A trip to Azerbaijan – that’s my offer for you for today. To be more precise we’ll follow Banine and her childhood depicted in the book about Azerbaijan called “Days in the Caucasus”. So let’s see together Baku and Azerbaijan as it was 100 years ago together with this French-Azerbaijani author.
Even if for some reason you cannot read this book about Azerbaijan, so “Days in the Caucasus” I do encourage you to listen to today’s episode. I will try to tell you more about history of Azerbaijan and even wider about Caucasus a hundred years ago. This is the time, when Banine spends her childhood in her homeland. Homeland that does not exist anymore. There will be a bit about Georgia as well, so stay tuned.
What convinced me to buy this book about Azerbaijan in the first place?
You might have gotten already the feeling I am quite enthusiastic about this book. But I have to admit it was not like that from the start. When saw if for the first time I was a bit afraid that it will not be a good novel (or memoir to be more precise). From time to time I get skeptical when books about Caucasus are concerned. I just had a bunch of bad or really bad books experiences.
Nevertheless, I purchased this book about Azerbaijan, so “Days in The Caucasus” although I have never heard about this writer before, I admit. Then I read about her in the internet only after I have finished the book. I just didn’t want to get any first impressions that would impact the reading. Especially that the “Days in the Caucasus” is a memoir, autobiography so I would have already known what will happen next. And I wanted to have a surprise.
What helped me decide to buy and read this book about Azerbaijan in the first place, was the cover of English edition of the book published by the Pushkin Press. It’s retro style and shows the vibe and atmosphere of the book. You may even feel like Tales from the Thousand and One Nights. It just intrigued me well enough to get it.
What is “Days in the Caucasus” about?
Banine is Azerbaijani and to be more precise she is described as French writer of Azerbaijani origin. Therefore you can already figure out that she has left Azerbaijan and Caucasus and moved to Paris. Knowing the history of many families from Russian Empire, you will not be surprised with this destination.
In “Days of the Caucasus” Banine tells us about her childhood and growing up in early 20th century Azerbaijan, mainly Baku. Author was born in 1905, in December. Her first years happened to be turbulent in the Caucasus and whole Europe. When you look at the events of those 15 years till her emigration, this is the final years of Russian Empire, I World War, creation of independent republics in the Caucasus, genocide, several riots and a revolution. Finally, conquering of the Caucasus by the Bolsheviks. And all that she covers in her book about Azerbaijan.
Already all that being the background of Banine’s childhood and adolescence can be a good recommendation to read her memoire.
Despite all those tormenting events also impacting her family, this French Azerbaijani author talks about her childhood with warmth. You are given a chance to look at the Caucasus that no longer exists via the eyes of a child observing and step by step understanding the complexity of changes impacting her family and her surroundings. I perceive it as a great addition to any historical book about Azerbaijan that is full of pure facts.
It’s worth mentioning that you do not see the Azerbaijan from the perspective of worker or peasant, but truly wealthy family. Banine was a grand-daughter of Azerbaijani billionaire, one of the richest people of those times in the region. Her grandfather, Musa Nagiyev, was industrial oil magnate in late 19th – early 20th century. Her father was Mirza Asadullayev, businessman, politician, who besides being industrial magnate was also one of the ministers in the government of the independent Azerbaijan.
This already gives you a level of wealth Banine came from.
In her book “Days in the Caucasus” Banine walks us through how all the political and social changes were impacting her family. For example one day the traditional home schooling and education was not the preferred way by the society so she had to go to school with children of different background. In the other story, she tells us what was happening to her family when the Bolsheviks entered Azerbaijan and gained power. One of the results was that her father was arrested and the remaining closer and more distant family has o embrace a new reality.
Why is it beneficial to read memoirs from the Caucasus?
I recommend reading this type of books about Azerbaijan and Caucasus in general, like “Days in the Caucasus” not only historical and scientific books. Reason for that is the authors like Banine give us the possibility to feel and look at the human side of all the historical events. The depicted characters are not fictional, but real people with whom we can no longer talk in person. Especially when we talk about historical Azerbaijan from 100 years ago.
Of course this book about Azerbaijan shows us the perspective of a wealthy family.
The family, who had not only huge real estates but also servants. Nevertheless, this is one of the perspectives that existed those times. Banine walks us through her childhood and growing up and the way she perceives all the changes, including Bolsheviks gaining power in the region. She tells us how all those events impacted her family and rest of her life. Moreover, we get to know which compromises and deals her family members had to decode for to get passports, for example and be able to flee the country. Not all the situations ended happily. The example of which may be that Banine being just 15 years old had to get married as a part of such a deal. I will not spoil more so you can read this book about Azerbaijan on your own.
There is something in this book also for fans of Tbilisi and Istanbul.
Banine, as part of her Days in the Caucasus, spends some time in those cities waiting for the next stages of the journey to be possible. We get to know how Baku was different from Tbilisi those days.
Who is Banine?
Banine is the pen name of the author. Her birth name and surname is Umm-El-Banine Assadoulayev. If you want to read more about the author herself, not only her memoirs, there are some pieces of information in internet as well. This Azerbaijani book “Days in the Caucasus” was written by her while already living in Paris. She was there encouraged by her writer friends, whom she was surrounded while leaving in France. The second book of this Azerbaijani French author has been published – Parisien Days, also by Pushkin Press. Both, book about Azerbaijan and the one about Paris, were translated from French, so if you speak it you may read the original version as well.
What surprised me in this book about Azerbaijan?
While reading this book about Azerbaijan a century ago, I understood several times how my perception of the world and the filters I unconsciously use, impact my understanding. When we talk about Banine’s childhood in Azerbaijan, those are the territories of it from a century ago. Not the present reality. Additionally, you should keep in mind we talk about islam and Muslim traditions the way they were present in this part of the world. The firs such a surprise moment was when Banine was describing the second wife of her grandfather. I have of course thought that the first wife died, therefore there is a second one. But no. Grandfather had two wifes which was possible, common and in line with traditions of those times. That is why this Azerbaijani book gives you a possibility to look further than just your own cultural and traditional bubble.
The second surprise moment with this book about Azerbaijan?
It was when Banine was telling a story about her and her cousins playing with the distant relative, a girl who was half Armenian and half Azerbaijani. And they were playing … genocide of Armenians. That was truly shocking for me in the first or even second moment. And I do not want to say that I support actions like that. Just want to show you how different our mindsets and world perception is, than a century ago. That’s what we can learn from this memoir about Azerbaijan. There was another story about this girl cousin which showed me quite vividly how the education of children evolved over those years. It was one of the most shocking ones, so I will not trigger you here with it, but you can read it on your own in Days of the Caucasus.
As far as the relations between Armenians and Azerbaijanis are concerned there are more historical facts described in this memoir.
One of those is so called March Days in 1918. During that time Banine had to hide out with her family at the Armenians friend house. That was the time when communists together with one of the Armenian movements we re trying to seize the power in Baku. In the context of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations you may treat this book as another dimension or layer to what we have already covered in the podcast about Karabakh conflict or Azerbaijani and Armenian minorities living together in Georgia.
What would you say about sightseeing in Baku?
Finally, I would like to share with you an idea I had after reading this book. Wouldn’t it be marvelous to sightsee Baku following the path Babine describes in her book about Azerbaijan? This might be sort of a „thank you” to the author for sharing with us her memories from Azerbaijan in early 20th century. If any of you, our listeners, organize trips in Baku and Azerbaijan, feel free to use this idea and let us know about it. I am more than sure it would be an interesting trip.
That was one of the first books about Azerbaijan and to some extend book from Azerbaijan. So I am curious what are your thoughts? Do you know other books from This region or written by Azerbaijani writers? Let us know!
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