The Crimean Tatars – with Donald Rayfield, Hatchards Piccadilly
24th July, 2024
Wednesday, 7 August 2024
6.30pm
We are thrilled to welcome eminent historian Donald Rayfield here to Hatchards this evening to discuss his new history of the Crimean Tatars, ‘A Seditious and Sinister Tribe’: The Crimean Tatars and Their Khanate.
The Tatars, the Turkic-speaking native peoples of Crimea, established a powerful Khanate in the 1440s, which remained in power until 1783 and, in this new book – the first history of the Tatars in English for over 100 years – Donald Rayfield presents a portrait showing that this misunderstood and much-feared nation was in fact a flourishing state with a vibrant literary culture, religious tolerance, a sophisticated constitution and a prosperous economy.
Donald will discuss the establishment of the Khanate, its reign and eventual fall, and the Tatars’ ruthless suppression – first by Russia and then the Soviet Union – and the final, effectively genocidal, invasion under Vladimir Putin.
Supremely important with regard to Russia’s war in Ukraine, this will be a fascinating event – we hope you are able to join us.
Tickets include £5 off the purchase of ‘A Seditious and Sinister Tribe’ on the evening.
