Thank you for bringing this book to my attention. I have ordered it on the strength of the cover alone!

Hopefully you can now DM as I have changed the setting.

Thank you! The story of how we got out of the country is a long and bizarre one which I often tell. I would like very much to add this extra information to it and learn about this mix of people in a remote Tajik valley. I have often wondered whether, in a post-Soviet world, they are still there.

We only spoke for an hour or two but I remember him telling me that there were many ethnic groups in the valley who had all been deported there by Stalin and so to develop some cohesion somebody suggested they all learn Esperanto. That’s all I know but I would love to read any account of it all.

Unfortunately I have few details. The academic in question (whose name I have long ago forgotten) told me there had long been rumors of such a community and so on retirement (and in the immediate aftermath of the civil war!) he went to see if it were true. He found them and set up a teaching program

I teach with this and get a great response from my AP Human Geography students. Does anyone know of a similarly beautiful representation explaining any other world language families?

Indeed but a gracefully written and highly complimentary obit.

Agreed. Biden’s legacy will be judged in part by what follows it and that we have yet to see.

Great choice. This was Alexei Sayle’s choice for a good read on BBC Radio 4 which is how I came across it. Should be better known!

Here’s hoping this part of the story goes as well as the beginning of this new chapter. Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes please

Very imaginative. I was amused by the meme with a red arrow pointing to the top of the broken pillar on the last volume with the words: You are here.”

Another great way of showing students the effect of Mercator map distortions.

Am intrigued by the wiwi root (and can’t suppress a slight smirk - sorry)

I beg to differ. Mr. Benn was modest, likeable, empathetic etc etc etc.

One of theses days, I shall get around to taking the round-China rail trip that is high up on my bucket list. I’m fascinated to see what it is like having a single time zone in such a large country. There must be some people who always have to get up in the dark -am I right?

An example of relocation diffusion for the AP Human Geographers out there.

Went to preorder on Amazon US but not there yet. Do you talk about the home front? Ever since I had a student who did that as a project in my history class about 10 years ago, I’ve wanted to read about it more. All the sources we found then were in Japanese. Luckily so was his mom - a translator.

Glad to find you here. I think I have given more of your books as gifts than any other author. In fact, I know I have. Looking forward to the new one.