Book: 'Restless Valley' by Philip Shishkin
In Restless Valley: Revolution, Murder and Intrigue in the Heart of Central Asia, award-winning journalist Philip Shishkin invites the reader into the dark, complex inner workings of the politics and history of post-Soviet Central Asia, revealing some intimate and startling details.
by Philip Shishkin
Yale University Press
4 stars
Amy Russell
In Restless Valley: Revolution, Murder and Intrigue in the Heart of Central Asia, award-winning journalist Philip Shishkin invites the reader into the dark, complex inner workings of the politics and history of post-Soviet Central Asia, revealing some intimate and startling details.
The "restless valley" refers to the ethnically diverse Fergana Valley area, spreading across Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Shishkin describes how Stalin drew borders that "sliced up ethnic groups and made it harder for them to mount any coherent challenge to Soviet rule", and explains the present-day repercussions of this.
Shishkin puts a human face on the "messy dissolution of the Soviet Union", the effects of which are still embedded in society. In retelling through other people's horrific stories, he offers a new perspective on some of the recent leaderships and conflicts in the region.
Restless Valley is sharp, insightful and injected with humour, providing an engaging yet informative account of complex situations. Shishkin's attempt at untangling the web of cultures and conflicts, presenting the intricacies of war, turmoil and disruption, is solid: clear and concise, without being dry or overly academic.
We trust him as a narrator because he is one of us: a human being with flaws, such as going for an afternoon nap and missing the start of a revolution in Kyrgyzstan.