From horse heads in the Central Market, to guns on the ski slopes, and to the first-ever parliamentary elections, Rosten takes you on a whirlwind tour of the country. He vividly recounts the change in currency from the Soviet ruble to the tenge and travels with a candidate for parliament to a rural village near Semipalatinsk.
Using his knowledge of local language and customs, Rosten provides access to native sources on the history, politics, traditions, and spirit of Kazakhstan. Complete with photographs of the people, places, and monuments of the country, Once in Kazakhstan is an invaluable resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about, or traveling to, the fascinating landscape of this emerging nation.
Attorney Keith Rosten has specialized in Soviet and post-Soviet studies for more than twenty years. His articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the San Francisco Chronicle. He currently lives with his wife and children in Washington, D.C.