Muhammad Ali. Eternal Longings: Historical Novel. Translated by Dilbarkhon Muhammad Ali qizi. Tashkent: Literature Foundation Press, 2006.

This is a nice historical novel set in the early 20th century. It traces the true story of Said Mahmudkhon Ture (and some of his relations) who was raised in Chust, Uzbekistan, but ended up as a religious scholar at the Dorulmuallimin madrasa in Kabul, Afghanistan. His mother was an otin and his grandfather was a Sufi ishan and sheikh.  The book's main theme is Uzbeks who ended up outside of their motherland for various reasons, including escape from the Soviet regime, and their "eternal longings" to return to the motherland.  As the author jumps between scenes, the reading does not always easily flow, but it provides some very interesting insights into Islam in Central Asia that can only be achieved through Central Asian literature. 

Contents: Introduction; Kabul; At the Pilgrims' House; A New Family; Said Mahmudkhon Ture; Toward Hijaz; In Medina; The Secrets of the Lessons; A Meeting with an Uncle; Restless Times; The Pupil who Accomplished His Goal; The First Trip to the Past; New Life in Kabul; The Bukharan Consul; An Audience with Emir Omonullokhon; Norbutakhon Ture's Good Luck; Demazang Prison; The Rise of Bachai Saqo; Said Numonkhon Ture's Visit; Said Mahmudkhon Ture's Miracle; The Hearts that were Reluctant to Part; A Lyrical Interlude; The Second Trip to the Past; Toward Turkey; A Wish Fulfilled; Conclusion

Comments
4/14/10: Chapter V states that Said Mahmudkhon Ture read many books including the Chor Kitob/Chahar kitab and the Haftiyak/Haftyek with his mother, an otin.  It is interesting to note that Oliver Roy (2000, 145-146) cites these two books as the most widespread books in the private Uzbek and Tajik book collections that were the basis for the transmission of Islamic knowledge during Soviet times. 


3/31/10: The original work in Uzbek is cited as follows: Ali, Muhammad. Abadiy Sog'inchlar: Roman-Xronika. Toshkent: O'zbekiston Yozuvchilar Uyushmasi "Adabiyot Jamg'armasi" Nashriyoti, 2005.

2/2/10: One sub-theme that I enjoyed was the religious miracles that happened to some of the characters. Another interesting aspect of the book is the relations that the Ture family had with some of the leaders of Afghanistan. It also has several tangents that explain famous religious and political figures of Uzbekistan. The author also outlines his genealogy in the book.

Descriptors: 2000s, A, Afghanistan, book, historical novel, Kabul, literature, M, Soviet, translation, Uzbeks; otins.