Russia and Central Asia: Coexistence, Conquest, Convergence, by Professor of History Shoshana Keller, was recently published by University of Toronto Press.
According to the publisher, the volume provides an overview of the relationship between two dynamic regions – Russia and Central Asia – and provides insight on ways they have both influenced and been influenced by Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The book “focuses on the five major ‘Stans:’ Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan,” weaving cultural and social history with the military narrative “to provide a sense of the people, their religion, and their practices – all of which were severely tested under Stalin.”
In a review, Sarah Cameron of the University of Maryland-College Park wrote, “Shoshana Keller offers students an accessible and engaging account of the historical relationship between Russia and the peoples of Central Asia. The text is enlivened by the author’s deep knowledge of Central Asian history and command of local languages.”
Russell Zanca of Northeastern Illinois University called the book “well-written and accessible,” noting that “such a book has been badly needed for decades by both scholars and students.”
