The Sabres of Paradise Conquest and Vengeance in the Caucasus, Revised Edition

by Blanch, Lesley

• ISBN13: 9781850434030
• ISBN10: 1850434034
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-13
• Publisher: Tauris Parke Paperbacks

Summary

The Caucasus--a region of supreme natural beauty and fiercely proud warriors--has throughout history been characterized by violence and turmoil. During the Great Caucasus War of 1834-1859, the warring mountain tribes of Daghestan and Chechnya united under the charismatic leadership of the Muslim chieftain Imam Shamyl, the "Lion of Daghestan", and held at bay the invading Russian army for nearly 25 years. Lesley Blanch vividly recounts the epic story of their heroic and bloody struggle for freedom and the life of a man still legendary in the Caucasus.

Author Biography

Lesley Blanch, 1904-2007, was at heart a nomad. She travelled extensively and adventurously throughout her extraordinary life although her great passion was always for the Middle East and Russia. Married to the French diplomat and writer, Romain Gary, for 18 years, Blanch became arts features editor of Vogue in the thirties and turned to writing and journalism soon after. She was Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the author of The Sabres of Paradise, Pierre Loti (both Tauris Parke Paperbacks) and the bestselling The Wilder Shores of Love among many others. At the time of her death she was writing her autobiography, the sequel to her acclaimed Journey Into the Mind’s Eye. An inspiration to generations of writers, readers and travellers, Lesley Blanch was, in the words of Philip Mansel, "not a school, a trend, or a fashion, but a true original."

Philip Marsden is an award-winning novelist and writer. His books include The Crossing Place and The Spirit Wrestlers.

Table of Contents

Preface * Introduction * Part One * The Time * The Setting * Shamyl * The Holy War * "The Time of the Shariat: * The Tzar * The Warriors * The Cossacks * The Struggle * The Imam * Tiflis * Part Two * Excess * Hostage * crowns and Cupolas * Shadows on the Mountains * Loyalties * Voronzov Glories * Dargo * Treachery * Hadji Mourad * The North * Bariatinsky * Madame Drancy * Tzinondali * The Great Aôul * Part Three * A Captivity * A Sacrifice * A Farewell * An Exchange * A Defeat * Another World * An Acceptance * An End * Epilogue * Genealogical Notes * Author's Note * Bibliography - Index