What do you think?
Rate this book
Black Sea Circuit: An Adventure Through the Caucasus
The legends of Jason and the Argonauts, Noah’s Ark and a tribe of fierce female warriors known as the Amazons all originate from the Black Sea.
Gripped by curiosity, Simon and Chris fire up their twenty year old Volvo that looks, “as rustic and weather-beaten as a Cold War tank” and embark on a quest to drive full circle around this ancient body of water at the birthplace of civilisation.
In the shadow of rising tension in Ukraine, the brothers get up close and personal with the fascinating people who inhabit the six nations that surround these colourful shores. Living on the road like the nomadic horse bowmen who once ruled the steppe grasslands, they explore Crimea, the Caucasus region of southern Russia’s “Wild West”, the Georgian kingdom of Colchis, Turkey’s Pontic coast, the megacity of Istanbul and complete their journey in Romania at the outfall of the mighty River Danube.
A career in overland adventure travel was launched when Simon and Chris coaxed a rusty Ford Sierra across Siberia from the UK to Vladivostok. Priding themselves in going it alone, the brothers have been noted by Lonely Planet for their talent to portray an “accurate view of what to expect”.
Gripped by curiosity, Simon and Chris fire up their twenty year old Volvo that looks, “as rustic and weather-beaten as a Cold War tank” and embark on a quest to drive full circle around this ancient body of water at the birthplace of civilisation.
In the shadow of rising tension in Ukraine, the brothers get up close and personal with the fascinating people who inhabit the six nations that surround these colourful shores. Living on the road like the nomadic horse bowmen who once ruled the steppe grasslands, they explore Crimea, the Caucasus region of southern Russia’s “Wild West”, the Georgian kingdom of Colchis, Turkey’s Pontic coast, the megacity of Istanbul and complete their journey in Romania at the outfall of the mighty River Danube.
A career in overland adventure travel was launched when Simon and Chris coaxed a rusty Ford Sierra across Siberia from the UK to Vladivostok. Priding themselves in going it alone, the brothers have been noted by Lonely Planet for their talent to portray an “accurate view of what to expect”.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2015
4 people want to read
About the author
Simon Raven
6 booksLibrarian note: There is more than one Simon Raven in the database.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 17, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I didn't think it was going to be as interesting as it turned out to be. It was a well written book detailing much of the history of the countries and places they ended up crossing into in order to make it around the Black Sea. But it was done in a way that it wasn't tedious or boring and intertwined well with the adventure they were having and all the present day memories they were making.
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
November 1, 2018
An interesting account of Chris and Si’s travels round the Black Sea in an old Volvo.
Thankfully they focused on the history of the people’s rather than themselves. Not many people are brave enough to venture into this part of the world which makes it an interesting and illuminating book and they are well read and as far as I could tell accurate in their retelling of history. But most of it is second hand rather than adding any in-depth insight. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as it was well balanced and provided a good introduction to the region.
Thankfully they focused on the history of the people’s rather than themselves. Not many people are brave enough to venture into this part of the world which makes it an interesting and illuminating book and they are well read and as far as I could tell accurate in their retelling of history. But most of it is second hand rather than adding any in-depth insight. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as it was well balanced and provided a good introduction to the region.
July 6, 2015
Black Sea Circuit was a terrific discovery: a travel narrative through the 6 nations surrounding the Black Sea, written very well by a young pair of English brothers. Their road trip - in a Volvo - introduced me to territory I assuredly will not see in my lifetime but would love to know more about. Embedded with rich history that's succinctly dropped into the narrative, I was riveted. An excellent introduction or additional reading. Thanks, Raven brothers. I recommend your book.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews