Armenia: A Journey Through History

by Arra S. Avakian, Ara John Movsesian

A Journey Through History contains a wealth of information about the Armenian people, history, significant events, important places, and individuals who did much to make the Armenian nation what it is.

Genres: History

306 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Henry Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avakian’s passion for Armenian history bleeds through on every page. While perhaps not the ideal book for an introduction to Armenian history, as it gets pretty far in the weeds on certain topics, this book provides a holistic look at Armenian thought and culture and left me with a deeper understanding of Armenia as a nation and Armenians as a people.

[Lyd's Archive (7/'15 to 6/'18) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's perspective is a little biased but not in a way that should affect your experience reading it. I feel there's too much opinion in the little anecdotes and there's something about the style that rubs a little the wrong way. It also could have been more engaging but overall an interesting look at the historical events and figures of Armenia, a small and overlooked country, and the influence it has on the west.

[Anna Ciriani-Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not particularly helpful as a comprehensive introduction to Armenian history. However, it is very interesting if you read between the lines. On the surface level it's hard to follow if you don't have much background knowledge of Armenian history and culture. The chapters leave many gaps, making it a guessing game for readers with less context to begin with. But if you read this as an artifact rather than a retelling of history, you can understand a lot about Armenian culture: the adulation of scholars and writers, the memory of a broader territory, subtle jabs at the genocide, the primarily male narrative, and the non-linear writing style -- all important manifestations of Armenian culture and history.

[Silva Gyuloglyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually learned quite a bit of Armenian history that I didn’t know about; the book doesn’t go too in depth on any particular topic. It’s just as the author says in the postscript, “…it serves as an introduction to topics that a reader may want to explore further.”

The chapters are short and interesting, and the author has a witty tone that often expresses his opinions about certain topics. I found it to be an easy read that kept my interest piqued.

[Doris Speed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed part of the book! It told me a lot about some 'famous' people in Armenia and they are all wonderful but I really wanted a little more of straight forward history. Still I can recommend it before you visit Armenia.... I read it after a visit to this wonderful country.