- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: Gollancz; New edition edition (11 July 1991)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 057505087X
- ISBN-13: 978-0575050877
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.4 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
117,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #28 in Books > History > Countries & Regions > Asia > 1900-1945
- #58 in Books > Biography > Political > Countries & Regions > Russia
- #85 in Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > Russia
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
An autobiographical account of a secret mission to Russian Central Asia in 1918. The author, who took the name Ronald Sinclair, was in fact the "missing" British political agent Reginald Teague-Jones, who before his death made available for publication his secret diaries telling of his mission to Baku, a practically unknown theatre of war in World War I. The author, acting alone and aged only 29, was responsible for organizing and maintaining the resistance to Turkish and Bolshevik takeover of the crucial railway linking Turkey and Russia to Afghanistan. After the collapse of the White Russian Armies, Teague-Jones withdrew to Constantinople and was forced to change his name to Sinclair, which he retained for the rest of his life, in fear of Russian retribution.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Reggie Teague-Jones slipped into Russia in early 1918 on an undercover mission to try and prevent strategic materials such as oil and cotton falling into German and Turkish hands. He stayed on as semi-official British political representative to the self-appointed government of Transcaspia. In this role he acted as liaison between them and the British Indian troops which had been sent to help keep the Bolsheviks from Tashkent at bay. His other main task was trying to obtain funding to keep the hapless government propped up, at least until the British departed and left them in the lurch.
I wouldn't go so far as the previous reviewer to say this book is required reading for an understanding of the birth of communist Russia and events that shaped Central Asia. It is, however, a peek into a turbulent period of history in the company of an exceptionally able man - fluent in 5 languages besides English, self-confident to the point of arrogance, and happy to risk his neck whenever the opportunity arose. It is also an enthralling tale. And because it is based for the main part on a journal not intended for publication, it is rather more candid than other first-hand accounts of British spies active in Russia at this time. His opinion of his commanding officer, General Malleson, is particularly caustic.
In a postscript, Peter Hopkirk explains that Teague-Jones had to change his identity after the war - hence the "disappeared" in the book's title - to evade retribution from the Communists, who held him personally responsible for the shooting of the 26 Baku commissars. He is careful to exculpate himself of any blame in these pages, and one feels that a man who cheerfully admits to joining the Transcaspian secret police on raids to "liquidate" "undesirable elements" is unlikely to be coy about having gunned down a few inconvenient Bolshies. However, there are inconsistencies in Reggie's versions of events and, in a monograph on the British military intervention in Transcaspia, Michael Sargent voices the suspicion that "Teague-Jones might not have objected too strongly at the key meeting to the suggestion of shooting the commissars; he was certainly not the squeamish type." This book testifies to that.
I wouldn't go so far as the previous reviewer to say this book is required reading for an understanding of the birth of communist Russia and events that shaped Central Asia. It is, however, a peek into a turbulent period of history in the company of an exceptionally able man - fluent in 5 languages besides English, self-confident to the point of arrogance, and happy to risk his neck whenever the opportunity arose. It is also an enthralling tale. And because it is based for the main part on a journal not intended for publication, it is rather more candid than other first-hand accounts of British spies active in Russia at this time. His opinion of his commanding officer, General Malleson, is particularly caustic.
In a postscript, Peter Hopkirk explains that Teague-Jones had to change his identity after the war - hence the "disappeared" in the book's title - to evade retribution from the Communists, who held him personally responsible for the shooting of the 26 Baku commissars. He is careful to exculpate himself of any blame in these pages, and one feels that a man who cheerfully admits to joining the Transcaspian secret police on raids to "liquidate" "undesirable elements" is unlikely to be coy about having gunned down a few inconvenient Bolshies. However, there are inconsistencies in Reggie's versions of events and, in a monograph on the British military intervention in Transcaspia, Michael Sargent voices the suspicion that "Teague-Jones might not have objected too strongly at the key meeting to the suggestion of shooting the commissars; he was certainly not the squeamish type." This book testifies to that.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this is quite simply one of the most amazing books that I have read in my nearly 60 years on this earth.
An extraordinary story of an extraordinary man telling of literally world changing events. And the end of the book is as
surprising as the rest of it.If you are fascinated by the birth of communist Russia and events that shaped central Asia in the early and mid part of the 20th century this book is REQUIRED reading.
An extraordinary story of an extraordinary man telling of literally world changing events. And the end of the book is as
surprising as the rest of it.If you are fascinated by the birth of communist Russia and events that shaped central Asia in the early and mid part of the 20th century this book is REQUIRED reading.
Format:Paperback
Great History - as with all books either written or edited by Mr Peter Hopkirk. The other reviews have given a synopsis of the content - I wont ruin it any more for you except to say I could not put it down - it is must for all thoise interested in the Great Game and its aftermath.
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