Comments on: The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia, by Peter Hopkirk http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/15/the-great-game-the-struggle-for-empire-in-central-asia-by-peter-hopkirk/ All Central Asia, All The Time Fri, 25 May 2012 03:15:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joshua Foust http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/15/the-great-game-the-struggle-for-empire-in-central-asia-by-peter-hopkirk/comment-page-1/#comment-374585 Joshua Foust Tue, 15 May 2007 16:46:35 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/15/the-great-game-the-struggle-for-empire-in-central-asia-by-peter-hopkirk/#comment-374585 It took me going to Kazakhstan to hear of "The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years," but the moment I read it, it became one of my favorite books ever (along with another Soviet masterpiece, "The Master and Marguerita" by Mikhail Bulgakov). It took me going to Kazakhstan to hear of “The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years,” but the moment I read it, it became one of my favorite books ever (along with another Soviet masterpiece, “The Master and Marguerita” by Mikhail Bulgakov).

]]> By: Frank http://registan.net/index.php/2007/05/15/the-great-game-the-struggle-for-empire-in-central-asia-by-peter-hopkirk/comment-page-1/#comment-374584 Frank Tue, 15 May 2007 16:40:31 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/05/15/the-great-game-the-struggle-for-empire-in-central-asia-by-peter-hopkirk/#comment-374584 I read the book shortly before leaving to work in Uzbekistan...I agree completely - good introduction to the area, well-written, but leaves out a lot of info as well. I'm not really sure it deserves to be the standard read for Americans heading to Central Asia for a long-term assignment (whether Peace Corps, business, gov't work, etc.). I wish someone had told me about "The Day Lasts Longer than a Hundred Years" by Chingiz Aitmatov before I'd left. Of any book I've read, it best depicts life (in all its craziness) in Central Asia. But it's more Soviet in focus...I can see from your interpretation how Great Game reflects Afghanistan's context. I read the book shortly before leaving to work in Uzbekistan…I agree completely – good introduction to the area, well-written, but leaves out a lot of info as well.
I’m not really sure it deserves to be the standard read for Americans heading to Central Asia for a long-term assignment (whether Peace Corps, business, gov’t work, etc.).

I wish someone had told me about “The Day Lasts Longer than a Hundred Years” by Chingiz Aitmatov before I’d left. Of any book I’ve read, it best depicts life (in all its craziness) in Central Asia. But it’s more Soviet in focus…I can see from your interpretation how Great Game reflects Afghanistan’s context.

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