Unravelling the Silk Road

Deeply researched and passionately told, Aslan's new book deftly weaves the complex strands of Central Asia's history, people and textiles. From the dusty alleys of Khiva's Old City to the high-altitude plateau's of Tajikistan's High Pamirs, Aslan makes a warm and curious guide. I couldn't put it down. * Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent, author of A Short Ride in the Jungle and Land of the Dawn-lit Mountains *
This remarkable book merges trauma with textiles to track the past and present experiences of the people of Central Asia. Simply told and splendidly researched it is a heartfelt and illuminating story of displacement and adaptation suffused with the sprit of survival: a spirit that persists not only in the communities Aslan lives amongst, but in the author himself as he tries to find ways to kindle new local enterprises from the remnants of traditional textile production. -- Clare Hunter, author Threads of Life: A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle
A textile-rich tale, Chris Aslan unravels the threads of a compelling history, embellished with stories of his own experiences in the region. -- Arts Society Magazine
Unravelling the Silk Road is exactly the kind of book we like to champion at Daunt, rich immersive travel writing that changes how we look at our world. -- Daunt Book of the Week
Textiles expert Chris Aslan explores a crossroads of history where 'fortunes were made and lost through shimmering silks, life-giving felts and gossamer cottons'. Most travellers know of the Silk Road, but older still are the Wool Road and Cotton Road, whose tightly woven stories Aslan seeks to untangle. * National Geographic *
Far more than 'travel writing'! Aslan's intimate knowledge of the often-brutal history of producing wool, silk, and cotton cloth - whether mundane or exquisite - in Central Asia, knowledge acquired from living, working, and traveling there for decades, makes this beautifully written book a real page-turner. * Elizabeth Wayland Barber, author of Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years *
A fascinating exploration of the textiles - wool and cotton, as well as silk - that have shaped Central Asia, Unravelling the Silk Road deftly weaves together personal experiences with clear-eyed accounts of the region's tumultuous history and contemporary challenges. * Shafik Meghji, author of Crossed off the Map: Travels in Bolivia *
An extremely well-researched story of three ancient trade routes that helped define a continent. * Smithsonian Magazine *
Unpick the long and fascinating history of three ancient trade routes (the Silk Road, Wool Road and Cotton Road) that tangle their way through Central Asia. Chris weaves in his own experiences from living in the region as he looks at the overarching narrative of colonialism and politics in these vast networks, as well as the incredible journeys that often lay at the heart of them. * Wanderlust *
With engaging stories and careful research, Aslan paints a perfect picture of the sights, sounds and flavours of the Silk Road ... Unravelling the Silk Road offers a captivating look at the lasting impact of this historic trade route and its importance in our global world. * Times Now News *
A mix of travelogue, autobiography and fascinating details of the cultural and historical background of the Silk Road, this book is a really good read, with interesting facts seamlessly bound into the story. * The Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers *
Full of interesting facts which combine well with anecdotes ... an accessible book. * Asian Textiles *