The ghost of freedom: a history of the Caucasus

Couverture
Oxford University Press, 11 févr. 2008 - 291 pages
11 Avis
The Caucasus mountains rise at the intersection of Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. A land of astonishing natural beauty and a dizzying array of ancient cultures, the Caucasus for most of the twentieth century lay inside the Soviet Union, before movements of national liberation created newly independent countries and sparked the devastating war in Chechnya.
Combining riveting storytelling with insightful analysis, The Ghost of Freedom is the first general history of the modern Caucasus, stretching from the beginning of Russian imperial expansion up to the rise of new countries after the Soviet Union's collapse. In evocative and accessible prose, Charles King reveals how tsars, highlanders, revolutionaries, and adventurers have contributed to the fascinating history of this borderland, providing an indispensable guide to the complicated histories, politics, and cultures of this intriguing frontier. Based on new research in multiple languages, the book shows how the struggle for freedom in the mountains, hills, and plains of the Caucasus has been a perennial theme over the last two hundred years--a struggle which has led to liberation as well as to new forms of captivity. The book sheds valuable light on the origins of modern disputes, including the ongoing war in Chechnya, conflicts in Georgia and Azerbaijan, and debates over oil from the Caspian Sea and its impact on world markets.
Ranging from the salons of Russian writers to the circus sideshows of America, from the offices of European diplomats to the villages of Muslim mountaineers, The Ghost of Freedom paints a rich portrait of one of the world's most turbulent and least understood regions.

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Review: The Ghost of Freedom: A History of the Caucasus

Avis d'utilisateur  - Jason Hebert - Goodreads

This was a wonderful overview of the Caucasus; it presented multiple points of view for important events and the narrative flowed logically. The author draws clear parallels between events at ... Consulter l'avis complet

Review: The Ghost of Freedom: A History of the Caucasus

Avis d'utilisateur  - AskHistorians - Goodreads

Another survey of the Caucasus, by one of the most prominent academics to write on it. King covers the entire history of the region, from the first settlements to the most recent wars in the region. Consulter l'avis complet

Table des matières

Natures Bulwark
3
one EMPIRES AND BOUNDARIES
20
two RULE AND RESISTANCE
64
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À propos de l'auteur (2008)


Charles King is Ion Ratiu Professor of Romanian Studies, Professor of International Affairs, and Professor of Government at Georgetown University. He is the author of The Black Sea: A History and The Moldovans, and his writing has appeared in The Times Literary Supplement and Foreign Affairs.

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