* Charles King, Professor of International Affairs and Government, Georgetown University, and author of The Ghost of Freedom * Thomas de Waal has written one of the most vivid, clear-minded accounts of the history and current troubles of the lands between Russia and Turkey. Blending first-hand reporting, historical narratives, and original research, The Caucasus is an indispensable guide to the fractious politics and complicated histories of the region's nations and peoples. Ambassador to Azerbaijan and Georgia * Europe and Asia, mountains and flatlands, Christians and Muslims, ancient cultures and modern states-the Caucasus has long been a classic borderland in many senses. It should be required reading for anyone involved in Caucasian affairs. De Waal describes the deep roots of current conflicts and his analysis of the present situation is right on target. * Andrew Meier, author of The Lost Spy: An American in Stalin's Secret Service * This is the definitive text for anyone interested in this complex region. The Caucasus is a mini-encyclopedia, and de Waal a peerless guide for navigating this mountainous maze of tangled enmities and ethnicities. Short, stimulating and rich in detail, The Caucasus is the perfect guide to this fascinating and little-understood region. He also finds time to tell the reader about Georgian wine, Baku jazz and how the coast of Abkhazia was known as Soviet Florida.

Thomas de Waal tells the story of the Five-Day War between Georgia and Russia and recent political upheavals in all three countries.

The Caucasus gives the reader a historical overview and an authoritative guide to the three conflicts that have blighted the region. Over the last few years, the South Caucasus region has captured international attention again because of disputes between the West and Russia, its unresolved conflicts, and its role as an energy transport corridor to Europe. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the break-away territories that have tried to split away from them constitute one of the most diverse and challenging regions on earth, impressing the visitor with their multi-layered history and ethnic complexity.

This new edition of The Caucasus is a thorough update of an essential guide that has introduced thousands of readers to a complex region.

The caucasus thomas de waal