Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus 1st Edition by Thomas Goltz (PDF)

Description

First Published in 2015. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor &; Francis, an informa company.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐A gripping account of Georgia since the fall of the Soviet Union.Goltz achieves a good balance between the adventure of his personal experiences in the area, and the historical, cultural and political background of his subject matter. It’s very enlightening without ever feeling academic, and very lively without ever feeling indulgent.Having traveled in Georgia and lived in Abkhazia in ’98-’99, the ‘travelogue’ aspect of the book brought back vivid memories, and rang true to what I saw and experienced. What I lacked then, but Goltz provides in spades, is a broader historical background and analysis of Georgian history and the Abkhazian conflict (Goltz is obviously well-read in a number of disciplines, and vividly draws on cultural as well and political history).Though definitely in the realm of ‘war porn’, Goltz’ account is nonetheless refreshingly light and humorous – there’s a boyish ‘oh boy’ quality to his writing, unlike the heavier adolescent angst and drama evident in most ‘war porn’.(On a such a contentious subject, there is probably no way to devise an objectivity that satisfies all parties, but as someone with no dog in the fight, his account strikes me as scrupulously objective)Heartily recommended – a vivid, easy read, but with real depth.

⭐Incorporates a vast wealth of detail into a narrative that nevertheless remains lucid, engaging, and highly entertaining. Plenty to offer both the specialist and the general reader. Great preparation for anyone traveling to Georgia.

⭐For a few years, a friend of mine (who happens to be an old friend of the author) has been recommending this book (and the other two in the trilogy) and I’ve been meaning to read it, but I always set it aside for another time.Another time finally came and I was blown away. Before reading it, I had no clue how important — strategically maybe but symbolically definitely — Georgia is in the geopolitical chess match. What I thought would be the story of a small nation turned out to be the story of all the world.It’s been less than a year since Russia and Georgia fought a brief war at the start of the Olympics, yet it seems like much longer because the news cycle rolled over and past Georgia long ago. The one question I had last summer, the one that CNN either could not or would not answer, was: What exactly are they fighting for?After reading “Georgia Diary,” I might forgive CNN because the situation is so complicated (but fascinating) that they would still be trying to explain it today. I highly recommend this book; you will not only learn the answer to the question, but you will also walk away with so much more.

⭐This book is a great start for anyone unfamiliar with this (relatively) tiny country in the Caucasus, whose history and politics recently reached the crossroads of world politics.It is a book with broad historical sweep, taking the reader from the mind-blowing complexity of Georgia’s history and ethnic cocktail, to the tumultuous world of post-Soviet Georgian politics. After reading this, not only can I pronounce the names Gamsakhurdia and Shevardnadze (I hope), but I understand who these figures were, and what they did.A riveting read, part-travelogue, part-modern history monograph, I highly recommend Georgia Diary. Some of the author’s arguments may be controversial–such as his revisionist perspective on, and partial rehabilitation of Lavrenti Beria. Apart from this oddity, though, there is not much to complain about. Some passages are tragicomic, such as his vivid description of a toilet cubicle which resembled an upright coffin, and had me laughing out loud. Other parts will have you gripping the book. For example, the reader will learn such handy conflict-zone tips, including how to break into the back of a (Soviet-era) helicopter–if the need ever arose–and how to manage a horde of scared refugees.The epilogue to the expanded hardback edition is especially helpful in coming to terms with what the Russo-Georgian War of 2008 was about, and what it means for Georgia and for international security in general. Georgia Diary wholly deserves five stars out of five.

⭐Not written very well and for those familiar with Georgia there are some glaring inaccuracies that make me question some of the portrayals by Goltz in the book. Nonetheless an entertaining read that provides a good feel for life in Georgia at that time.

⭐Thomas Goltz se distingue por presentar temas de la historia actual como una narrativa de primera persona, realista, con relación cercana con personajes que la viven. Sus libros se leen como novelas, y como personaje de novela su visión no siempre es imparcial aunque (en mi opinión) esto no demerita el resultado final. El lector debería continuar con la lectura de Azebaijan Diary y Chechnya Diary, por el mismo autor.

⭐

Keywords

Free Download Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus 1st Edition in PDF format
Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus 1st Edition PDF Free Download
Download Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus 1st Edition 2015 PDF Free
Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus 1st Edition 2015 PDF Free Download
Download Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus 1st Edition PDF
Free Download Ebook Georgia Diary: A Chronicle of War and Political Chaos in the Post-Soviet Caucasus 1st Edition