Tales Told in Tents: Stories from Central Asia

Afghanistan and the former Soviet Central Asian republics to its north (Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tadjikistan) are today troubled countries, struggling with the impact of evolving forms of imperialism. However, this region bordered by Mongolia, China, Russia, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent is a cultural Garden of Eden.

These vivid reconstructions of nomad tales by a professional storyteller are beautifully illuminated by folk-like paintings, and together they give us access to some of the treasures of this garden. Story lovers will recognise many global motifs here, curiously interwoven like the traditional carpet patterns that feature throughout the book. Thus, the tale of the man who fled his own death fuses with a version of the Orpheus myth; the Green Man Al Khadir recalls both Merlin and Johnny Appleseed; the Kazak trickster Aldar-Kose lies like Loki and jokes like Nazrudin. Throughout her recitations, the storyteller weaves autobiographical threads that evoke steppe and desert, the rigours of nomadic life in extreme landscapes and climates, and the comforting centrality of horses, hearths, tents, carpets, mutton, tea and kumis.

In addition to the stories, there are riddles, a song, cultural notes, suggestions for further reading and a very inspiring painted map. This is a splendid book.