The Sabres of Paradise

by Lesley Blanch

Book Overview

The definitive, epic biography of the Muslim chieftain Imam Shamyl, the 'Lion of Daghestan', THE SABRES OF PARADISE took six years to complete, with research done in Russia and the Caucasus, including... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0881840424
• ISBN13: 9780881840421
• Release Date: February 1993
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 495 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.2" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Lion of Dhagestan

The reviews I've read so far fail to emphasize that this book, while it certainly covers much of the history of the Caucuses in the latter half of the 19th century, is in no small part a biography of Imam Shamyl, "The Lion of Dhagestan", and his role as the leader of what was referred to as "The Mureed Wars". Shamyl was a legendary, charismatic leader who, through the power of his Islamic faith, and with the added dimension of being son-in-law of one of the great Shaykhs of the Naqshbandi Sufi order (Jamaluddin Ghumuqi), united the various tribes and peoples of this region to fight off the great Russian Bear for nearly 25 years. It is an epic tale of heroism and tragedy on a personal and cultural level, and will grip the reader as they follow the exploits and the battles that are still to this day legendary in the Caucuses.

Wonderful and informative narrative

As a student of Russian history, I must say that this book is the best I have ever read. It covers Russian cultural perspective as no book can, and brings into focus the tragedy of Chechynia and Daghestan like nothing else could. Nothing is a better source for understanding 19th and 20th century Russia.

Fascinating history

While lacking the skill that a Peter Hopkirk brings to this kind of narrative, Leslie Blanch has nevertheless written a bold, exciting history of a fascinating area. This book is filled with heroes and villians and damsels in distress, all the more exciting because it is all true. One wishes Blanch had a little better organization or flow to the book, but it is a terrific read and painlessly aids one's understanding of the area.

"Amazing,...true, historical narration"

This book reflects the chivalrous true side of the Chechens and their lifestyle