Latif Makhmudov

This picture-book from Uzbekistan, released in English translation by the Moscow-based Raduga Publishers in 1984, opens with a brief introduction to the country - mention is made of Uzbekistan's topography, architectural heritage, and customs - before proceeding to the main story, in which a young boy from the city (Tashkent, perhaps?) goes to visit his grandparents in a small village. Here Murad encounters another boy, Djurakul, with whom he has some adventures, as well as a young girl named Djamila, who pays back the prank played upon her by Djurakul by forcing him, with the help of her amazing trained dog, Alapar, to clean her laundry. All ends peacefully, despite Djurakul's threats, and the book closes as the two boys ponder how difficult Djamila's life must be, now that her mother is dead and she must do all the housework.

I don't think I've ever encountered another children's story from Uzbekistan - sadly, Lafit Makhmudov (about whom I can discover nothing) does not appear to have written anything else - so I was quite eager to pick up The Eagle. I found it quite interesting, in many respects - the glimpses offered of rural Uzbek culture were fascinating, and the colorful artwork, done in a folkloric style, was engaging - but also found the story somewhat weak. It simply didn't hold together very well, and sometimes felt more like a string of random incidents, than a coherent narrative. Perhaps this is owing to issues of translation, as I believe the original went first from Uzbek to Russian, and then from Russian to English. I'd love to learn more about Makhmudov and his work - did he write other stories for children?, is he still alive? - and to find other Uzbek children's books. In the meantime, I'm glad to have read this one.… (plus d'informations)