Aram's Notebook
Published on 31. July 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
136 pages
978-1-961056-03-9 (ISBN)
Description
A mother and son's fictional journey to escape the Armenian Genocide and start anew.
Like any other fifteen-year-old boy, Aram might never have written the events of his still young life, except that he found himself suddenly plunged into exile, fleeing certain death. In 1915, the Ottoman authorities undertook the wholesale extermination of the Armenian people; hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children like Aram suffered one of the twentieth century's most savage persecutions. Inspired by the plight of the murdered modernist poet Daniel Varoujan (1884-1915), this novel follows Aram and his widowed mother on their flight toward a new life on-and under-the sea. From recollections of his father's meditations on Homer to a life-changing apprenticeship as a coral fisherman off the coasts of Cataluna and Marseille, Aram's tale dives into a future that might help redeem a harrowing past. Aram's Notebook examines the Armenian Genocide through a narrative in which poets and poetry loom large. Aram's tale evokes a struggle not simply for physical survival, but for saving memory from the clutches of destruction. Evocatively translated from the original Catalan by Ara Merjian.
Like any other fifteen-year-old boy, Aram might never have written the events of his still young life, except that he found himself suddenly plunged into exile, fleeing certain death. In 1915, the Ottoman authorities undertook the wholesale extermination of the Armenian people; hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children like Aram suffered one of the twentieth century's most savage persecutions. Inspired by the plight of the murdered modernist poet Daniel Varoujan (1884-1915), this novel follows Aram and his widowed mother on their flight toward a new life on-and under-the sea. From recollections of his father's meditations on Homer to a life-changing apprenticeship as a coral fisherman off the coasts of Cataluna and Marseille, Aram's tale dives into a future that might help redeem a harrowing past. Aram's Notebook examines the Armenian Genocide through a narrative in which poets and poetry loom large. Aram's tale evokes a struggle not simply for physical survival, but for saving memory from the clutches of destruction. Evocatively translated from the original Catalan by Ara Merjian.
Reviews / Votes
"Maria Angels Anglada's novel is remarkably well-researched, from its account of the contemporary press to the plight of refugees. This historical detail never overwhelms the human story at the heart of this compelling book, set against the horrors of the Armenian genocide." * Ara Sarafian, director of the Gomidas Institute and leading authority on the history of the Armenian genocide * "Maria Angels Anglada masterfully narrates survival through one of history's most devastating genocides. Ara H. Merjian's deft translation of Aram's Notebook underscores the profound truth of this widely readable and impactful novel: that despite our differences, we share a common humanity at our core." * Amara Lakhous, professor in the Practice, Department of Italian Studies at Yale University, and author of Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vittorio * "Aram's Notebook is a young boy's fictional diary about the Armenian genocide and has found its ideal translator in Ara H. Merjian. Along with The Violin of Auschwitz, this short novel establishes Anglada's well-deserved status in world literature." * Joan Ramon Resina, professor of Iberian and Latin American cultures and comparative literature at Stanford University, author of Barcelona's Vocation of Modernity: Rise and Decline of an Urban Image * "The Catalan writer Maria Angels Anglada reminds me again of how stories regarding the Armenian genocide in current times of ongoing wars and mass migration will find their tellers, and not always in expected places or languages. This book is an important contribution to world letters and the recounting of early twentieth-century history for future generations of readers." * Micheline Aharonian Marcom, professor of creative writing at University of Virginia, author of DREAMer *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chicago
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
6 halftones
Dimensions
Height: 213 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
200 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-961056-03-9 (9781961056039)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Maria Angels Anglada (1930-99) was a prestigious twentieth-century Catalan writer. Her books include Les closes,The Violin of Auschwitz, and A Night. Ara H. Merjian is an art historian and professor of Italian Studies at New York University. He is the author and translator of numerous books.
Content
Table of Contents
Translator's Introduction
Maps: The Armenian Genocide and Aram's Exile
Aram's Notebook
I. Agama Stellio
II. Aram and Iorgos
III. Aram's Diary: Athens
IV. Aram's Diary: At Sea
V. Maryk: Marseille
VI. Aram's Diary: Alexia
Vahe
Epilogue
A Note on Sources
Glossary of Terms, Names, and Places
Selected Chronology
About the Author
Translator's Introduction
Maps: The Armenian Genocide and Aram's Exile
Aram's Notebook
I. Agama Stellio
II. Aram and Iorgos
III. Aram's Diary: Athens
IV. Aram's Diary: At Sea
V. Maryk: Marseille
VI. Aram's Diary: Alexia
Vahe
Epilogue
A Note on Sources
Glossary of Terms, Names, and Places
Selected Chronology
About the Author