{"title":"Joanna Lillis","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the captivating world of Joanna Lillis, a distinguished author known for her insightful works in the realm of \u003cem\u003ePolitics \u0026amp; Current Affairs\u003c\/em\u003e. With books such as \u003cem\u003eDark Shadows\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSilk Mirage\u003c\/em\u003e, Joanna delves into the heart of Central Asia, illuminating the intricate tapestry of its political landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eDark Shadows\u003c\/em\u003e, Joanna expertly unravels the complexities of Kazakhstan, exploring its history, political dynamics, and societal transformations. This gripping narrative provides readers with a nuanced understanding of a nation often shrouded in mystery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSilk Mirage\u003c\/em\u003e continues this exploration with a broader focus on Central Asia, offering fascinating insights into the region's strategic significance and cultural evolution. Joanna's meticulous research and engaging writing style make these books a must-read for anyone interested in global politics and current events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse through our collection of Joanna Lillis's works to discover a world where history and politics converge, enlightening readers with rich, authentic narratives. Whether you are a seasoned policy enthusiast or a curious newcomer, Joanna's books promise an enlightening experience.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dark-shadows-by-joanna-lillis-9780755626694","title":"Dark Shadows","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eDark Shadows\u003c\/i\u003e is a compelling portrait of Kazakhstan, a country that is little known in the West. Strategically located in the heart of Central Asia, sandwiched between Vladimir Putin’s Russia, its former colonial ruler, and Xi Jinping’s China, this vast oil-rich state is carving out its place in the world as it contends with its own complex past and present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJournalist Joanna Lillis paints a vibrant picture of this emerging nation through vivid reportage based on 13 years of on-the-ground coverage, and travels across the length and breadth of this enigmatic country that lies along the ancient Silk Road and at the geopolitical and cultural crossroads where East meets West.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing tales of murder and abduction, intrigue and betrayal, extortion and corruption, this book explores how a president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, transformed himself into a potentate and the economically-struggling state he inherited at the fall of the USSR into a swaggering 21st-century monocracy. A colourful cast of characters brings the politics to life: from strutting oligarchs to sleeping villagers, from principled politicians to striking oilmen, from crusading journalists to courageous campaigners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTraversing dust-blown deserts and majestic mountains, taking in glitzy cities and dystopian landscapes, \u003ci\u003eDark Shadows\u003c\/i\u003e conjures up Kazakhstan as a living, breathing place, full of extraordinary people living extraordinary lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46848916455660,"sku":"9780755626694","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/280913482457.jpg?v=1759003889"},{"product_id":"silk-mirage-by-joanna-lillis-9781350292468","title":"Silk Mirage","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSilk Mirage\u003c\/i\u003e is a compelling portrait of Uzbekistan, a country at the heart of the ancient Silk Road and now the centre of a power struggle between reformers and reactionaries for the soul of this strategic land in Central Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2016, the long-ruling dictator Islam Karimov – one of the last Soviet-era strongmen – died, sparking a period of transformation under his successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which became known as the ‘Uzbek Spring’. However, as investigative journalist Joanna Lillis shows, spring has struggled to break through in one of the world’s most repressive and totalitarian states.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs one of the few western journalists with access to Uzbekistan and with over two decades of experience covering the country, Lillis travels deep into the heart of the Karimov regime, portraying all the excesses and atrocities that made it such a brutal dictatorship. She also penetrates the system that replaced it, exploring how life has changed for Uzbeks under Mirziyoyev’s rule – and how it has not. A tale of both reform and repression, this book illustrates the challenges of dragging a country out of dictatorship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLillis explores Uzbekistan’s politics, economics, history, arts, and culture – and asks where the country stands nearly a decade after the death of its dictator, and 600 years since its ancient capital Samarkand was the centre of the world’s trade network. Lillis weaves in the extraordinary stories of ordinary people: from politicians to former political prisoners, from journalists to human rights crusaders, from entrepreneurs to environmentalists, from artists to architects, from silk makers to carpet weavers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eConjuring up Uzbekistan as a place full of life and loss, \u003ci\u003eSilk Mirage\u003c\/i\u003e tells the stories of courageous people who probe to find the cracks in an authoritarian regime through which the light gets in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47341105807596,"sku":"9781350292468","price":44.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20836963482668.jpg?v=1772183895"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/joanna-lillis.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}