga kirish kerak!!!



Samimiy,

уже укиб булдизми "рахмат" беряпсиз менга?:) Тезсизку:)

Hozircha rahmat tavsiyalar uchun. Birinchi 2 kitobni amazonda Wishlistga qushib quydim :)

[Samimiy]

Haqiqiy sekratnyj agent bo'gan :) . Eng kulgilisi vengerlar manmanlab kokragiga urishadi Vámbéry venger, o'Zimizi odamimiz deb. O'shanda o'rto Osiyodan tirik qaytganida (cunki u paytlar O'rto osiyo to'risida hech kim hech nima bilmagan, Marco Polodan boshqa hech kim tirik qaytmagan, faqat Vámbéry) Vengerskaja Akademija eshitgisiyam kemagan lekciya o'qiy, aytib beray nimalar ko'rganimi deb iltimos qiganida, ko'tiga tepvorganla. Londonda esa korolevani o'zi kutvogan..:)

Vamberydan oldin Yevropaliklardan Marco Polodan boshqa hech kim Urta Osiyo haqida hech kim hech narsa bilmagan, hech kim u yerdan tirik qaytmagan deb sal oshirvormadizmi? Urta Osiya 700 yil kallakesarlar yurti bulgan ekan-da? Sizga bitta misol: Amir Temurga Ispaniya qirolidan elshi bulib kelgan, xotiralarini yozib qoldirgan de Klavixo.

Vambery esa uzi asli yahudiy bulsa ham Urta Osiyoda musulmon darvish qiyofasida sayohat qilgan. Shuning uchun nisbatan kup narsaga guvoh bulgan va kurganlarini yozib qoldirgan.

[Lady_G]

Vamberydan oldin Yevropaliklardan Marco Polodan boshqa hech kim Urta Osiyo haqida hech kim hech narsa bilmagan, hech kim u yerdan tirik qaytmagan deb sal oshirvormadizmi? Urta Osiya 700 yil kallakesarlar yurti bulgan ekan-da? Sizga bitta misol: Amir Temurga Ispaniya qirolidan elshi bulib kelgan, xotiralarini yozib qoldirgan de Klavixo. Yo'q, oshirvormadim, shunaqa. U Xiva, Buhoro xonligida ko'rgan bilganlarini kitob qilib yozganidan so'ng ruslar etibor berishgan. Xiva xonligini shu kitobdan so'Ng bosvoganla o'risla.


Vambery esa uzi asli yahudiy bulsa ham Urta Osiyoda musulmon darvish qiyofasida sayohat qilgan. Shuning uchun nisbatan kup narsaga guvoh bulgan va kurganlarini yozib qoldirgan.
Bilaman :) . Buhoroda o'zini sotib qo'yishiga oz qogan. Oyog'ini o'ynatib taqillatib o'tirgan, xonni odamlari esa musilmon kishi bunaqa qimidi deb darhol yetirganla. U esa e yo'q faqat suralarni oyog'imni taqillashi bn sanadim deb qutilgan. Temur langga o'hshab cho'loqman hech bo'lmasa shuni hurmat qil deb qo'shibam qo'ygan :D . ZHestikuljacija qimay chunki musilmonlar buniyam qilishmidi deb qo'lini bir biriga ildirib cho'poniga tiqib yurgan.

[Iqbol]

Hehe, aytishga oson ekan-da :) Kitoblarning har biri 10-15 sumdan - 200-250 sum bularkan. Kambagal studentda buncha pul nima qilsin?

Gorkiydan "Alesha, kup puling bulganda nima qilarding?" deb surashganda "Kuuup kitob sotib olardim",- degan ekan :)

Uqishni bitirib, ishga kirish kerak!!!




Hozircha rahmat tavsiyalar uchun. Birinchi 2 kitobni amazonda Wishlistga qushib quydim :)
Samimiy, hamma kitoblarni sotip olishiz shart emas, oldin kutubhonadan olip o'qishga harakat qilip ko'ring. Masalan, A.Rashid, O. Roy'ga o'xshaganlarni kitoblari ko'p kutubhonalarda bo'lsa kerak. Men masalan sotip oladigan kitoblarim asosan klassik avtorlarni kitobini sotip olaman, chunki hozirgi ko'p avtorlarni kitobi bir o'qishlik. Ayniqsa, Markaziy Osiyo haqida hozir kitoblar ko'payip ketyapti. Amerika va Yevropa o'ziz bilganizdaqa professor bo'lish uchun albatta kitob chiqarish kerak, shuning uchun hozir Markaziy Osiyoda terrorism, islamism, Great game, new great game, big game, etc haqida kitoblar qo'ziqorindaqa ko'payip ketti. Ko'pchiligi ayni narsani qaytarishadi.

[Iqbol]

Nostalgique, yaxshi kitoblarni tavsiya qilyapsizu, kupi qimmatroq ekan :)
Hozircha faqat "Land beyond the river"ni oldim, usha arzonroq ekan :) Kutubxonadan esa Amin Maaloufning 2ta kitobini oldim. Lekin qachon uqiy olaman, bilmadim...

CD, you must read very fast. Impressive :)

Also, I was able to download an electronic version of "Djan", but it was in some bizarre, illegible font. If you have a good e-copy, can you please upload it on, say, www.yousendit.com (http://www.yousendit.com) and post the link here? Thanks.
Amin Malufni kitobini yo'lda o'qisez ham bo'ladi. Nizomulmulk, Hasan Sabboh kabi mashhur insonlarni olip, Da Vinci Code'ga o'xshatip qiziq voqealar ihtiro qilip ko'ngil ochuvchi kitob qilgan. O'qimasez, ko'p narsa yo'qotmaysiz.

[Samimiy]

Amin Malufni kitobini yo'lda o'qisez ham bo'ladi. Nizomulmulk, Hasan Sabboh kabi mashhur insonlarni olip, Da Vinci Code'ga o'xshatip qiziq voqealar ihtiro qilip ko'ngil ochuvchi kitob qilgan. O'qimasez, ko'p narsa yo'qotmaysiz.

Hozir shuni uqiyapman. Men uchun "temptation" - bu boshqa muhimroq ishlar turganda kitob uqish :( Bilsangiz kerak, turkchada "Seytanin soldan yaklasmasi" deyishadi :)

Rostdan ham kup mashhur kishilarning hayot yullarini kesishtirib, qiziq roman yozgisi kelgan ekan. Tariq Alining "Book of Saladin" degan kitobi bor, ushanga uxshatvordim. Deyarli tarixiy faktlarga asoslanmagan desa ham buladi. Qiziq, shu kitob uzbekchada nashr qilinsa Ozbekistonda qanday qabul qilinar ekan? :)

[Iqbol]

"Soldanmi sagdanmi?" :)Lekin, bugun sol bilan sog'ni farqi deyarli qolmadi
O'zingiz qaysi kitoblarni tavsiya qilasiz, Samimiy? "Temptation"iz buyukligiga qaraganda, ancha kitob o'qigan bo'lishiz kerak...

[Iqbol]

I wanted to share a little piece from "Dzhan" that I think could be paralleled to our times:

".. Народ был весь живой, но жизнь в нем держалась уже не по его воле и была почти непосильна ему. Люди глядели перед собой, хотя и не сознавая ясно, как надо им пользоваться своим существованием; даже темные глаза теперь посветлели от равнодушия и не выражали ни внимания, ни силы собственного зрения, точно ослепшие или прожитые насквозь; только одна Айдым хотела быть живой, она не истратила еще детства и материнского запаса энергии, она смотрела в песок все еще блестящими глазами."

And another citation, which I don't necessarily agree with or, frankly, understand fully, however it has certainly made me think:

"О чем же думала сейчас душа этой девушки, - неужели до нее не жили старшие люди, которые за нее должны бы передумать все мучительное и таинственное, чтобы она родилась уже на готовое счастье? Зачем раньше ее люди жили, если она, эта туркменская
незнакомая девушка, стоит теперь озадаченная своей мыслью и печалью? Насколько же были несчастными ее родители, все ее племя, если они ничем не могли помочь своей дочери, прожили зря и умерли, и вот она стоит опять одна, так же как стояла когда-то ее нищая, молодая мать... "

Impressive imaginative language, hey?

CD
I didn't get the point. Isn't it too general?

[Frida]

Please, read all of Peter Hopkirk's books. You will thank me after reading them:)

Uzland aka, hammasini nima qiladi o'qib. :) Bilmadim sizga qandayku, lekin menimcha 2 tasidan keyin qolganlari xuddi bir narsani qayta qayta gapirganga o'xshaydi. Keyin Piter Hopkirkning xotini Kathleen Hopkirkniku umuman eriniki bilan bir xil, shu menimcha eriga yaxshilab yalingan bo'lsa researchini yarmini bergan. Lekin faqat info uchun kerak bo'sa o'sha xotinikini o'qigan yaxshi, umumiy qilib yozgan.
Agar kimda kim Sovet davridagi O'rta Osiyodagi ayollarga bo'lgan siyosat, "Jensovet"ning qilgan ishlari va umuman o'sha davrdagi qilingan o'zgarishlarga qiziqsa va biroz akademic tilda yozilgan kitob o'qishga erinmasa "Veiled Empire" degan kitobni o'qishni maslahat beraman. Akademik bo'lgani uchun, ancha unbiased qilib yozilgan. O'zim anchadan beri vaqatim bo'lganda o'qiyapman, ancha yaxshi yozilgan. Hammasi faktlar bilan.
Amazon.com: Veiled Empire: Gender and Power in Stalinist Central Asia: Books: Douglas Northrop

[Guardian]

Read Amin Maalouf's "Samarcande" novel.

[Samimiy]

"Soldanmi sagdanmi?" :)Lekin, bugun sol bilan sog'ni farqi deyarli qolmadi
O'zingiz qaysi kitoblarni tavsiya qilasiz, Samimiy? "Temptation"iz buyukligiga qaraganda, ancha kitob o'qigan bo'lishiz kerak...

Soldan, soldan :) "Journal of Finance" urniga "Samarkand"ni uqib yotibman :(

Uzimning tavsiyalarimga kelsak, mavzuning boshidagi 2 kitobdan boshqasi esimga tushmadi. Tushsa yana yozaman.

Indiana universiteti professori William Fierman muharrirlik qilgan Urta osiyo haqidagi bir kitobni uqigan edim, lekin hozir nomi esimda yuq. Akademik maqolalardan tuplangan kitob edi.

Uzimizning ulkamiz haqida deyarli yaxshi kitob uqimagan ekanman, uzimdan xafa bulib ketdim. Shuning uchun ham bu mavzu menga qiziq.

Lekin albatta E. Saidning "Orientalism" kitobini uqish niyatim bor.

[UzbekGirlie]

Read Amin Maalouf's "Samarcande" novel.

I agree, it is amazing and a real page turner...

[Iqbol]

Read online "Central Asian Security: New International Context" edited by R. Allison and L. Jonson:
http://www.brookings.edu/press/books/central_asian_security.htm

[Iqbol]

This is not a book, but a monograph from Rand Corporation on "Central Asia and Its Asian Neighbors Security and Commerce at the Crossroads"


The Asian states neighboring Central Asia have historic links and strong interests in the region. China, Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan are critical players in the security and economic issues that will determine the future of Central Asia and affect U.S. interests in the region. Although these Asian states do not agree on how to secure Afghanistan against threats, there is unanimous agreement that a stable Afghanistan is critical to their own security interests. By assessing the developing relations between Central Asia and its Asian neighbors, it is evident that each country stands to benefit from stability and economic growth in Central Asia, but opinion toward U.S. presence and policy in the region could be a point of conflict. The purpose of this monograph is to provide an assessment of the nature of Asian states’ interest and influence in Central Asia in order to determine the development of these relationships and how they will shape strategic dynamics of Asia in the coming years.
http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG440/

[referee]

Read Amin Maalouf's "Samarcande" novel.

His even better book is Leo the African, which I highly recommend if you have read Samarkand.

[referee]

Please, read all of Peter Hopkirk's books. You will thank me after reading them:)

The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia (http://www.amazon.com/Great-Game-Struggle-Central-Kodansha/dp/1568360223/sr=8-1/qid=1158203893/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3656492-2897745?ie=UTF8&s=books)


Setting the East Ablaze: Lenin's Dream of an Empire in Asia (http://www.amazon.com/Setting-East-Ablaze-Empire-Kodansha/dp/1568361025/sr=8-2/qid=1158203893/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-3656492-2897745?ie=UTF8&s=books)


I will have to disagree that his books are worthy of reading. I could not finish his "great game" book because was so angry with his orientalistic perspective and explicit message that any British actions (and Russian to some extent) were noble and justified while Central Asians were brutal savages worthy of conquering and subjugation. A typical writing by an imperialisticly-minded person, the likes of whom unfortunately dominate the literature on Central Asia, sadly.

[referee]

Here's the book by Craig Murray who writes about Uzb-n from his personal experience in the country. It's interesting to read about how he was interacting with the realities on the ground...
"Murder in Samarkand"
Amazon.co.uk: Murder in Samarkand - A British Ambassador's Controversial Defiance of Tyranny in the War on Terror: Books: Craig Murray

[Iqbol]

This book is worth reading I think, if you don't find it too academic.
The author prepared her book as a PhD thesis at Harvard, got her first job, due to her Phd, at Yale and got published her Phd in a prestigious collection at Cambridge. Of course she conducted much field research helped by pretty good contacts.
Institutional Change and Political Continuity in Post-Soviet Central Asia: Power, Perceptions, and Pacts (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)
by Pauline Jones Luong
Amazon.com: Institutional Change and Political Continuity in Post-Soviet Central Asia: Power, Perceptions, and Pacts (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics): Books: Pauline Jones Luong

dvanced praise: 'This is one of the best works of social science available on an important but dimly understood region. Luong's intensive field research and keen grasp of politics have paid off in what will become a standard work on postcommunist politics.' Steven Fish, University of California, Berkeley

[Sigma]

Just finished reading "The Tibetan Empire in Central Asia" by Christopher I. Beckwith and "The Golden Age of Persia" by Richard N. Frye. Mainly my concern was how these authors describe Central Asia, especially turks. First book reviews struggles of Tibetan empire in Central Asia against turks, arabs and chinese. Second one is very fascinating, as it describes Central Asia pre and post arab conquest, why Islamic civilisation flourished there its reasons and consequences. I strongly recommend both of them. At least I got answers as to why Central Asia produced such great scientists.
Another very academic book which I personally find interesting is Peter Golden's "Introduction to the History of Turkic People". When I enquired about purchasing it, they quoted me £160. At least got it from BL. On loan.

[Sigma]

Here's the book by Craig Murray who writes about Uzb-n from his personal experience in the country. It's interesting to read about how he was interacting with the realities on the ground...
"Murder in Samarkand"
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Samarkand-Ambassadors-Controversial-Defiance/dp/1845961943/sr=8-1/qid=1160581183/ref=pd_bbs_1/202-0653196-4588632?ie=UTF8

Read it as well. I can say that many facts he described were all well known anyway, if one follows events in Uzbekistan in particular and CA/world affairs in general. What I did not like, quote: "While I had been fretting about neglecting her, she had been...making a determined attempt on the world oral sex record." Did not like the behaviour of that particular female. On this matter, to me at least, he was as if he took advantage of this girl, ie extramarital liaison.

[Frida]

just finished Thubron's "The lost heart of Asia" a week ago. Do not spend your precious time to read it... waste of time. just another piece of rasist literature written by snobbish, prejudiced brit :evil: he spends most of his time to describe "the monogolid looks of CA people", sometimes he does not even bother to name people, something like "another Mongoloid approached and started talking to me". Thubron is an arrogant, racist and orientalist :(
read Edward Said instead....

[Iqbol]

An article on "Soviet Colonialism in Central Asia" dating from 50s by a British governor in India which appeared in Foreig Affairs. It mentions the Turkestan legion as well.

[Iqbol]

ANY SERIOUS REFERENCES ( books, articles) on the modern history of Central Asia, please?

[Sigma]

ANY SERIOUS REFERENCES ( books, articles) on the modern history of Central Asia, please?

Jahldor kartoshka ;) , give a try to this academic work, The modern Uzbeks : from the fourteenth century to the present : a cultural history / Edward A. Allworth . 1990 . That is the only serious academic work which I know in addition to works by Shirin Akiner.

[referee]

Read it as well. I can say that many facts he described were all well known anyway, if one follows events in Uzbekistan in particular and CA/world affairs in general. What I did not like, quote: "While I had been fretting about neglecting her, she had been...making a determined attempt on the world oral sex record." Did not like the behaviour of that particular female. On this matter, to me at least, he was as if he took advantage of this girl, ie extramarital liaison.

Sure, the book is more for those who knows little about Uzb-n. I agree with you on the openly hedonistic character of Craig. This, in fact, is typical for most foreign expats in our countries - they are there for money and fun. At least, Craig is straightforward about his flaws for women and drink, many others are deceiving or decieved...

[infolife]

I can't remember the author, about couple of years ago I read "Bookseller from Kabul". This is soooooooo interesting on recent history of Afghanistan

[Iqbol]

Jahldor kartoshka ;) , give a try to this academic work, The modern Uzbeks : from the fourteenth century to the present : a cultural history / Edward A. Allworth . 1990 . That is the only serious academic work which I know in addition to works by Shirin Akiner.

any more references covering central asia in general?

[Care_4_U]

An article on "Soviet Colonialism in Central Asia" dating from 50s by a British governor in India which appeared in Foreig Affairs. It mentions the Turkestan legion as well.

Assalomu alaykum. E-book formatida qo'yilgan kitob bormikin deb o'ylab o'tirgandim. Katta rahmat.
Men ham o'rta osiyo ekonomikasi haqida thesis yozayotgandim. Bu threadni ochganlargayam javobini ayamaganlargayam katta raxmat. Lekin iloji bo'sa e-booklardan ko'proq upload qilvorsangiz. Thanks in advance. :D

[Sigma]

any more references covering central asia in general?

I usually use British Library (http://www.bl.uk/); they stock every available printed book/article in English language. Go to their corporate site, www.bl.uk (http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/MYY9KUEBLP11UTS6QXLGUQK6AV5QLUN77ECI37HQ3V9AM5UXRX-03180?func=file&file_name=find-b&local_base=BLAC), have a search in integrated catalogue about Uzbekistan or else and there you have every printed material ever written about your interested subject or else in any country, given it is in English. Same techniques applies to every other query/subject/topic/author etc.

[Sigma]

Sure, the book is more for those who knows little about Uzb-n. I agree with you on the openly hedonistic character of Craig. This, in fact, is typical for most foreign expats in our countries - they are there for money and fun. At least, Craig is straightforward about his flaws for women and drink, many others are deceiving or decieved...

After reading this book, I suppose there should be legal case brought against the author for slandering good name of Uzbek womenfolk. He states with airy and casual assurance that in Uzbekistan they practice incest with the newly married bride. That is an unacceptable and despicable lie :evil: :evil: :evil:.

[referee]

any more references covering central asia in general?

some book titles from my book shelf-
"the soviet legacy of central asia"
"ethnicity and politics in central sia"
"the rise and rule of tamerlane"
"the modern uzbeks"
"central asia" by allworth
"calming the ferghana valley"
"the affirmative action empire"
"revenge of the past"
"nation-building in the post-soviet borderlands"
"between marx and Muhammad"
etc

[referee]

After reading this book, I suppose there should be legal case brought against the author for slandering good name of Uzbek womenfolk. He states with airy and casual assurance that in Uzbekistan they practice incest with the newly married bride. That is an unacceptable and despicable lie :evil: :evil: :evil:.

did he write that? I only skimmed the book, but an English friend who read it did not mention about such things. Yep, that's a shame if he did write this. But it is in parallel with what British travel writers wrote of central asia centuries ago as well - similar orientalistic lies...

[Iqbol]

two short articles on central asia with some "liberal bias" :)

[Sigma]

any more references covering central asia in general?

Any more serious references of your own? By the way, how do you view the state propaganda, as lately many academicians have been publishing works about Central Asia, some old prejudiced, some superficially observed?

[Iqbol]

Mustafa Chokaev
The National Movement in Central Asia
[Translator's note: Mustafa Chokaev (Chokay-ogly) (1890-1941) was born into an aristocratic family in what is now Uzbekistan. He was a first-class student at the law faculty of St Petersburg University, and from 1913 to 1917 worked as secretary to the Moslem faction at the 4th State Duma. After February 1917 he was one of the founders of the Shura-i-Islamiya (Moslem Council) party. His political and journalistic work was directed towards self-government for Turkestan (the name then used to describe much of Central Asia). After the Bolsheviks took power, he was involved in anti-Bolshevik politics in Ufa in 1918 and in Georgia in 1919. He emigrated in 1920, and lived in Turkey, France and Germany. He died in unexplained circumstances in Berlin. This memoir of the events of the end of 1917 was written in November 1926.]

...Immediately after the soviets took power, members of the Regional Moslem Council travelled round the main towns of the Samarkand and Fergana oblasts. This journey clearly revealed that it was impossible to get popular support for a struggle under the banner of the old government. Any actions for the restoration of the Provisional Government, if they were to take place at all, could not be organised and had to be "on their own responsibility". In Samarkand, Kokand, Namangan, New and Old Margelan, and Andizhan they were given to understand that "the time has come for Moslems to come out openly with their own national demands". In Kokand, Andizhan and Samarkand in particular there was an insistence on the immediate convocation of a regional Moslem congress in order to work out a "unified line of national behaviour".

The clerics (who were socially conservative) in Tashkent proposed a compromise. At an emergency meeting they worked out a resolution with the following demands and presented it to the Turkestan Soviet Government.

The government known as the "Turkestan Executive Committee" should consist of three representatives of the soviets of workers' and soldiers' deputies, three from the city administrations, and six from the regional Moslem congress. The organ controlling the government, the "Turkestan Regional Soviet", according to the clerics' resolution and conference, should be composed of five representatives from the regional congress of soviets of workers' and soldiers' deputies, five from the congress of city administrations and 10 from the Moslem congress.

In other words, the Turkestan clerics also recognised the new Soviet authorities in the centre, and only demanded an organ of local power for Turkestan "in keeping with the particular nature of the Moslem way of life".

It goes without saying that the Bolsheviks did not accept this proposal, not because it came from reactionary elements of the Moslem population, but because for those "adventurists and simply criminal elements"1 which had received indulgences from the Soviet centre, "the inclusion of Moslems in the highest organs of regional power was unacceptable" in principle.

Moreover, the "Appeal of the Council of People's Commissars to all Moslem Workers of Russia and the East" had been issued in Petersburg. ...

A bizarre situation came about: on the one hand power over the people of Turkestan had been given to the very worst local elements - "plunderers and oppresors" to use the official Soviet term. On the other hand - here was a call to overthrow that very same power.

Where was the way out? How could one overthrow a power based on masses of alien elements armed to the teeth? At the same time, how could one bring oneself to recognise a "typically colonialist power" of "criminal elements"?
........................
.........................
.........................
[source: S V Tyutyukin et al., Oktyabr'skaya revolyutsiya - ot novykh istochnikov k novomu osmysleniyu, Institut rossiyskoy istorii RAN, Moscow, 1998, pp. 429-435. Endnote commentaries are adapted from those provided in the book by S M Iskhakov and V L Telitsyn. - Francis King, translator]
http://www.uea.ac.uk/his/webcours/russia/documents/chokaev1.shtml

[Iqbol]

Any more serious references of your own? By the way, how do you view the state propaganda, as lately many academicians have been publishing works about Central Asia, some old prejudiced, some superficially observed?

I mostly read articles rather than books on Central Asia. THat's why I wanted to fill this gap. From books, Olivier Roy's book on nationalisms in Central Asia is good one. THere is also Djalili and Kellner's "Nouvelle géopolitique en Asie Centrale" contains many details. But, most of recent books are some how very descriptive. We havent yet witnessed a book on Central Asia like that of "Orientalism" of Edward Said.
About my opinion on state propaganda, I am not familiar with recent books published in uzbekistan, I cant say something useful.
But, on the website of KISI, Kazakh strategic institute, they put interesting books ( which reproduce the conferences) on Central Asia which deal mostly with Security aspects.

[Crazy Diamond]

читаю "chasing the sea" тома бисселла. бывший пис-корповец возвращается в узбекистан написать статью об арале. у него получилась целая книга: интересная, легко-читаемая, не судящая. автор проницателен, с очень интересным стилем и оригинальной наблюдательностью. дочитаю - напишу еще. ;) ;)

[nemets]

Вот нашёл очень интересные вырезки из старой книги о населении Туркистана до прихода большевиков.
Об авторе:
http://www.ferghana.ru/article.php?id=4836

фрагменты из книги:
http://news.ferghana.ru/archive/nalivkin_tuz.html

[Iqbol]

a new webresource on central asia
http://www.centralasianvoices.org/

[Пушкарева]

Article on Centra Asia http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/acainst/transcrime/resources/publications/saltan03.pdf

I got acquainted with the author in the library :)

[UzLand]

Interview with the author of a new book about Central Asia

YouTube - Story about book on Central Asian traditions and cultures

[Sigma]

Interview with the author of a new book about Central Asia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYmZ3KQvFwA


Uzland make life easier, why don't you name author instead of intriguing with video? ;)

And this appeared: The video you have requested is not available.

[UzLand]

Uzland make life easier, why don't you name author instead of intriguing with video? ;)

And this appeared: The video you have requested is not available.

It is working now...

[Sigma]

Uzland appreciate your efforts.
Bien, today I encountered on the French version of "Empire of the Steppes"/printed in 1952 by Rene Grousset in a bookshop. What a shame I can't read it; trying hard to get hold of updated version in English. Has anybody read it yet?

[Rusya]

Djavahrlara Neru- Vzglyad na vsemirnuyu istoriyu

Hanguq aka, do you have this book? I would really like to read it.

[Rusya]

Today I received "The Empire of the Steppes a History of Central Asia" by Rene Grousset, looks thick, but content smells good though..

I recommend the book I'm reading right now
"Alexander: The Ambiguity of Greatness" by Guy MacLean Rogers,
very interesting, rich in detail, with a lot of battle maps, and written in clear narrative language.

[Iqbol]

Today Ireceived "The Empire of the Steppes a History of Central Asia" by Rene Grousset, looks thick, but content smells good though..
.
Mashi Grousset degan yeridan ikki kilo Sigma'ga ham jo'natvorsez bo'larkan, qidirib yurgandi inglizchasini
(albatta agar o'ziz sigma bo'lmasez :) )

[Sigma]

Mashi Grousset degan yeridan ikki kilo Sigma'ga ham jo'natvorsez bo'larkan, qidirib yurgandi inglizchasini
(albatta agar o'ziz sigma bo'lmasez :) )

Bien, biza sho'tta o'sha o'sha Sigma.;) Next week I shall start reading "The Last Mughal" by William Dalrymple. Looks interesting.

[Sigma]

Today I received "The Empire of the Steppes a History of Central Asia" by Rene Grousset, looks thick, but content smells good though..

I recommend the book I'm reading right now
"Alexander: The Ambiguity of Greatness" by Guy MacLean Rogers,
very interesting, rich in detail, with a lot of battle maps, and written in clear narrative language.

Share your impressions once finished reading "Empire of the Steppes".

[Iqbol]

http://www.freedolina.net/ru/