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A review by carnation7
Black Sea by Neal Ascherson
4.0
"There's such a lot of world to see..." sang Audrey Hepburn.
I chose to "take a look" at the geocultural complexity surrounding the Black Sea upon a thrilled friend's enthusiastic recommendation. No regrets.
I chuckled when I first opened the book and found a map. "Starts out promising, yup."
And indeed, if you squint through a wink, the book reads somewhat like a non-fiction companion to a fantasy novel - all fascinating world-building.
Even the most likable underdog keeps a few bloody corpses in the closet, it seems - there are no innocents in the history of the world. :/
I've appreciated Ascherson's authorial presence in the text. His musings and inclusion of personal, "hands-on" anecdotes reminded me of late Branko Fučić - and that is the highest praise I can personally give any scholar.
What I found particularly intriguing was his questioning of the concept of "nationhood". Makes me question my own notions. Not a pleasant enterprise, but might prove necessary. :/
I chose to "take a look" at the geocultural complexity surrounding the Black Sea upon a thrilled friend's enthusiastic recommendation. No regrets.
I chuckled when I first opened the book and found a map. "Starts out promising, yup."
And indeed, if you squint through a wink, the book reads somewhat like a non-fiction companion to a fantasy novel - all fascinating world-building.
Spoiler
Warrior tribes sailing through high grass mounted on horses; a sleeping princess laid out in a buried chamber; inconspicuous groups of people still speaking nearly-forgotten pre-Indo-European languages (!)... And in true "Game of Thrones"-fashion: bloody clashes, back-stabbing, agreements and betrayals...Even the most likable underdog keeps a few bloody corpses in the closet, it seems - there are no innocents in the history of the world. :/
I've appreciated Ascherson's authorial presence in the text. His musings and inclusion of personal, "hands-on" anecdotes reminded me of late Branko Fučić - and that is the highest praise I can personally give any scholar.
What I found particularly intriguing was his questioning of the concept of "nationhood". Makes me question my own notions. Not a pleasant enterprise, but might prove necessary. :/