The Ghost of Freedom: A History of the Caucasus

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The Ghost of Freedom: A History of the Caucasus Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Charles King (Author), Michael Page (Narrator), Tantor Audio (Publisher)

4.3 165 ratings

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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 20th century lay inside the Soviet Union, before movements of national liberation created newly independent countries and sparked the devastating war in Chechnya.

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 200 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.

Listening Length

11 hours and 40 minutes
Author

Charles King
Narrator

Michael Page
Audible release date

May 23, 2017
Language

English
Publisher

Tantor Audio
ASIN

B071L8JJYF
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	11 hours and 40 minutes
Author	Charles King
Narrator	Michael Page
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	May 23, 2017
Publisher	Tantor Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B071L8JJYF
Best Sellers Rank	#296,677 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #418 in Russian History (Audible Books & Originals) #2,254 in World History (Audible Books & Originals) #3,282 in Russian History (Books)

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4.3 out of 5

165 global ratings

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Bob Newman

A thoughtfully-written history

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2019

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For many Americans “Caucasus” may signify those tight little groups that meet during party conventions every four years. For others, it might bring to mind a skin disease or a kind of weird cookie that their Ruritanian grandma used to bake. If the name is far from American minds, what can we say about the history of an area between Europe and Asia, between the Black and Caspian seas, and between historical fact and popular fiction? If de Waal’s “The Caucasus: An Introduction” is a top quality journalistic work, this book covers history in an academic, but exceedingly well-written way. Starting in the 17th century, King analyzes the sweep of history that saw Turkey, Persia, and Russia vie for control over 200 years until Russia emerged victorious in the mid-19th century. He uses descriptions by travelers as well as various old histories to tell his tale. A section on “The Imaginary Caucasus” traces the origins of various misconceptions and views of the area, going into a mountain climbing boom in the late 1800s, the “exotic” mountaineers who appeared in the West seeking aid against the Tsars, and the myth of the Circassian beauty. I found that section extremely interesting and thought that many other historians ought to introduce it to their work. The oil boom in Baku, the long struggle by Russia to control the mountain tribes of the north Caucasus, and the quick rise and fall of nations in the 1918-1921 period---these plus many other interesting topics make King’s book an outstanding one.
An important point that he raises repeatedly is that ethnic/religious hatred or enmity, associated with the Caucasus and its recent series of wars, is not an “age old” phenomenon. It was created by the rise of nationalism in the 19th century, fanned by meddling outside powers, and stirred as well as suppressed by Communism. In the past, groups may have lived and married separately, but there was an incredible mixture of peoples and languages. The ethnic divisions and clashes came later. As late as 2010 (now so far away), the author could not predict the rise of illiberal democracy and outright dictators in so much of the world. He still hoped that the European community might absorb the Caucasus or extend some protection. The three small Caucasus nations of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, plus the other political units dominated by Russia can never be world actors, but only re-actors. Their fates must be determined by others; they must always seek larger protectors. Their future is uncertain, but their past is so well-described and explained in this book.

8 people found this helpful

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Arkansaw Traveler

Comprehensive Treatment of the Caucasus Region since the Middle 18th Century

Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2008

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Frankly, I found this book well written but on such a complex subject that it was difficult to keep in mind all the ethnic players, their situations, politics, languages and characteristics from page to page. It may be an easy read, but difficult to comprehend. I noticed that none of the other reviewers attampted to offer a brief synopsis of the chapters or contents. I won't either, since I have no idea how to briefly state what the author does in many pages and where everything seems to be in flux.

At one time the Muslim Circassians take one side and the Christian Armenians another, then twenty years later everything is reversed. I found the hodge-podge of ethnic enclaves and large number of languages, some very different from the others, various political orientations, attitudes toward slavery (that continued into the 20th century), unique off-shoots of Islam and Christianity that often seem pagan or animistic, fascinating but difficult to grasp in a single book (or in a single course of study.) The Caucasus makes the Balkans seem trivial in comparison.

Nonetheless, this work is extremely useful in bringing the reader up to date on the region and giving him an appreciation of its history and complexity. One can readily see that to choose sides is to make enemies, and with states and borders having been very recent inventions, one is cautioned to tread lightly here with one's western ideas and concepts.

I was sorry to see that the book does not go back to ancient times as the history of the Armenians and Georgia are particularly fascinating. The Armenians were a substantial power from 260BCE to 72 CE, then again from 1048 to 1375 CE. Tigranes II and later Levon I were powerful rulers and the Armenians have survived until today with their great heritage and history providing a continual source of pride.

Georgia produced one of the great warrior queens of history, Queen Tamara, from 1184 to 1212. During that time she brought Georgia to its golden age, and folklore abounds still today in the Caucasus with tales of her prowess.

More currently, the genocide inflicted on the Armenians during World War I by the Turks lays heavy on the land and prevents Turko-Armenian reconcillation. The Chechens have defied Moscow since the advent of the Soviet Union, and their resistance today is a factor of everyday life. The Ossetians are in the middle, and look to Russia as their protector. The Azerbaijans tend to look to Iran for guidance. This is not a peaceful or easily governed region.

This work is particularly important in light of recent developments where Russia invaded Georgia supposedly to aid the Ossetians. This book is highly recommended to Western readers who desire a relatively quick introduction to the Caucasus in order to understand the issues currently in the news. The reader will also come away with the realization that issues in the Caucasus are not likely to be simple or what they are said to be in soundbites.

The author is to be commended for bringing this relatively obscure corner of the world into the light where the reader can grasp the essentials of its history and characteristics.

44 people found this helpful

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Paolo

Libro università

Reviewed in Italy on February 20, 2024

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Particolarmente indicato per il corso di scienze politiche del figlio.

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Amazon Customer

Three Stars

Reviewed in Canada on September 6, 2017

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Well researched and goo presentation of material, but not as enjoyable as The Cauccsus by de Waal

Antonio Perez

A great overview of a very complex area: The Caucasus

Reviewed in Spain on August 24, 2015

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It's a pleasure to read this fascinating book about one of the most complex, beautiful and fascinating regions of the world.
Well written and documented. A great source to reflect on the Caucasus and the issues that mark its history.

marc

Good insider book, with excellent history details.

Reviewed in Germany on October 24, 2013

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If you want to know more about the Caucasus and its history, get this book. I used it for my essay on Chechnya.

One person found this helpful

黒羽くろは夏彦なつひこ

「民族みんぞく」問題もんだいの複雑ふくざつさ

Reviewed in Japan on February 9, 2010

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　近きん現代げんだいのコーカサスはロシア支配しはい下かで制度せいど的てき・経済けいざい的てきに統合とうごうされ、ロシア経由けいゆで近代きんだい化かの洗礼せんれいを受うけた。そこには様々さまざまに複雑ふくざつな矛盾むじゅんがはらまれていたが、その最さいたるものは、ロシアの支配しはい下かから逃のがれようにも、「民族みんぞく」としての境界きょうかい線せんが曖昧あいまいかつ錯綜さくそうしている中なか、それはどこからどこへ向むけての解放かいほうなのか？　誰だれにとっての解放かいほうなのか？　どこに線引せんひきをしても必かならず紛争ふんそうを招まねいてしまうという矛盾むじゅん。「民族みんぞく」の自由じゆうを渇求しても、悲かなしいことにその自由じゆうはどうしても形かたちをなすことのできない困難こんなん──本書ほんしょのタイトル『自由じゆうという幻影げんえい』（The Ghost of Freedom）はそうしたコーカサス地域ちいきが直面ちょくめんした不可避ふかひ的てきな宿命しゅくめいを端的たんてきに表あらわしている。

　本質ほんしつ主義しゅぎ的てきに「〜民族みんぞく」と一義的いちぎてきにくくることなど不可能ふかのうで、人種じんしゅ的てき・文化ぶんか的てき・言語げんご的てき・宗教しゅうきょう的てき・政治せいじ的てきに様々さまざまな条件じょうけんが歴史れきし的てきコンテクストに応おうじて組くみ合あわさり、組くみ替かえられながら、何なんとなく「民族みんぞく」らしきものが形成けいせいされているとしか言いいようがない。その点てんで、コーカサスでの「民族みんぞく」概念がいねんは状況じょうきょう依存いぞん的てきである。本書ほんしょはこうした問題もんだい意識いしきをもとに、ロシア帝国ていこくの南進なんしんが顕著けんちょとなった十じゅう八はち世紀せいきから、ソ連それん崩壊ほうかいによる独立どくりつ・民族みんぞく紛争ふんそうの再燃さいねんした近年きんねんに至いたるまでコーカサス近きん現代げんだい史しを概観がいかんする。文学ぶんがく作品さくひんからの引用いんようがあったり、歴史れきしを彩いろどる人物じんぶつ群ぐん像ぞうも取とり上あげたりとエピソードは豊富ほうふ。学術がくじゅつ的てきなクオリティーを備そなえつつ読よみ物ものとしても十分じゅうぶんにたえる歴史れきし概説がいせつ書しょとして飽あきさせずに読よませてくれる。

3 people found this helpful

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