Black Sea

Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for History In this study of the fateful encounters between Europe and Asia on the shores of a legendary sea, Neal Ascherson explores the disputed meaning of community, nationhood, history, and culture in a region famous for its dramatic conflicts. What makes the Back Sea cultures distinctive, Ascherson agrues, is the way their comonent parts came together over the millennia to shape unique communities, languages, religions, and trade. As he shows with skill and persuasiveness, Black Sea patterns in the Caucasus, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey, and Greece have linked the peoples of Europe and Asia together for centuries. Amazon.com Review In a colorful, learned and wholly original chronicle, Neal Ascherson shows us the Black Sea and its place in the history of Europe and Asia, from Jason and the Golden Fleece to the fall of Communism and the new world disorder. In his exploration of the myths and realities surrounding this remarkable region, where ancient cultures collided and modern states - Russia, Turkey, Romania, Greece, and Caucasus - mingle, he discovers that the meanings of community, nationhood, and cultural independence are both fierce and disturbingly uncertain. From Publishers Weekly If Ascherson (The Polish August) cannot pinpoint precisely where Xenophon's 10,000 soldiers were when, lost on the march home from Persia 2600 years ago, they saw the sea and thought they were home, there is little else he does not tell us in this exotic and seductive history of the Black Sea. From his tales of its peculiar composition?in the depths beneath its upper stream of living water, it is the world's largest dead sea?to those of the myriad of peoples who have inhabited its coasts throughout time, his stories seem more fabulous than the Arabian Nights. Ascherson tells of obscure tribes, familiar heroes, lost languages, current politics and ancient hostilities as poisonous as the depths of the Black Sea itself. Around the once "monstrously abundant" Black Sea, peoples who disliked each other lived together, at best uneasily, at worst at war: Goths, Romans, Germans, Greeks, Turks, Jews, Russians, Persians, Asians and others. "My sense of Black Sea life," concludes Ascherson, "a sad one, is that latent mistrust between different cultures is immortal... not a helpful model for the 'multi-ethnic society' of our hopes and dreams." Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

winner Of The Los Angeles Times Book Prize For History

in This Study Of The Fateful Encounters Between Europe And Asia On The Shores Of A Legendary Sea, Neal Ascherson Explores The Disputed Meaning Of Community, Nationhood, History, And Culture In A Region Famous For Its Dramatic Conflicts. What Makes The Back Sea Cultures Distinctive, Ascherson Agrues, Is The Way Their Comonent Parts Came Together Over The Millennia To Shape Unique Communities, Languages, Religions, And Trade. As He Shows With Skill And Persuasiveness, black Sea Patterns In The Caucasus, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Turkey, And Greece Have Linked The Peoples Of Europe And Asia Together For Centuries.

publishers Weekly

if Ascherson (the Polish August) Cannot Pinpoint Precisely Where Xenophon's 10,000 Soldiers Were When, Lost On The March Home From Persia 2600 Years Ago, They Saw The Sea And Thought They Were Home, There Is Little Else He Does Not Tell Us In This Exotic And Seductive History Of The Black Sea. From His Tales Of Its Peculiar Composition-in The Depths Beneath Its Upper Stream Of Living Water, It Is The World's Largest Dead Sea-to Those Of The Myriad Of Peoples Who Have Inhabited Its Coasts Throughout Time, His Stories Seem More Fabulous Than The Arabian Nights. Ascherson Tells Of Obscure Tribes, Familiar Heroes, Lost Languages, Current Politics And Ancient Hostilities As Poisonous As The Depths Of The Black Sea Itself. Around The Once ``monstrously Abundant'' Black Sea, Peoples Who Disliked Each Other Lived Together, At Best Uneasily, At Worst At War: Goths, Romans, Germans, Greeks, Turks, Jews, Russians, Persians, Asians And Others. ``my Sense Of Black Sea Life,'' Concludes Ascherson, ``a Sad One, Is That Latent Mistrust Between Different Cultures Is Immortal... Not A Helpful Model For The `multi-ethnic Society' Of Our Hopes And Dreams.'' (oct.)

"This strikingly original book is about place and history - about the universe of the Black Sea, from Jason and the Golden Fleece to the fall of Communism and the new world disorder. As Neal Ascherson shows in a colorful, learned, and surprising chronicle, the Black Sea has been a decisive "personality" in the history of Europe and Asia; his exploration of the myths and realities surrounding it reveals why it is still so alluring - and important - today."--BOOK JACKET. This strikingly original book is about place and history - about the universe of the Black Sea, from Jason and the Golden Fleece to the fall of Communism and the new world disorder. What makes the Black Sea cultures distinctive, Ascherson argues, is the way their component parts came together over the millennia to shape unique communities, languages, religions, and trade The author demonstrates, through the history of the Black Sea area and the disputed regions of Russia, Turkey, Romania, Greece, and Caucasus, that "the meanings of 'community, ' 'nationhood, ' and 'cultural independence' are both fierce and disturbingly uncertain."