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Latest review of The Great Game by Historical Novel Society

The Historical Novel Society (HNR) has published over 17,000 reviews of the historical fiction titles, and in its August 2020 issue of the HNR Magazine they reviewed The Great Game.

The HNR reviewer writes: “The editor’s foreword describes the book as “a historical novel—with the emphasis being on ‘historical.’” I agree. History is its strength. This fascinating account features international competition, espionage, sabotage, and the rise of the Bolsheviks and the Russian Revolution.”

The exhaustive historical research the novel required, and how anyone loving history would have appreciated this is underscored by the review: “In his unabashed homage to the Nobels, the late scholar Togrul Bagirov provided intriguing setting, action, and historical references. So, yes, the historian put the emphasis of his historical novel on historical.”

The Great Game: The Story of the First Oil War
Link to the full review by the HNR

We thank HNR for their review, and think that the impressive story, its pertinent facts, and all that research that went into sharing this history is what’s important for majority of the readers of historical novels.

Another well-known review agency published positive book review of The Great Game

Positive reviews of The Great Game keep flowing in. BlueInk Reviews, a well-known agency specializing in book reviews, published this independent review of the book:

“Although the story is set in turbulent times, Bagirov maintains his focus by concentrating on the lives of Emanuel and his father Ludvig. Both are admirable characters, defying the oppressive working standards of the era by setting fair compensation and establishing better conditions for their workers. Emanuel’s ill-fated attraction to his friend’s daughter, Leyla, is realistically drawn and compelling….

With a looming revolution, hired spies that keep Emanuel vigilant and continued rivalry between oil barons, not to mention exciting ground-breaking inventions, the plot maintains its suspense throughout….

In all, The Great Game: Story of the First Oil War is a satisfying work that will please fans of historical novels set in this era.“

You can read the full BlueInk review here: https://www.blueinkreview.com/book-reviews/the-great-game-the-story-of-the-first-oil-war/

We always knew this is a high-quality book but it’s still nice to receive praise and positive reviews from independent and authoritative book review agencies. The Great Game can be purchased at Barnes and Noble, Amazon and other booksellers, in paperback and e-book formats.

Leading independent reviewer places The Great Game on its “Approved” list with a very high 4.8 rating

It is an honor to have received a very high 4.8 rating from the authoritative independent review agency, IndieReader, for historical novel The Great Game. Additionally, having received such a very high rating, IndieReader placed our book on its “IR Approved” featured list by recommending it to the readers relying on these ratings and reviews for their reading list.

“THE GREAT GAME, Togrul Bagirov’s recounting of the birth and development of the Russian petroleum industry under the innovative ownership of the Nobel family from 1888 to 1918 is a vivid story of economics, entrepreneurship and geopolitics told as an efficient and compelling work of historical fiction.“

The complete review can be seen on IndieReader’s website.

The paperback and ebook versions of The Great Game can be purchased at the leading bookstores online.

The Great Game has received high rating from Foreword Magazine/Clarion Review

A very good four star review of The Great Game by the Foreword Magazine and Clarion Reviews:

“In Togrul Bagirov’s captivating historical novel The Great Game, a man is driven by his intellect and his desire to do good….As the book works up to the Russian Revolution, it maintains an involving pace. it makes use of subtle foreshadowing, but also builds up Emanuel’s business prowess and relationships….
With its strong attention to the historical record, The Great Game is a sympathy-building tale.“

You can read the full review on the official website of the Foreword/Clarion Reviews: https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-great-game/

We are honored that all reviews of The Great Game receive very high marks from independent and authoritative reviewers. This historical novel deserves such high praise, it was a labor of passion for the author, Dr. Togrul Bagirov.

The Great Game novel published

Finally, the historical novel The Great Game : The Story of the First Oil War has been published in a paperback format and is available from the following book sellers. A PDF ebook is also available, and in a week, ebooks in Mobi and Epub formats will also be published.

https://booklocker.com/books/10717.html

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Game-Story-First-Oil/dp/0985197315/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49155603-the-great-game

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-great-game-togrul-bagirov/1135429336

https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/the-great-game-the-story-of-the-first-oil-war-togrul-bagirov

Inspired by true historical events, The Great Game is a gripping narrative of the personal ambitions and geopolitical interests in the fight for oil that played out on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The struggle to control Baku’s oil pitted the richest families of the time against each other – front and center are the Nobels locked in a rivalry with the Rothschilds and the Rockefellers. Darkening the plot further were the Communist revolutionaries Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin.

The novel takes us on a journey where Baku is transformed into the world’s oil center by the turn of the 20th century through the technological innovations and business ingenuity of the Nobel family. It offers a glimpse into the life of that period – widening economic inequality, immense personal hardships, family separations, broken promises and hearts.

Based on extensive research, The Great Game offers a captivating account of the rise of oil as the world’s top strategic commodity while simultaneously drawing us into the heart of the personal stories and rivalries of the early oil barons in Baku.

A Profile of Dr. Togrul Bagirov

Dr. Togrul BagirovOver the past several years, Dr. Togrul Bagirov has played a critical role in the restoration of the famous Villa Petrolea to its former glory. Villa Petrolea once served as the Baku home of Emanuel Nobel and his world-known family. Dr. Bagirov has not only been a major player in preserving the brick and mortar physical structure. In fact, his background in international affairs has given him an interest in both the history of the Nobel Prize and in Emanuel Nobel’s personal and very significant history in the oil industry.

Dr. Togrul Bagirov’s contact with the Nobel family also led to a lot more than simply restoring a physical structure, it also led to the creation of the Baku Nobel Heritage Fund, for which he served as chairman for some time. You see, Dr. Togrul Bagirov was actually born in Baku, which serves as the capital of Azerbaijan. He also studied at the prestigious State Institute for International Relations in Moscow. He is still connected to that institution, in fact, he continues to serve as a visiting professor there. Togrul Bagirov has also received medals from several governments, including Russia, Sweden and France, for his contributions to the study of global energy security. He has also been honored for his work on behalf of historic preservation of the Nobel heritage, and he has received plaudits for his work with UNESCO.

Dr. Togrul Bagirov became interested in the Nobel family while living in Baku in the days when Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Empire. That interest led to study and that is why he has played a key role in restoring Villa Petrolea. Dr. Bagirov also has authored numerous books and written many journal and newspaper articles. He also has served as a regular commentator on the subjects of energy security for many business TV channels worldwide, including the RBC Network.