- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (Oct 23 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0415396697
- ISBN-13: 978-0415396691
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 599 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #687,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
An enthusiast for his subject, Nasmyth discovers Georgia precisely at the moment of the tiny democratic republic's post-Soviet reawakening. Notable for its hospitality, its wines, its intellectual tradition and a remarkable ability to preserve its national identity under successive occupations, Georgia appeals wildly to the senses even while its people face immense political and economic challenges. Nasmyth shows how this early Christian kingdom, once nestled between the Russian, Turkish and Persian empires, casts a spell over all those who visit. As he portrays Georgia's regions with descriptions of landscape and customs, Nasmyth also refers to a rich tradition of epic and religious writing and storytelling. While the interviews with people he encounters capture a portrait of Georgia in transition, there is a disappointing reliance on obvious metaphors to reflect the death of the Soviet order: rust, rickety buses, decrepit buildings and prostitution. Likewise, Nasmyth's digressions into the meaning of Soviet history and his occasional personal revelations are superficial and distract from an otherwise strong exercise in observation. Certain reminiscences are rewarding, however: wandering the twisting streets of Tbilisi, or imbibing a cold drink from a sacred pool in ancient cave dwellings. The author's occasional failure to provide profound commentary makes Georgia no less attractive as a destination. 170 b&w photos and illustrations.
Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.From Library Journal
"All voyages are searches in disguise," says Nasmyth as he opens this disquisition on his travels through the former Soviet republic of GeorgiaAand at first readers may find this too annoyingly true. Nasmyth concedes that he's partly searching for himself here, and we hear rather too much about him as he weaves together impressions from his travels with the history of the country. But at least he's honest enough to admit it, and readers will learn a lot about Georgia from reading his book, though it's not really a comprehensive cultural and historical introduction, as it's billed. Rather, it is one slightly pushy but still pretty keen-eyed reporter's account of how the country opened up to him, with a somewhat stronger (and certainly welcome) focus on the arts than one typically finds in books of this sort. Nasmyth has been reporting on the Caucasus for 11 years (he currently runs a charity for children in the area), and though more of this material dates from early in his travels than one might like, he does vividly show us a society in flux. Recommended where Soviet/Russian studies, cultural studies, and unusual travelogs are popular.ABarbara Hoffert, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Starting Place,
By
This review is from: Georgia: In the Mountains of Poetry (Hardcover)
This is not a travel book. This is, however, an excellent introduction to the country Georgia. As a grad student preparing to write on Georgia, this was a great starting place. You will get a real feel for the country and the recent issues of current events there.Mr. Nasmyth has been blessed with an extraordinary ability to filter through what he's seeing (even drunk!) and spot the trends in a foreign country.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Presents an excellent picture of Georgia's people,
By
This review is from: Georgia: In the Mountains of Poetry (Hardcover)
I just returned from my first trip to the Republic of Georgia. I say "first" because my wife and I both fell in love with the place and we are already planning our return.I read Peter Nasmyth's book shortly before travelling to Georgia, and I found it an excellent preparation. Nasmyth's book is largely a report of his own travels in Georgia, first shortly before independence, then just after the brief civil war and also more recently. It doesn't give as much historical and descriptive material as a standard travel book would, and the photos (which Nasmyth took himself) are in black and white. What comes across most vividly, however, is the Georgian people, and this is as it should be, since, although Georgia has an abundance of natural and historical beauty, it is the people that one falls in love with. Lancelot Fletcher lance.fletcher@freelance-academy.org
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews) 22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Presents an excellent picture of Georgia's people,
By Lancelot R. Fletcher - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Georgia: In the Mountains of Poetry (Hardcover)
I just returned from my first trip to the Republic of Georgia. I say "first" because my wife and I both fell in love with the place and we are already planning our return.I read Peter Nasmyth's book shortly before travelling to Georgia, and I found it an excellent preparation. Nasmyth's book is largely a report of his own travels in Georgia, first shortly before independence, then just after the brief civil war and also more recently. It doesn't give as much historical and descriptive material as a standard travel book would, and the photos (which Nasmyth took himself) are in black and white. What comes across most vividly, however, is the Georgian people, and this is as it should be, since, although Georgia has an abundance of natural and historical beauty, it is the people that one falls in love with. Lancelot Fletcher lrf@jag.ge PS. My wife and I returned and are now living in Georgia. Peter Nasmyth's book is still, in my opinion, the best introduction to Georgia, even though the country has changed tremendously since the book was published. Too bad it's so expensive. 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Starting Place,
By Christian Moulton "Andrew Moulton" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Georgia: In the Mountains of Poetry (Hardcover)
This is not a travel book. This is, however, an excellent introduction to the country Georgia. As a grad student preparing to write on Georgia, this was a great starting place. You will get a real feel for the country and the recent issues of current events there.Mr. Nasmyth has been blessed with an extraordinary ability to filter through what he's seeing (even drunk!) and spot the trends in a foreign country. |
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