author: Peter Hopkirk
name: Elaine
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1990
rating: 3
read at: 2010/01/03
date added: 2010/01/19
shelves: history, non-fiction, politics, religion
review:
One of the books recommended by the folks of Ask Metafilter, when I asked for books about the British in Afghanistan. Stupendous huge book chronicling about 100 years of conflict between the British and the Russians in Central Asia. A little overwhelming in the sheer mass of data, but fascinating nonetheless. Could have stood for more (or more readable) maps, or possibly a cast of characters section. Don’t think I could pass a quiz on most of the details, but I have a pretty good sense of the broad movement of the history of that region in that time.
Both of the non-fiction books I’m reading/have read from those recommendations are pre-9/11. This one is from 1991, and so the preface is all about the collapse of the Soviet Union. Gives an odd sense of presentiment to say the least.
(Update 1/19/2010: the maps in this book were much better than the ones in Tournament of Shadows, IMHO.)