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39th out of 103 books
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11 voters
The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America's Response
A History of International Human Rights and Forgotten Heroes
In this national bestseller, the critically acclaimed author Peter Balakian brings us a riveting narrative of the massacres of the Armenians in the 1890s and of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Using rarely seen archival documents and remarkable first-person accounts, Balakian prese...more
In this national bestseller, the critically acclaimed author Peter Balakian brings us a riveting narrative of the massacres of the Armenians in the 1890s and of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Using rarely seen archival documents and remarkable first-person accounts, Balakian prese...more
Paperback, 528 pages
Published
October 5th 2004
by Harper Perennial
(first published September 30th 2003)
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Aug 29, 2007
Lizziegolightly
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
History Buffs, People with an Interest in Human Rights
Shelves:
armenianstuff
Every year it's the same shit, April 24 rolls around and the L.A. press tries to give a "fair and balanced" look at the ruthless slaughter of Armenian citizens of Turkey at the hands of the Ottoman regime. (That wasn't so fair, nor was it balanced, right?) Armenians across the world say it happened. Turkey says it doesn't and, in its denial, gives the impression that millions of people spread across the world with no link other than an -ian at the end of a name, are connected in some sort of con...more
Author often lapses into a rather boring seriatim rehearsal of events surrounding Ottoman efforts to eliminate an Armenian presence in Anatolia. I found it useful in establishing some explanation for why America's interest in and knowledge of these events (particularly those of the 1890s, 1909, and 1915) has declined to almost nil after times of almost fever-pitch attention to and concern for "the starving Armenians", to wit: (1) isolationist Republican sentiment about US's post WWI global respo...more
In a speech a week before invading Poland, Hitler said to Reichmarshal Hermann Goering and the commanding generals at Obersalzberg, “Only thus shall we gain the living space which we need. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” Today, not only do many not speak of it, but strong debate occurs over whether a genocide actually took place. The current Turkish government vehemently denies it. I, like Peter Balakian, fall on the side that the Ottomon Empire enacted the fi...more
3.5 stars. I loved the chapters about what was happening in Armenia. Was generally bored by the chapters about what Americans were doing for Armenia. His conclusion seems to be that we (the American government) should have done something impressive to help. But he doesn't say what. Permanently station soldiers in Armenia? Declare war on the Turks? Those are very noble things, but it comes down to American lives being put on the line for a cause that in no way benefits the American people. Maybe...more
Under Ottoman rule, the Armenians were treated as second-class citizens, dhimmis, because they were not Muslims. The Armenians were required to house the nomadic Kurds, who were Muslims, in their homes during the cold, winter months. Because they were dhimmis, the Armenians were not allowed to own weapons.
Although the Armenian Genocide was planned at the highest levels of government, the ethnic rivalries of the common people was also a cause. The Armenians were envied by many less prosperous pe...more
Although the Armenian Genocide was planned at the highest levels of government, the ethnic rivalries of the common people was also a cause. The Armenians were envied by many less prosperous pe...more
Another great book from my class on genocides. I actually did not read the whole thing as we were assigned certain chapters (most of them, actually). I read everything assigned and then some, and I was captivated the whole time. The history gets a bit academic - which I don't like - but the overall quality is enough to warrant a five out of five nonetheless. This book will give a good idea of genocides in general. It seems to map out an entire blueprint, pinpoint patterns repeated in later massa...more
Gripping book on the Armenian Massacres of the 1890s and the Genocide during WWI. Depressing. Disgusting that Turkey still cannot own up to its guilt for its atrocities. Americans played a great role in providing aid to Armenians during that time, something that was soon forgotten in America. Diplomats stationed in Turkey played a courageous role; some of the most detailed chronicles of Turkish brutality are the result of consular documents. The accounts are so hideous that one has to read it wi...more
Balakian's history of the Armenian Genocide is a sobering account of the systematic murder of millions of Christians by Turkish Muslims in the name of religious purity. If modern America knew what happened over a century ago, they would radically change their views on our conflicts with Islam today. Islam has always been at war and cannot imagine peace in a world that is not ruled by their law.
An informative and heart wrenching read on the Turkish genocide of Armenians. The book integrates and explains the historic movements which fed into landmark American movement for Armenian Rights as well as the inability for action. Def. recommend this reading. I had to put it down a couple times to take a breath after the extremely intense descriptions of the genocide.
A History of International Human Rights and Forgotten Heroes
In this national bestseller, the critically acclaimed author Peter Balakian brings us a riveting narrative of the massacres of the Armenians in the 1890s and of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Using rarely seen archival documents and remarkable first-person accounts, Balakian presents the chilling history of how the Turkish government implemented the first modern genocide behind the cover of World War I....more
In this national bestseller, the critically acclaimed author Peter Balakian brings us a riveting narrative of the massacres of the Armenians in the 1890s and of the Armenian Genocide in 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Using rarely seen archival documents and remarkable first-person accounts, Balakian presents the chilling history of how the Turkish government implemented the first modern genocide behind the cover of World War I....more
My friend Ed picked this one a few summers ago when Joel was preparing to teach a Genocide course. We were all affected by the book. Ed was bothered by Joel's ultimate distinction that genocide as a legal term didn't occur against the Armenians. That sevred their friendship in a sense. I am still glad to have embarked on the opprtunity.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered America's response to the Armenian Genocide was outrage, anger, and what became the first nationwide humanitarian relief effort. American newspapers provided almost daily coverage of the atrocities; Armenian friendship societies sprang up all over the country, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars; it was a key platform in political campaigns; and it was the first international effort by the American Red Cross.
It's easy to be cynical about American policy...more
It's easy to be cynical about American policy...more
This book was important in awakening my knowledge and low coverage of the Armenian genocide.Up to this day Turkey refuses to call it a holocaust.The book carries a heavy weight in exposing the ruthlessness of the killings and how so many countries looked away when they were massacring the Armenians.Now if we can only get the Kardashians to inform people about this part of history
What the Turks don't want you to know so badly that the facts are not taught in their schools and you can go to jail for discussing it. And they want into the EU?
A very unbiased view of events in history and how the world, especially the U.S., helped (or didn't help) Armenia. They touch on the genocide in Africa (on going event) and how hands off the U.S. has been.
Discuss the start of the international Red Cross and how a city in MA (Boston or suburb, can't remember) pushed to go and help Armenia.
The biggest rave i have about this books is how unbiased it is. there was a lot of references to not only American history books and events but other countries...more
Discuss the start of the international Red Cross and how a city in MA (Boston or suburb, can't remember) pushed to go and help Armenia.
The biggest rave i have about this books is how unbiased it is. there was a lot of references to not only American history books and events but other countries...more
While tedious and sometimes repetitive, I learned a great deal more about the "unfortunate events of 1915" in Anatolian Turkey. I certainly understand better how many families were touched by the genocide. Of particular interest was the coverage of US interest and involvement in providing humanitarian assistance to the Armenians in Turkey who were not killed. Clara Barton travelled to Constantinople in what was the first international assistance provided by the American Red Cross. Worth reading...more
Jun 16, 2013
Claudia Karagianis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical
As an Armenian, I found this a tough read emotionally but sadly, a necessary evil. Balakian is an excellent writer albeit long winded at times and intense on facts. I think for anyone who doubts the realty of genocide, particularly the Armenian genocide, read this book. Take your time with it as it is not an easy read to digest nor would I classify it as a beach read by any means. Ignore the Turk supporters who believe the genocide never occurred. They are the same morons who believe the holocau...more
If you read anything on the Armenian genocide you have to read this book. It gives an accurate account and presents a worldly enough view surrounding the genocide(s). The only weak parts is that sometimes he goes into a whole litany of details when he can sum things up with a paragraph of concepts, and sometimes it seems a stretch of how the Germans looked directly to this to perpetrate the Holocaust (however many details on that matter are great as well).
This book required taking a few breaks from the intensity of the subject matter, but it was definitely worth the effort. Biggest lesson, besides the reminder that people can be so horribly cruel, is that the world totally sucks at actually stopping genocide. Everyone loves to say "never again" after a Holocaust or Rwanda, but we are totally inept at keeping history from repeating itself on this score.
A comprehensive if not somewhat biased, understandably so, account of the Armenian Genocide.
I am a history teacher and plan to use this book in the fall as part of a 20th Century World History course. The book is enjoyable, but disturbing as the reader discovers how much the US knew and how little we did during this period of time. The author provides excellent primary sources to support his position and detail events.
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Excellent portrait of the little known (or acknowledge) attempt by the Turkish government to eliminate the Armenian population living within their boundaries. The author also gives a good summary of American religious organizations' attempts to provide food and housing for the survivors. Well written and easy to follow.
I think all those in Congress afraid to call a spade a spade should really read this book.
An often overlooked and unacknowledged tragedy in our not-so-distant past.
Pretty depressing, but it's about time I learned about this subject!
One of the best books I've come across on the Armenian genocide.
I will forever learn from this.
very good!
Jun 16, 2013
Orsolya Iszlai
marked it as to-read
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Peter Balakian is the Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor in Humanities and professor of English at Colgate University. He is the author of five books of poems and three prose works, including The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and Americas Response, a New York Times best seller; and Black Dog of Fate, a memoir, winner of the PEN/Albrand Prize."
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