I wrote Have the Mountains Fallen? because Chingiz Aitmatov’s humanistic writing struck a deep chord. Curious about how he had overcome difficult predicaments to become such a wonderful story teller, I started reading his novels and short stories while living in Kyrgyzstan. I realized his writing was a coded language for liberty and justice during the time when Kyrgyzstan was ruled by communist Moscow. I then learned of Azamat Altay, who, like Aitmatov, was a warrior for freedom, but from outside the Soviet Union. Finally, with the book, I wanted to introduce American readers to a majestically beautiful corner of the world, Kyrgyzstan, that most have never heard of.
Check out my book talk at the Library of Congress.
Here’s me talking about HMF.
Yep, that’s me as a kid next to my Dad on the Great Wall of China.
I am a child of the Cold War, born in the year of the Cuban missile crisis and motivated to study Russian so I could speak with the enemy. Reading the works of Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov gave me hints about how he became a world-famous writer while outwardly obeying the Soviet Government. I call Aitmatov the most famous writer Americans have never heard of; his books have been published in more than 160 languages. He limited his own freedom in order to be able to write about free-spirited characters who buck the communist system. During research on Aitmatov, I came across the remarkable story of his countryman Azamat Altay, whose own life is fit for the movie screen. In this book, I tell their joint story in interwined narratives.
For the story behind the story of Have the Mountains Fallen?, check out this blog post. I write about meeting Chingiz Aitmatov in 2007, just 10 months before he died, and also about an emotional moment in 2018 with a committed communist — who waged ideological battles with both Aitmatov and Altay — coming to terms with Stalin’s purges.
Praise
“Jeffrey B. Lilley brilliantly describes how individual freedom and independence have come to the citizens of Kyrgyzstan through the inspiring efforts of author Chingiz Aitmatov and broadcaster Azamat Altay. Have the Mountains Fallen?is a Cold War story that gives hope.”
Richard G. Lugar, United States Senator (Ret.)
“It is impossible to understand today’s Central Asia without knowing Kyrgyzstan, and impossible to understand Kyrgyzstan without reading this book.”
Roza Otunbayeva, President of the Kyrgyz Republic (2010-2011)
“The stories of Chingiz Aitmatov and Azamat Altay are best told together, a herculean task which Jeffrey B. Lilley’s Have The Mountain’s Fallen? Two Journeys of Loss and Redemption in the Cold War manages deftly.”
The Diplomat Magazine
“The book deserves a wide readership; it humanizes the Soviet people, exposes the vulnerabilities of the Soviet regime, and makes the Soviet era accessible in ways it generally isn’t to American readers. Lilley is a wonderful story teller who details the lives of two fascinating, brave men. As someone familiar with Aitmatov’s novels, I particularly appreciated reading about his childhood struggles, his behind-the-scenes efforts to convince Soviet leaders of the virtues of freedom and democracy, and of course his artistic process and development.”
The Amazon Book Review
Jeffrey Lilley Writing 