Grief of My Heart: Memoirs of a Chechen Surgeon

by Khassan Baiev, Nicholas Daniloff, Ruth Daniloff

A Booklist Editor's Choice for 2003 In this riveting memoir, Khassan Baiev relates his harrowing experiences as a surgeon in one of the worst war zones of the last decade. When the hospital where Baiev worked in Grozny, the Chechen capital, was destroyed by Russian shelling, he returned to his nearby hometown of Alkhan Kala and restored an abandoned clinic with help from villagers. Soon he was the only doctor for tens of thousands of residents and refugees in the surrounding area. During six years of war and intermittent ceasefire, he often worked without gas, electricity, or running water, with only local anesthetics and homemade medical supplies. Although he treated mainly civilians, Baiev upheld the Hippocratic Oath by also caring for Russian soldiers and Chechen fighters alike--a practice that branded him a traitor by both sides. Kidnapped and nearly killed on several occasions, Baiev finally fled Chechnya in 2000 and won political asylum in the United States.
An important eyewitness account of the reality of the Chechen-Russian conflict, which has killed 20 percent of the Chechen population, made homeless another 350,000, and seen the deaths of thousands of Russian soldiers. Grief of My Heart is a searing memoir that is certain to become a classic in the literature of war.

Genres: History, War, Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Biography Memoir, Medicine

216 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2005

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

by far, the best non-fiction book i have ever read. to see so much compassion, selflessness, courage, self-respect, and dignity in one person during our times is not only inspiring but also gives me hope. Baeiv endures the Russian-Chechen wars like a super human being. at times, i didn't want to believe his stories of the cruelty war has brought to innocent civilians and the countless times he was forced to amputate body parts and operate with no instruments in unbelievable, heart-wrenching conditions. it would be wrong for me to share more details on this incredible book. read it yourself to witness the story of this Muslim hero and gift to humanity.

[Yasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this after I'd read "A Constellation of Vital Phenomena" and wanted a non-fictional account of the war. This was great, riveting, frustrating, heartbreaking stuff. You can't help but root for the guy although at some points he was being a lunatic and putting himself in danger unnecessarily but I suppose war is a crazy time and it makes you do crazy things.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed "Grief of my Heart", the story is incredibly intriguing and the realistic and human portrayal of the author's experience during the Chechen-Russian war felt very genuine. The story's stayed with me for some hours, after every time I read it. You can really feel his pain and struggle throughout some of the lines and on the other hand feel his courage and imaan. This book felt really personal and it almost feels like he's telling you the story himself.

[Pam Mezaraups · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this under the title Oath...very disheartening and heart-rending to read about Chechnya...Khassan worked under very dangerous and difficult circumstances.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and interesting. Enlightening about the trials and warfare in Chechnya.

[Ruth Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful memoir for anyone wanting to learn about Chechnya and its conflict with Russia in the 1990s from a Chechnyan perspective.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many different points of this book were so painful and heartbreaking to read that I had to put it down and walk away for a few hours, but it is a book that I want everyone to read to see another view point of the world. It will put your world into perspective.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most stirring and thought-provoking war memoirs ever written. I recommend reading "Freefall" by Nicolai Lilin as an accompaniment for a fuller understanding of the Chechen wars with Russia.

[Kathy Lingley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book as I erroneously believed that it was the second memoir by Khassan Baiev. However, it is a re-release of the book: "The Oath. A Surgeon Under Fire." by Khassan Baiev, released in 2003, with a new title.

[Asma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really found this book insightful and inspiring! It's a great read if you're into war stories, esp the medical aspects of war.