Profile Books R160
It's a little known fact that apples comes from Kazakhstan, the land bordered by Russia, Turkmenistan, China and Azerbaijan. Kazakhstan is the size of Western Europe, an oil- and mineral-rich country with a fascinating history. Closed to the West for years, under Soviet rule, its people suffered terribly from Stalinist policies. The country is now slowly finding its way onto tourist maps. This enormously enjoyable and well-written travel book traverses its history, and the land today. From its largest city (and former capital) Almaty to the desert regions, Robbins criss-crosses the country talking to a variety of citizens, revealing a picture of a country that stands on the cusp. It looks like a remarkable place to visit, and it's brought to life by a remarkable, lively writer.