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Year of the Locust: A Soldier's Diary and the Erasure of Palestine's Ottoman Past
Year of the Locust captures in page-turning detail the end of the Ottoman world and a pivotal moment in Palestinian history. In the diaries of Ihsan Hasan al-Turjman (1893–1917), the first ordinary recruit to describe World War I from the Arab side, we follow the misadventures of an Ottoman soldier stationed in Jerusalem. There he occupied himself by dreaming about his future and using family connections to avoid being sent to the Suez. His diaries draw a unique picture of daily life in the besieged city, bringing into sharp focus its communitarian alleys and obliterated neighborhoods, the ongoing political debates, and, most vividly, the voices from its streets—soldiers, peddlers, prostitutes, and vagabonds. Salim Tamari’s indispensable introduction places the diary in its local, regional, and imperial contexts while deftly revising conventional wisdom on the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 13, 2019
"I spoke with Hilmi Effendi about the status of the Muslim woman. I told him that education is the key to her emancipation. I mentioned that the veil is an obstacle to her advancement, but it should not be removed all at once since this would harm the movement to improve her condition. I said, “ How can we progress when half of our nation is ignorant ? How can we live when half our bodies are paralyzed ? We need to teach her, then teach her and teach her. It is impossible for us to reach the status of civilized nations if only our men go to school. Before teaching our children, we need to teach our women."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Wednesday, April 28, 1915
"The idea of joining Palestine to Syria is spreading powerfully those days, People say: Palestine and Syria are two sisters visited together by catastrophes so far, and by a common thirst for freedom and independence. Now they must have the same fate, and under no circumstance should one be amputated from the other. At the same time the notion of ‘Palestine for the Palestinians’ and full independence is retreating, and you have many people who are against the idea [of independence] altogether"
- Khalil al-Sakakini. a diary entry of January 20, 1919
"… we came across a prostitute loitering by the Austrian Hospice. I said to Hasan,
“This poor woman, waiting for her deliverance.”
He said, “What can she do ? She has to live. She makes a majidi per trick to survive.”
What miserable creatures, selling their bodies for pennies to satisfy the bestial needs of men. I am sure that most prostitutes would not practice their professions except for their [financial] need. Some may have enslaved themselves to men who promised them marriage and then deserted them. Then they found that they could not survive without prostituting themselves. Women’s misery is caused only by men."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Thursday, April 29, 1915
Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), private, in Ottoman army uniform, Jerusalem, 1915.
age 22, when he was conscripted in the Fourth Army.
"I went back late at night and found my mother still awake. We sat down and discussed the question of polygamy. She brought up the example set by the Prophet. My view was that he practiced polygamy as a way to bring together various groups and consolidate their alliance. We also discussed the Prophet’s promoting the status of women in Islam and the example of the Ethiopian wife he brought from Abyssinia to Medina."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Sunday, May 23, 1915
“We more or less agreed that the days of the [Ottoman] state are numbered, and that its dismemberment is imminent. But what will be the fate of Palestine ?”
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of March 28, 1915
"I cannot imagine myself fighting in the desert front. And why should I go ? To fight for my country ? I am Ottoman by name only, for my country is the whole of humanity. Even if I am told that by going to fight, we will conquer Egypt [liberating it from the British], I will refuse to go.
What does this barbaric state want from us ? To liberate Egypt on our backs ? Our leaders promised us and other fellow Arabs that we would be partners in this government and that they seek to advance the interests and conditions of the Arab nation. But what have we actually seen from these promises ? Had they treated us as equals, I would not hesitate to give my blood and my life—but as things stand, I hold a drop of my blood to be more precious than the entire Turkish state."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Friday, September 10, 1915
"They say that July is the best month of the year, since it witnessed the liberation of nations. For me it has been the ugliest and vilest of months. I have not seen more difficult days in my life. I have thought often of taking my life. I even have begun praying to God to take me away from this world, so that I will be freed from the miserable life of soldiering.
When I became depressed, I asked my pharmacist friend to give me a treatment to help me get discharged. I insisted, but he refused. I needed a medicine that would make me so sick that they would be compelled to give me a leave for few months. My life is very valuable, but my honor is more precious—for I would rather die than dishonor myself."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Monday, August 17, 1916
"Two days ago we ran out of flour at home, and we had nothing to eat.
I never thought we would lack flour in our country, when we are the source of wheat. And I never in my life imagined that we would run out of flour at home. Who is responsible but this wretched government ?
If these conditions persist, the people will rebel and bring down this government—and then it will be too late for the leaders to atone for their sins. We have so far tolerated living without rice, sugar, and kerosene. But how can we live without bread ?"
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of December 17, 1915
"Diseases are taking their terrible toll in Aleppo and Homs.
Sixty to seventy deaths a day, mostly Armenians … I haven’t seen darker days in my life. Flour and bread have basically disappeared since last Saturday. Many people have not eaten bread for days now. As I was going to the Commissariat this morning, I saw a throng of men, women, and boys fighting each other to buy flour near Damascus Gate. When I passed this place again in midday, their numbers had multiplied. Most of the newcomers were peasants. I became very depressed and said to myself, “Pity the poor”—and then I said, “No, pity all of us, for we are all poor nowadays.”"
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), diary entries of October 25 and December 17, 1915
"I fought the English troops at Gallipoli for an Ottoman country that no longer exists — even though I continued living on the same land."
- Onbası (Umbashi) Muhammad Ali Awad, Palestinian officer in the Ottoman army from the village of Anabta who fought in Suez and in Gallipoli
"All the time I think of T. and imagine her in front of me. Whenever I remember Jurgi’s words to me last week — that she loved me — I am in seventh heaven. But will I ever get to marry her ? I want to know about her every movement. I often pass in front of her house in the hope that I will catch a glimpse of her. She can always see me in my portrait, which I left with her brother, but how will I get her picture ?"
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Friday, April 23, 1915
"I am completely in love, but I cannot talk to anybody about it, although I have a feeling people around me know the situation. She is the source of my happiness and misery at present. For I am unable to marry her, knowing her father’s opposition. I go to bed tonight with a heavy heart."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of May 20, 1915
[ Hasan Turjman will be fatally shot by an Ottoman officer of the withdrawing Ottoman army just before Allenby troops enter Jerusalem in December 1917. He will never see his twenty-fifth birthday.]
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Wednesday, April 28, 1915
"The idea of joining Palestine to Syria is spreading powerfully those days, People say: Palestine and Syria are two sisters visited together by catastrophes so far, and by a common thirst for freedom and independence. Now they must have the same fate, and under no circumstance should one be amputated from the other. At the same time the notion of ‘Palestine for the Palestinians’ and full independence is retreating, and you have many people who are against the idea [of independence] altogether"
- Khalil al-Sakakini. a diary entry of January 20, 1919
"… we came across a prostitute loitering by the Austrian Hospice. I said to Hasan,
“This poor woman, waiting for her deliverance.”
He said, “What can she do ? She has to live. She makes a majidi per trick to survive.”
What miserable creatures, selling their bodies for pennies to satisfy the bestial needs of men. I am sure that most prostitutes would not practice their professions except for their [financial] need. Some may have enslaved themselves to men who promised them marriage and then deserted them. Then they found that they could not survive without prostituting themselves. Women’s misery is caused only by men."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Thursday, April 29, 1915
Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), private, in Ottoman army uniform, Jerusalem, 1915.
age 22, when he was conscripted in the Fourth Army.
"I went back late at night and found my mother still awake. We sat down and discussed the question of polygamy. She brought up the example set by the Prophet. My view was that he practiced polygamy as a way to bring together various groups and consolidate their alliance. We also discussed the Prophet’s promoting the status of women in Islam and the example of the Ethiopian wife he brought from Abyssinia to Medina."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Sunday, May 23, 1915
“We more or less agreed that the days of the [Ottoman] state are numbered, and that its dismemberment is imminent. But what will be the fate of Palestine ?”
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of March 28, 1915
"I cannot imagine myself fighting in the desert front. And why should I go ? To fight for my country ? I am Ottoman by name only, for my country is the whole of humanity. Even if I am told that by going to fight, we will conquer Egypt [liberating it from the British], I will refuse to go.
What does this barbaric state want from us ? To liberate Egypt on our backs ? Our leaders promised us and other fellow Arabs that we would be partners in this government and that they seek to advance the interests and conditions of the Arab nation. But what have we actually seen from these promises ? Had they treated us as equals, I would not hesitate to give my blood and my life—but as things stand, I hold a drop of my blood to be more precious than the entire Turkish state."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Friday, September 10, 1915
"They say that July is the best month of the year, since it witnessed the liberation of nations. For me it has been the ugliest and vilest of months. I have not seen more difficult days in my life. I have thought often of taking my life. I even have begun praying to God to take me away from this world, so that I will be freed from the miserable life of soldiering.
When I became depressed, I asked my pharmacist friend to give me a treatment to help me get discharged. I insisted, but he refused. I needed a medicine that would make me so sick that they would be compelled to give me a leave for few months. My life is very valuable, but my honor is more precious—for I would rather die than dishonor myself."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Monday, August 17, 1916
"Two days ago we ran out of flour at home, and we had nothing to eat.
I never thought we would lack flour in our country, when we are the source of wheat. And I never in my life imagined that we would run out of flour at home. Who is responsible but this wretched government ?
If these conditions persist, the people will rebel and bring down this government—and then it will be too late for the leaders to atone for their sins. We have so far tolerated living without rice, sugar, and kerosene. But how can we live without bread ?"
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of December 17, 1915
"Diseases are taking their terrible toll in Aleppo and Homs.
Sixty to seventy deaths a day, mostly Armenians … I haven’t seen darker days in my life. Flour and bread have basically disappeared since last Saturday. Many people have not eaten bread for days now. As I was going to the Commissariat this morning, I saw a throng of men, women, and boys fighting each other to buy flour near Damascus Gate. When I passed this place again in midday, their numbers had multiplied. Most of the newcomers were peasants. I became very depressed and said to myself, “Pity the poor”—and then I said, “No, pity all of us, for we are all poor nowadays.”"
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), diary entries of October 25 and December 17, 1915
"I fought the English troops at Gallipoli for an Ottoman country that no longer exists — even though I continued living on the same land."
- Onbası (Umbashi) Muhammad Ali Awad, Palestinian officer in the Ottoman army from the village of Anabta who fought in Suez and in Gallipoli
"All the time I think of T. and imagine her in front of me. Whenever I remember Jurgi’s words to me last week — that she loved me — I am in seventh heaven. But will I ever get to marry her ? I want to know about her every movement. I often pass in front of her house in the hope that I will catch a glimpse of her. She can always see me in my portrait, which I left with her brother, but how will I get her picture ?"
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of Friday, April 23, 1915
"I am completely in love, but I cannot talk to anybody about it, although I have a feeling people around me know the situation. She is the source of my happiness and misery at present. For I am unable to marry her, knowing her father’s opposition. I go to bed tonight with a heavy heart."
- Private Ihsan Hasan Turjman (1893-1917), a diary entry of May 20, 1915
[ Hasan Turjman will be fatally shot by an Ottoman officer of the withdrawing Ottoman army just before Allenby troops enter Jerusalem in December 1917. He will never see his twenty-fifth birthday.]
November 24, 2019
Ihsan Salih Turjman was a Palestinian-Muslim who was conscripted by the Fourth Army of Imperial Ottoman Army when the World War One broke out. He served as a clerk in Logistic Department and later as a foot soldier for a short period of time. He was born in 1893 and died in 1917, before the end of the war, with a very short and quiet life. What makes his name known is his diary he used to write when he was in military service between March 15th, 1915 to August 8th, 1916. His short testimony to World War One as a conscripted soldier in the Fourth Army is a very valuable source to understand material conditions, psychologies and mentality of Ottoman soldiers at that time.
June 6, 2023
A book containing both a background on the period which its subject lived, and the diary of its subject, Ihsan Turjman. The background is well done, utilizing Turjman’s and two other diaries in order to shine light on the nature of pre-Arab revolt Palestine and Greater Syria. Since most scholarship tends to be fascinated with the Arab Revolt as a watershed moment for that respective nationalism- it is interesting to see the interplay between Arab nationalism, the revolt, Ottomanism and the sort of late Ottoman nihilism present in Turjman’s diary. Rather than the idea of an always unified Arabia (including the northern Arab countries and those of Africa,) or of an independent Palestine separate from Syria, Turjman and the others decidedly show that the question of Palestine was not always certain- even though it was doubtlessly a distinct identity amongst Arab peoples. At one point he even speculates (with some certainty) as to whether Palestine will be merged into Egypt. The introduction by Salim Tamari has a certian pro-Ottomanist stint, choosing to portray the Empire as ultimately merely failing to deliver on its benevolent promises rather than being an Imperial and oppressive project from the start, even during the Ottomanist period. Turjman proves to be a rather fascinating figure - an avowed feminist, who is killed by his officer after he refuses to return the his love:
December 17, 2023
A very valuable dairy and book, of mainly the Arab/Maqdsi solider Ihsan Al-Turjman in Ottoman times amid WWI. The dairy reflects the status quo and the residual anti-ottoman agenda of the Arabs due to the treatment of the Pashas towards them.
Important as it somehow presents why arabs across Seriya/Palestine/Hijaz and Mount Lebanon had a sense residual frustration from the turks and sparked the arab national aspiration. Even if that aspiration could lead to a collaboration with the English.
Ihsan is a bright person, by foreseeing some of the future implications of the Ottomans collapse and the replacement of the English. Very compassionate to other and to the poor in his notes. Sarcastic with pseudo glorification of his Turk patrons. However, very fair and gives credit where its due. And crazy in love with T.
Important as it somehow presents why arabs across Seriya/Palestine/Hijaz and Mount Lebanon had a sense residual frustration from the turks and sparked the arab national aspiration. Even if that aspiration could lead to a collaboration with the English.
Ihsan is a bright person, by foreseeing some of the future implications of the Ottomans collapse and the replacement of the English. Very compassionate to other and to the poor in his notes. Sarcastic with pseudo glorification of his Turk patrons. However, very fair and gives credit where its due. And crazy in love with T.
March 18, 2025
the cemal pasha hate is real 💯
particularly loved the passage about the failure of cemal pasha’s attack on the suez
« The idiot Cemal thought that our soldiers could make it quietly to the other side and then establish a temporary bridge that could accommodate the heavy guns, the camels, and the rest of the platoon before they could be detected by the enemy. His ignorance is limitless. […]
When the railroads were extended toward the canal, the last post was named after Cemal Pasha. I said to myself, Subhanallah, how appropriate to name the most desolate corner on earth after Cemal »
directly followed by an entry titled « The insolence of Cemal Pasha - Thursday, May 6, 1915 »
otherwise super interesting book, very digestible and helpful introduction
particularly loved the passage about the failure of cemal pasha’s attack on the suez
« The idiot Cemal thought that our soldiers could make it quietly to the other side and then establish a temporary bridge that could accommodate the heavy guns, the camels, and the rest of the platoon before they could be detected by the enemy. His ignorance is limitless. […]
When the railroads were extended toward the canal, the last post was named after Cemal Pasha. I said to myself, Subhanallah, how appropriate to name the most desolate corner on earth after Cemal »
directly followed by an entry titled « The insolence of Cemal Pasha - Thursday, May 6, 1915 »
otherwise super interesting book, very digestible and helpful introduction
May 13, 2018
The Arab world has three major political metropolites: Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo. And three major religious civilizations: Meccah, Median and Holy Mosque in Jerusalem. Regionals such as Iran and Turkey should understand that once and for all. The Arab world is their centre, faith, strategic depth and their salvation...not just understand, also appreciate.
March 18, 2025
read for class
April 15, 2015
such a great piece of history.
I read this for Palestinian History class and I really enjoyed it
I read this for Palestinian History class and I really enjoyed it
December 30, 2022
Had to read it for class. Very readable, often relatable, but I just didn't find it that interesting or thought-provoking.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews