Surviving the Forgotten Genocide: An Armenian Memoir

by John Minassian, Wendy Lower (Introduction), Anoush Baghdassarian (Introduction)

A rare and poignant testimony of a survivor of the Armenian genocide.

The twentieth century was an era of genocide, which started with the Turkish destruction of more than one million Armenian men, women, and children—a modern process of total, violent erasure that began in 1895 and exploded under the cover of the First World War. John Minassian lived through this as a young man, witnessing the murder of his kin, concealing his identity as an orphan and laborer in Syria, and eventually immigrating to the United States to start his life anew. A rare testimony of a survivor of the Armenian genocide, one of just a handful of accounts in English, Minassian’s memoir is breathtaking in its vivid portraits of Armenian life and culture and poignant in its sensitive recollections of the many people who harmed and helped him. As well as a searing testimony, his memoir documents the wartime policies and behavior of Ottoman officials and their collaborators; the roles played by foreign armies and American missionaries; and the ultimate collapse of the empire. The author’s journey, and his powerful story of perseverance, despair, and survival, will resonate with readers today.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 27, 2020

Reviews

[Linda Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was difficult to read, not only because of the subject matter, but also because of the writing style. It was difficult to follow at times, not chronological always. It's a story that needs to be told though. We can't forget the atrocities done by the Turkish government to the Armenian people. I also would have liked to learn about his life once he came to the United States.

[Max Perkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Minassian masterfully crafted this memoir, recounting his survival of the Armenian Genocide. His aim is to share his story in the hope that others will understand the forces that fuel genocide and learn how to prevent it. The book effectively achieves this goal. While it can be slow at times, it remains a deeply compelling read.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "style" may be hard to follow for some but gives me confidence in that this is truly the authors words and experiences and that they were not altered to flow easier for a reader. And considering how long the treatment of Armenians and the genocides managed to be hidden and denied, it's a crucial first hand account and should not be altered.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Insignificant bureaucrats trying to get some of the spotlight. Forgotten? Film festivals, anniversaries and commemorations in small provincial towns. This is far from Forgotten.