{"product_id":"chasing-the-sea-lost-among-the-ghosts-of-empire-in-central-asia-9780375727542","title":"Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia","description":"In 1996, Tom Bissell went to Uzbekistan as a na-ve Peace Corps volunteer. Though he lasted only a few months before illness and personal crisis forced him home, Bissell found himself entranced by this remote land. Five years later he returned to explore the shrinking Aral Sea, destroyed by Soviet irrigation policies. Joining up with an exuberant translator named Rustam, Bissell slips more than once through the clutches of the Uzbek police as he makes his often wild way to the devastated sea. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003cb\u003eChasing the Sea\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eBissell combines the story of his travels with a beguiling chronicle of Uzbekistan's striking culture and long history of violent subjugation by despots from Jenghiz Khan to Joseph Stalin. Alternately amusing and sobering, this is a gripping portrait of a fascinating place, and the debut of a singularly gifted young writer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Vintage\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/12\/2004\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780375727542\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 416\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.69lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.06h x 5.24w x 0.86d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/05\/2004 pg. 83\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKliatt\u003c\/i\u003e 03\/01\/2005 pg. 41\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Tom Bissell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42916873568437,"sku":"9780375727542","price":18.7,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_dec829d9-9045-4a05-9c44-07c752bca1b1.jpg?v=1687272676","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/chasing-the-sea-lost-among-the-ghosts-of-empire-in-central-asia-9780375727542","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}