New Book on Kurdistan by Christiane Bird

"A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts: Journeys in Kurdistan"

Ballantine Books (405 pages; $25.95).

Available in U.S. bookstores and through Internet booksites.

Book tour events in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, New York, Washington DC, and Boston.

In "A Thousand Sighs, A Thousand Revolts: Journeys in Kurdistan," acclaimed American journalist and author Christiane Bird takes a first-person, grassroots look at the Kurds of Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria. Bird traveled throughout the Kurdish regions in 2002—a year before the Iraq war began—staying with Kurdish families, traveling by shared taxi and bus, and talking to Kurds from all walks of life. The result is not so much a traditional travelogue as it is a deeply moving portrait of the Kurdish people, with each Kurd Bird encounters revealing another, often heart-breaking, yet also fiercely courageous, chapter from the Kurdish experience.

—“Impressive reportage, a fearless commitment to seeing what there is to see, and a strong sense of history: a fine work of literary travel, one that honors its subjects.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

—“Bird’s talent for blending reportage with illuminating tales from individuals makes this a notable and much needed work.” Publishers Weekly

—“I cannot recommend too highly this brilliantly evocative portrait of people who have suffered terrible crimes, but endured, with remarkable courage and undying hope, captured with rare sensitivity and sympathetic understanding in Bird’s deeply moving account of her journeys through their lands and her sharing of their lives.” Noam Chomsky

Bird will be discussing and reading from her new book in the following cities:

San Francisco Region

Sat., May 22, 7 p.m. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera Mon., May 24, 6 p.m. World Affairs Council. 312 Sutter St., San Francisco.

Seattle

Tues., May 25, 7:30 p.m. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S. Main.

Portland

Thurs., May 27, 7:30 p.m. Powells, 1005 W. Burnside

New York City

Thurs., June 3, 7:30 p.m. Barnes & Noble, 2289 Broadway @ 82nd St.

Washington, DC

Tues., June 8, 7 p.m. Olsson’s Books & Records, 418 7th St. NW

Boston area

Wed., June 9, 7:30 p.m. Borders Books & Music, 85 Worchester Rd., Framingham

Publicity Contact:

Brian McLendon (212) 572-2681. bmclendon@randomhouse.com

West Coast Contact: Heather Smith (310) 838-6040. hsmith@randomhouse.com