A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts

Více o knize

Though the Kurds played a significant role in the recent U.S. war with Iraq, they remain largely unknown to many. Acclaimed journalist Christiane Bird explores this fiercely independent and marginalized group, drawing from personal experiences and thorough research to reveal their rich history and culture. For the twenty-five to thirty million Kurds, Kurdistan is both a real and mythical homeland—an isolated, mountainous region that has historically provided refuge yet is absent from modern maps. After World War I, Kurdistan was divided among Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran, resulting in a tragic history where the resilient Kurds strive to celebrate their culture and assert their autonomy. As the fourth-largest ethnic group in the Middle East and the largest without a state, the Kurds inhabit some of the region's most strategic and resource-rich areas. Bird captures their experiences, from attending a Kurdish wedding in Iran to witnessing the devastation in Turkey and visiting sites of chemical attacks in Iraq. This work combines travelogue, history, reportage, and cultural study, offering vital insights into a significant yet underrepresented part of the world. Bird's narrative paints a poignant portrait of a people caught between their enduring past and an uncertain future.