Kurul Islands - Russo-Japanese Frontier

by John J. Stephan

Release Date: January, 1989

Edition: Hardcover

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Solid work about a seldom-heard of island chain

Hidden by fog and the vagaries of history from the eyes of the world, the Kuril Islands have never featured on many travellers' itineraries nor can I think of a single novelist that took them for a backdrop. In fact, I have never seen another book about the place. No matter. John J. Stephan has written a comprehensive book which covers most topics possibly of interest to the reader. While his subtitle pertains to the Russian-Japanese rivalry over the island group, THE KURIL ISLANDS supplies a satisfying amount of information in a readable style. The few photographs, while not brilliant, complement the text well and I have a feeling they were not so easy to come by. Six maps guide amateur readers like me and for the professional, there is an extensive bibliography with (probably) all sources in Japanese, Russian, and English. The subjects covered include geography and prehistory (including fascinating data on the original inhabitants), the exploration by Russians, Japanese and Dutch, and then various aspects of Kuril history since the 17th century, seen through the prism of Russo-Japanese rivalry. Fascinating details emerge about the WW II period as well as spying activity in the 1950s. In short, if you are looking for information about the Kuril Islands, or you are just curious to learn about an unknown corner of the world, you have come to the right place.