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A review by lillyminasyan
Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War by Thomas de Waal
5.0
“The 18th century Armenian troubadour Sayat-Nova, who wrote jn Armenian, Georgian, and the lingua france of the Caucasus of the time, Azeri... he thought of himself as a bridge builder. In one of his Azeri poems he elgizes on his posthumous fate:
Mercy on the old master building a bridge,
The passer-by may lay a stone to his foundation.
I have sacrificed my soul, worn out my life, for the nation.
A brother may arrange a rock upon my grave.”
2020 Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)- Azerbaijani war brought me to this book to educate myself on the conflict. There is so much misinformation by both Armenians and Azerbaijanis that I needed someone unbiased. While I have seen many Armenians and Azeris claiming this book is biased, I would disagree greatly. It corresponded with other things I have read and heard throughout my life. For me, this book is a valid source, Waal’s job in this book was immaculate, it showed how before the 19th century Armenians and back then Tatars (Azeris) were living quite well together and share similarities in many aspects.
Claiming that Armenians hasn’t done messed up things is as wrong as Azeris claiming they are blameless.
Nationalism brings the ugly in any nation. While i am a patriotic Armenian, I seek the truth and don’t hide myself from the truth, and I hope many Azeris and Armenians will follow the suit and seek the truth, even if the truth isn’t pleasant.
Highly recommend this book. 5 stars definitely
Mercy on the old master building a bridge,
The passer-by may lay a stone to his foundation.
I have sacrificed my soul, worn out my life, for the nation.
A brother may arrange a rock upon my grave.”
2020 Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)- Azerbaijani war brought me to this book to educate myself on the conflict. There is so much misinformation by both Armenians and Azerbaijanis that I needed someone unbiased. While I have seen many Armenians and Azeris claiming this book is biased, I would disagree greatly. It corresponded with other things I have read and heard throughout my life. For me, this book is a valid source, Waal’s job in this book was immaculate, it showed how before the 19th century Armenians and back then Tatars (Azeris) were living quite well together and share similarities in many aspects.
Claiming that Armenians hasn’t done messed up things is as wrong as Azeris claiming they are blameless.
Nationalism brings the ugly in any nation. While i am a patriotic Armenian, I seek the truth and don’t hide myself from the truth, and I hope many Azeris and Armenians will follow the suit and seek the truth, even if the truth isn’t pleasant.
Highly recommend this book. 5 stars definitely