Book Reviews

Abkhazia, located in the north-west of Georgia on the border with Russia, was a prime tourist resort in Soviet times. It has become known to the West largely due to the bloody post-Soviet war it has fought with Tbilisi over sovereignty. Western discussions about this regional conflict have generally been dominated by the Georgian perspective on the events. This edited volume counterbalances these reports by providing the first English-language collection of detailed insider accounts of Abkhazia’s history, politics, economy, geography and culture. About half of the contributions to this volume are by Abkhazian scholars and journalists. Although the writing and academic quality of individual chapters vary, the key achievement and value of this book lies in making a contribution to a better understanding of the Abkhazians’ concerns and motivations.