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osmosis's review against another edition
4.0
Really difficult to find this book in Canada so I had to get it from the US. I was really interested in the content and really enjoyed learning a little of Uzbek's culture through Murray's experience. Though my view is entirely based on this memoir, it seems his treatment from the British government was nothing less than disgraceful. I would hope that foreign ambassadors do indeed follow the model of how Murray operated as described in this book. However, I was conflicted as it seems ok for dignitaries of Western powers to "interfere" in issues of human rights but we would feel astonished if an Uzbek ambassador were to criticize our policies with regard to First Nations (in the case of Canada for example). The book brought up many interesting issues for me such as that.
Why didn't I give it 5 stars? I didn't like some of the description of events (which reminded me of Jamie Maslin) in which he writes things like "I had no hope of hurting this 7ft giant boxer, but luckily I just managed to land a punch and knock him out". It's written in a very faux-modest fashion which comes across as disingenuous.
Why didn't I give it 5 stars? I didn't like some of the description of events (which reminded me of Jamie Maslin) in which he writes things like "I had no hope of hurting this 7ft giant boxer, but luckily I just managed to land a punch and knock him out". It's written in a very faux-modest fashion which comes across as disingenuous.
rpnelson's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting look at how international diplomacy works when bigger matters i.e., the war on terror, are at stake. Craig Murray, the author, worked as the British ambassador to Uzbekistan. He is very aware of the human rights violations that are going on there, but not very self aware when it comes to his relationships with women. The book would probably be better without the latter, but it’s a much fuller picture of the man himself.
His picture of local politics is frightful and grim, and how Britain and the US we’re happy to overlook those politics to have an air base is quite damning.
His picture of local politics is frightful and grim, and how Britain and the US we’re happy to overlook those politics to have an air base is quite damning.
chomskyinthesky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
oanh_1's review against another edition
4.0
Very well written and exceptionally interesting story about Craig Murray's time as UK Ambassador in Uzbekhistan and US-UK corruption and wilful ignorance of - and collusion in - human rights abuses.
CM paints a warts and all picture of himself and is very honest, as one may expect from someone whose career and health were destroyed because he spoke out against his own government.
CM paints a warts and all picture of himself and is very honest, as one may expect from someone whose career and health were destroyed because he spoke out against his own government.
lnatal's review against another edition
3.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Saturday Drama:
Britain's new young Ambassador to Uzbekistan is shocked over government torture tactics.
Britain's new young Ambassador to Uzbekistan is shocked over government torture tactics.