Product Description

This updated account explains the Chechen conflict in vivid and passionate prose. Crying Wolf is the story of the one million Chechens who, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, found themselves cast as the enemy of the new Russian state. Compelled to assert their freedom and individualism, they faced the huge Russian army in a one-sided war which destroyed their land, their homes and their families. This updated account also covers the role of Vladimir Putin in the continuing struggle.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #371257 in Books
• Published on: 2001-11-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 603 pages

Review
'Reads like a gripping epic novel - at times bursting with action, at times maudlin and romantic. Her heartfelt descriptions of Soviet racism and the moral bankruptcy of post-Communist Russia are among the most powerful I have ever come across.' Daily Telegraph 'Bennett's passion for her subject is unquestionable, and she has a sharp eye for detail and colour.' Sunday Times

About the Author
Vanora Bennett read Russian literature at Oxford and later worked as a foreign correspondent in France and Africa. She went to Russia in 1991, where she worked as Moscow correspondent for Reuters and then for the LA Times. She now works for The Times.

Customer Reviews

A personnel journey to the heart of the Chencen conflict
The author gives a detailed account of her time spent in Russia and the Caucasus' during the first of the 2 recent Russian 'invasions' of Chechenya. While there is little doubt which side the author's sympathies lie she still manages a certain level of objectivity in presenting a very complicated subject in a way which is understandable to the average westerner. Starting with a brief history of the various conflicts along the old USSR's southern border that followed the break up of the union, and a more detailed exploration of Russian-Chenchen history,the author examines the ordinary Russian peoples atitude to the 'blacks' from the Caucasus before embarking on a journey to the, by then, war thorn region to see exactly why the Russian people fear the Chechens so badly. Once there she gives several gripping accounts of encounters with fighters and ordinary people on all sides in the war. Unfortunatly the author was transfered out of Moscow as the war reached it's stalemate stage and Lebed negoiated a peace deal, so this time period is covered rather briefly, leading to a rather hurrid feel to the last few chapters. In all this is a very readable and fasinating exploration of the war and should have been read by the Russian leadership before embarking on their current assult on Chechenya.

The human face of Chechnya
I am probably the least qualified person to review this book, but I was touched by its humanity and empathy for ordinary people caught up in an avalanche of evil. The portrait of Chechens as a brave, decent and beautiful mountain people is an unusual one that deserves attention. Especially good for cynical journalistic minds!