Garden that Ravishes the Heart" and "Pavilion of Delight" once existed in the vibrant and mythical lands along the Silk Road. "Castle of Demons" still does. All are lovingly documented in the simply titled Samarkand, Bukhara, Kiva (Paris: Editions Flammarion, 2003; $60), a hefty, glossy tome celebrating the three capitals of Central Asia. Author Pierre Chuvin's informative yet never overbearing text on the region's historical monuments is well served by an excellent English translation, but the scene-stealer here is Gèrard Degeorge's spectacular photographs of 100- and 1,000-year-old fortresses, mosques, and residences. [More Asia books...] |