Badly done book on an interesting topic
Written: Aug 02 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Nice pictures
Cons: muddled writing
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| cking's Full Review: |
The idea for this book is a good one: the race in Central Asia between Russia and Britain for influence and control over the region. "The Great Game," as it was called, came about when Russians and Britons vied for control over Central Asia. Much like the Cold War later, any move that was ostensibly to enhance your side's security was viewed as a security threat by the other guy. They would react, which would cause you to react and so on.
It's sad when a book about an interesting period turns out to be a bore. The authors are pretty good at cobbling a good sentence together, but they are not good at the narrative that would give their subject life. They have two main problems. First, they cannot resist a good yarn, even if it slows down the story or has no bearing on their thesis. A case in point is a 10 page digression about an American adventurer who trekked about the area in the early days of British involvement in Central Asia. He did have many colorful adventures, but it does not advance their story about the race for empire in Central Asia between Britain and Russia. Indeed, it runs counter to their thesis.
Second, they don't trust their reader's ability to hold several stories in his/her head at once. They want to tell you about the time between Event A and Event B and want to use, say, six people to illustrate their point. They do this by telling you about Person 1 between Event A and Event B, then bring you back to Event A and start in with Person 2. When Person 2 is safely at Event B, they bring you back yet again. They often repeat detail, just in case you forgot. It's a bit maddening. It's also surprising, since one of the authors is a journalist, someone who would presumably know better.
There is also a dearth of maps, something that always irritates me.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
cking
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Member: Chris King
Location: Portable, OR
Reviews written: 44
Trusted by: 54 members
About Me:
I am a rock. I am an island.
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