The Ghost of Freedom: A History of the Caucasus by Charles King (PDF)

Description

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.

User’s Reviews

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

⭐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.

⭐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.

⭐I bought the book looking for an insight into the history of the Caucasus and this is a well written, informative and concise work whose span is from the late 18th century to the early 21 century. It covers the Russian conquest of the region as well as the rise of the major states/entities in the area including Chechnya, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It’s quite useful in that regard.However,the book’s short span does not constitute a ‘history’ of the Caucasus in any way as other historic books cover a much wider timeline and are more comprehensive. Additionally, the author spends the first half of the book giving a Russian point of view of the Caucasus and even spending a few pages on the biographies of Russian writers who romanticized the region, or describing Caucasian beauties in American circuses. In my view this detracted from the purpose of the book when it could have covered more in terms of culture, history, and economy for the region. Finally, for a mere 250 pages, the price tag of 20 euros might be tad high.If you are looking for a short book on the Modern history of the Caucasus with a heavy dose of Russian point of view feel free to purchase this book but do look for a cheaper copy.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.

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

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

⭐近現代のコーカサスはロシア支配下で制度的・経済的に統合され、ロシア経由で近代化の洗礼を受けた。そこには様々に複雑な矛盾がはらまれていたが、その最たるものは、ロシアの支配下から逃れようにも、「民族」としての境界線が曖昧かつ錯綜している中、それはどこからどこへ向けての解放なのか？ 誰にとっての解放なのか？ どこに線引きをしても必ず紛争を招いてしまうという矛盾。「民族」の自由を渇求しても、悲しいことにその自由はどうしても形をなすことのできない困難──本書のタイトル『自由という幻影』（The Ghost of Freedom）はそうしたコーカサス地域が直面した不可避的な宿命を端的に表わしている。 本質主義的に「〜民族」と一義的にくくることなど不可能で、人種的・文化的・言語的・宗教的・政治的に様々な条件が歴史的コンテクストに応じて組み合わさり、組み替えられながら、何となく「民族」らしきものが形成されているとしか言いようがない。その点で、コーカサスでの「民族」概念は状況依存的である。本書はこうした問題意識をもとに、ロシア帝国の南進が顕著となった十八世紀から、ソ連崩壊による独立・民族紛争の再燃した近年に至るまでコーカサス近現代史を概観する。文学作品からの引用があったり、歴史を彩る人物群像も取り上げたりとエピソードは豊富。学術的なクオリティーを備えつつ読み物としても十分にたえる歴史概説書として飽きさせずに読ませてくれる。

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