In 2014 Crimea shapes the headlines much as it did some 160 years ago; when the Crimean War pitted Britain; France and Turkey against Russia. Yet few books have been published on the history of the peninsula. For many readers; Crimea seems as remote today as it was when colonized by the ancient Greeks.Neil Kent's book recounts the history of the Crimea over three millennia. A crossroads between Europe and Asia; ships sailed to and from Crimean ports; forming a bridge that carried merchandise and transmitted ideas and innovations.Greeks; Scythians; Tartars; Russians; Armenians and Genoese are among those who settled the peninsula since antiquity; a demographic patchwork that reflects its geography. The religious beliefs of its inhabitants are almost as numerous: the Hebraicized beliefs of the Karaim Tartars; Islam; Judaisim; Russian and Greek Orthodoxy; as well as Roman Catholicism. This mosaic is also reflected in places of worship and the palaces which still adorn Crimea: imperial Romanov Massandra; the 'noble nest' of Prince Voronzov at Alupca or the Palace of Bakhchisaray built for the Tartar Khan. For some two centuries balmy Yalta and its environs were a veritable Black Sea Riviera; where Churchill; Roosevelt and Stalin met at the end of the Second World War.
#1654300 in Books Seaforth Publishing 2014-02-19 2014-02-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.70 x .90 x 10.30l; 2.22 #File Name: 1848321589192 pagesSeaforth Publishing
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great Overview of the Venerable Tramp FreighterBy James J. BloomTramp freighters have a special niche in the lore and literature of the sea. This type of vessel; along with the tramp trade in general (carrying cargo around quixotic and exotic itineraries) has gone the way of the dodo. Of course; as the author acknowledges; the space limitation precludes accommodating everyone's favorite example but Roy Fenton manages to include a goodly sampling of the type over a century-plus. It's British-centric (the type is dominated by British examples as would be expected with shipping generally) ; but there are enough ships from other nations for a rounded picture.Rare and clear photos are the heart of the book; but the text manages to be informative and inclusive.This book is a handy companion to the many nautical adventure fictional works featuring these ships; whose service liferan over decades; when the vessels were wheezing rust-buckets whose captains had to carry plenty of spares aboard so they wouldn't be left adrift off Java; Shanghai; Fiji; and other ports of intrigue.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. review of "Tramp Ships"By scooter281As a builder of period ship models; this is a subject that I'm very interested in; and there are very few titles available in the US. Trust the English to fill in the gaps. The text covers the basics of building; financing; crewing; and the routes and cargoes of the tramp steamers. But the real gem of this book is the collection of photos; and Mr. Fenton's exhaustive research and comments on the life and career of each ship depicted. You won't be disappointed if you buy this book.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy williamExcellent ...very informative
