In a timely & eye-opening book Rodric Braithwaite examines the Russian experience in that most recent war in Afghanistan (after Alexander`s conquests & the many British imperial wars & skirmishes). Largely basing his account on Russian sources & interviews he shows the war through the eyes of the Russians themselves
- politicians, officers, soldiers, advisers, journalists, women. As former ambassador to Moscow, Rodric Braithwaite brings unique insights to the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The story has been distorted not only by Cold War propaganda but also by the myths of the nineteenth century Great Game. It moves from the high politics of the Kremlin to the lonely Russian conscripts in isolated mountain outposts. The parallels with Afghanistan today speak for themselves. ”A superb achievement of narrative history, sensitive writing & exciting fresh research”: so wrote Simon Sebag Montefiore about Rodric Braithwaite`s bestseller ” Moscow 1941”. But those words, & many others of praise that were given it, could equally apply to his new book.
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The people of Afghanistan are wonderful & photogenic, not always understood by an outside world used to seeing images of the country`s ongoing & painful conflict. To address the balance author John Casson has produced this high quality photographic book offering a unique insight into the people of this troubled country. Producing the book was a huge challenge involving a high risk visit to Afghanistan in August 2010 for John & professional photographer Jeremy Rata. There they joined former ITN reporter & presenter of ” News at Ten” Sandy Gall, who has written the books foreword. During their visit the team faced the harrowing scene of a terrorist attack that had happened only a few hours earlier. All profits from the book are being donated to Help for Heroes, the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (supporting injured armed forces personnel returning from Afghanistan) & Sandy Gall`s Afghanistan Appeal. ...

` The most dangerous place in the world`
- Barack Obama. The borderlands of Afghanistan & Pakistan have become the arena for a
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Afghanistan in the Countries & Regions series from Lonely Planet, market-leading comprehensive guides aimed at independent travellers & serving a large range of international destinations. Frank & informal in style, the guides explore an extensive range of sights, activities, accommodation, restaurants & nightlife & are designed for practical use while travelling on the road. Written & researched by a team of experts, each book is independent in its recommendations & suggestions, often offering individual takes on individual destinations. Widely recognised for their reliability, each Lonely Planet country & region guide has the same layout. Introductory sections profile the destination with individual chapters on particular highlights, getting started, (including when to go) itineraries, history, culture, arts, food & drink & the environment. Each guide is organised geographically by region, with individual sections detailing an extensive range of sights, places of interest, attractions, restaurants, nightlife, accommodation & any local activities. The guides have detailed explanations of historical context where relevant. There is also practical guidance on ...

Ancient Afghanistan was the crossroads of civilization in Central Asia. Its archaeological treasures date back more than four thousand years & bear the imprint of numerous cultures, attesting to Afghanistans pivotal importance in the exchange of goods & ideas from Asia to the Mediterranean. Nearly 230 artefacts from the rich mosaic of Afghanistans cultural heritage are explored in this outstanding book. The extraordinary objects presented here range in date from 2200 BC to AD 200 & are drawn from four different archaeological sites. This lavish volume not only focuses on the cultural significance of the objects but also relays the story of their discovery, excavation, & heroic rescue in modern-day Afghanistan. ...

Afghanistan in the Odyssey Guides series; aimed at travellers particularly interested in the culture & history of their destination; the guides focus on the atmosphere, customs, & distinctive character of a country, region or city. As the only English language publisher based in China, Odyssey Guides specialize in Asian destinations, relying on the expertise of local writers. This gives readers more of an insider’s perspective, in companion with the practicalities of navigating through remote Asian landscapes. Each title is heavily dedicated to the culture of the destination, all with accompanying colour photography. The guides also showcase a range of literary excerpts which are taken from travel writers together with translations from the work of indigenous writers & poets, creating a distinctive tone unique to the publisher. There are also basic overview location maps & concise practical advice for visitors, including information on getting there & around, itineraries, climate, health, clothing & equipment, money, photography, communications, security, shopping, media, food & drink, holidays & behavior, customs & etiquette. ...

” Afghanistan” traces the historic struggles & the changing nature of political authority in this volatile region of the world, from the Mughal Empire in the sixteenth century to the Taliban resurgence today. Thomas Barfield introduces readers to the bewildering diversity of tribal & ethnic groups in Afghanistan, explaining what unites them as Afghans despite the regional, cultural, & political differences that divide them. He shows how governing these people was relatively easy when power was concentrated in a small dynastic elite, but how this delicate political order broke down in the nineteenth & twentieth centuries when Afghanistan`s rulers mobilized rural militias to expel first the British & later the Soviets. Armed insurgency proved remarkably successful against the foreign occupiers, but it also undermined the Afghan government`s authority & rendered the country ever more difficult to govern as time passed. Barfield vividly describes how Afghanistan`s armed factions plunged the country into a civil war, giving rise to clerical rule by the Taliban & Afghanistan`s isolation from the world. He examines why the American invasion in the wake of September 11 toppled the Taliban so quickly, & how this easy victory lulled the United States into falsely believing that a viable state could be built just as easily. ” Afghanistan” is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how a land conquered & ruled by foreign dynasties for more than a thousand years became the `graveyard of empires` for the British & Soviets, & what the United States must do to avoid a similar fate. ...

While the modern nation can trace its origins back to 1747, the history of Afghanistan is far more ancient. It has long been an ancient focal point of the Silk Road & human migration. While many native people such as the Kushans, Samanids, Saffarids & Mughals have founded their empires here, the country has also been the target of numerous invasions. Afghanistan is therefore one of the most culturally rich & diverse places on Earth. This lively book places this rich & ancient seam of creativity in its broad historical context & offers the reader a full appreciation of this remarkable country. ...

Afghanistan dominates the news today, as it often did during the Soviet occupation two decades ago. But even in the 19th & early 20th centuries at the height of the Great Game, Afghanistan was the focal point of East-West relations. Squeezed between Russia, China, India & Persia, its tortured history provides an extraordinary glimpse into the patterns of world politics. Today, Afghanistan sits at the pivot of a region where a new Great Game is taking shape, pitched between America, its rivals & the peoples of Central Asia. ...

Afghanistan in the Culture Smart range of pocket-sized guide books; providing detailed information on local customs, culture, etiquette & manners & ensuring that visitors are prepared for a diverse range of social environments. The series covers an extensive number of countries worldwide & are designed both for those working & living abroad, as well as for visitors who do not want to offend, either intentionally or inadvertently. Their aim is to prevent readers from making embarrassing mistakes & feel confident in unfamiliar situations, while preparing them before arrival on what to expect & how to behave. Each guide is arranged thematically, with dedicated individual chapters on land & people, values & attitudes, customs & traditions, making friends, people at home, ‘time-out’, travelling & communicating. There is also a separate chapter for business travelers, with important information on subjects such as business culture, meetings & making appointments. A Further Reading section also offers a list of recommended other history, travel literature & language titles available on the country. ...