Stories from the Land of Springs (Dushanbe, 1996) is the memoir of one of Tajikistan’s most prominent 20th-century folklorists. Rajab Amonov (1923-2002) describes his boyhood in the northern Tajikistan city of Uro Teppa. The book’s attraction lies in its both cultural and historic value. As a folklorist, Amonov details cultural practices still observable in many parts of Tajikistan. Written in the late 20th century, the account also discloses Amonov’s perspective on the changes that took place during the early years of the Soviet Union. Furthermore, Amonov knew the value of story, so his descriptions are couched in engaging narratives.
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2 Comments
May 29, 2007 at 4:01 am
[...] on literature and society is demonstrated in the memoirs of Tajik folklorist Rajab Amonov (translation in progress). In a chapter titled “My Close Friend” (Jura-i Qarin-i Man), Amonov describes a novel by Aini [...]
June 13, 2007 at 8:54 am
[...] because it concerns, in a very different manner, an era and subject matter similar to that of Stories from the Land of Springs, by Rajab Amonov—the book I am translating from Tajiki. Both books depict the impact of modernism [...]