Afgantsy by Sir Rodric Braithwaite
Examines the Russian experience in that most recent war in Afghanistan (after Alexander's conquests and the many British imperial wars and skirmishes). Largely basing his account on Russian sources and interviews, the author shows the war through the eyes of the Russians themselves - politicians, soldiers, advisers, journalists, and women.
This book finally dispels many of the Cold War myths surrounding the Soviet-Afghan warIt offers the most nuanced, sympathetic and comprehensive account yet. -- Rory Stewart
An outstanding book ... these accounts provide a fascinating insight not only into the war but also into Soviet society * THES *
A splendid read, full of interesting material, and essential for anyone trying to understand the Russians * BBC History Magazine *
This bids fair to become the standard history, but it is a kind of parable too. Here is a battery of facts, intervoven with human stories, soldiers' tales and a thousand flashes of individual experience gathered in interview. For the mountain of evidence he has assembled before a generation passes away, historians (including Russian historians) will always be grateful; but Braithwaite's immense, urgent project offers more than a history, but a cool and deadly assessment of the mess that Power can get itself into. He never overstates; there is more tragedy here than villainy, more confusion than conspiracy; and the abiding impression is not so much shocking as unutterably sad. The read-across to other nations' wars leaps at you from every page. -- Matthew Parris
An outstanding book ... these accounts provide a fascinating insight not only into the war but also into Soviet society * THES *
A splendid read, full of interesting material, and essential for anyone trying to understand the Russians * BBC History Magazine *
This bids fair to become the standard history, but it is a kind of parable too. Here is a battery of facts, intervoven with human stories, soldiers' tales and a thousand flashes of individual experience gathered in interview. For the mountain of evidence he has assembled before a generation passes away, historians (including Russian historians) will always be grateful; but Braithwaite's immense, urgent project offers more than a history, but a cool and deadly assessment of the mess that Power can get itself into. He never overstates; there is more tragedy here than villainy, more confusion than conspiracy; and the abiding impression is not so much shocking as unutterably sad. The read-across to other nations' wars leaps at you from every page. -- Matthew Parris
Rodric Braithwaite spent much of his Foreign Office career dealing with Russia. He was British Ambassador in Moscow during the fall of the Soviet Union, about which he wrote in Across the Moscow River (2002, Yale). His book Moscow 1941 [Profile, 9781846687748] was a bestseller, translated into seventeen languages. He was subsequently adviser to the Prime Minister, John Major, and Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee. He writes and speaks regularly about Russia, and is currently writing about the nuclear confrontation in the Cold War. He lives in London.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781846680625 |
| ISBN 10 | 184668062X |
| Title | Afgantsy |
| Author | Sir Rodric Braithwaite |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Profile Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2012-02-09 |
| Number of pages | 448 |
| Prizes | Winner of Duke of Westminster's Medal for Military Literature 2011 (UK), Winner of British Army Military Book of the Year 2012 (UK), Long-listed for BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2011 (UK), Long-listed for Orwell Prize 2012 (UK) |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |