Survivor From an Unknown War [Paperback]

Stephen Lee Crane (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0788177303 | ISBN-13: 978-0788177309 | Publication Date: April 1, 1999

A biography of Isakjan Narzikul, who was born in 1923 in Turkistan, then part of the Uzbek SSR in the USSR. He grew up to participate in a vast struggle of revolution within the greater context of world war, before finally moving to the U.S. He was trained as an officer in the Red Army & sent to protect Soviet Baltic acquisitions from German invasion in 1941. The Nazis threw him into a POW camp, where he joined the unknown war: one to liberate his homeland from the Soviets. Narzikul spent time in Poland, Czechoslovakia, the USSR, Germany & France. Communists hunted him in Eastern Europe after the war; & the CIA recruited him. Photos.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book takes you across the borders of time and distance in order to view the world of a half century ago from the perspective of the other side. This was the side that lived in Central Asia under Russian domnination; the side that lost to all parties including the Allies, the Germans, and the Communists; the side that history has forgotten. This book will grab you with its suspense and inform you with its incredible revelations.

About the Author

Stephen Crane lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His writing began in earnest as news editor of the Daily Pennsylvania. Most of his work has been commercial. He is not related to the other Stephen Crane, although he writes as well.

Product Details

• Paperback: 333 pages
• Publisher: Diane Books Publishing Company (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0788177303
• ISBN-13: 978-0788177309
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,903,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book would make a great movie., February 7, 2001

By 

Eric Stahl (Lighthouse Point, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Survivor From an Unknown War (Paperback)

As the story unfolded I came to know and love Isakjan . This was a man who grew up in the most difficult of times, and he survived impossible circumstances while maintaining a great and dignified human nature.

The politics of this book are clear and honest. Isakjan makes political comments that appear to be as open and fair as any I have ever heard. The fact that the author wrote this book from years of conversations with his subject makes this biography even more compelling. The author appears to have done some extensive research to verify the accuracy of this story and the footnotes and extensive bibliography give me confidence in the factual information that is provided.

I thought that I knew about WWII, but this book provides vision for the political events that are being played out today. I think I will read it again, and then send a copy to a friend.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SPELLBINDING DRAMA WRAPPED IN ASTONISHING HISTORY, June 16, 1999

By 

Stephen Crane - See all my reviews

This review is from: Survivor From an Unknown War (Paperback)

I purchased this book for the Soviet and World War II history. It opened my eyes to some of the most complex, important and unknown aspects of that period. I loved reading "Survivor" because the subject, Jay Narzikul, led one of the more interesting lives of our era, replete with staggering world events, love, dirty and clean politics, deceit, adventure, heroes and fools, murder, freedom, and the pursuit of justice. The story unfolds like the best of novels.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What an incredible book, January 15, 2001

By 

Rebecca Matthias (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Survivor From an Unknown War (Paperback)

What an incredible book! In addition to a moving presentation of a fascinating life, the book opened my eyes to hidden momentous folds in the fabric of history. We have all read history as dictated by the winners and explained by the losers. Mr. Crane shows what those squeezed in the middle have to say.