The Eye Of Zeitoon

by Talbot Mundy

The Eye of Zeitoon is a novel written by Talbot Mundy. The story is set in the late 19th century in the Ottoman Empire, specifically in the province of Armenia. The main character is a British adventurer named David Beckett, who arrives in Zeitoon, a small town in the mountains of Armenia. Beckett is on a mission to find a legendary gemstone called the Eye of Zeitoon, which is said to have mystical powers. Beckett meets a group of Armenian rebels who are fighting against the Ottoman Empire. They believe that the Eye of Zeitoon is the key to their success, and they ask Beckett to help them find it. Beckett agrees to help, and together they embark on a dangerous journey through the mountains, facing many obstacles and enemies along the way. As they search for the Eye of Zeitoon, Beckett learns about the history and culture of Armenia, and the struggles of its people under Ottoman rule. He also falls in love with a young Armenian woman named Maritza, who is part of the rebel group. The Eye of Zeitoon is a thrilling adventure story that combines elements of history, mythology, and romance. It offers a vivid portrayal of the Ottoman Empire and its conflicts with the Armenian people, as well as a compelling tale of heroism and love.The gut of the pass rose toward Zeitoon at a sharp incline--a ramp of slippery wet clay, half a mile long, reaching across from buttress to buttress of the impregnable hills. It was more than a ridden mule could do to keep its feet on the slope, and we had to dismount. It was almost as much as we ourselves could do to make progress with the aid of sticks, and we knew at last what Kagig had meant by his boast that nothing on wheels could approach his mountain home. The poor wretches who had struggled so far with us simply gave up hope and sat down, proposing to die there.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction, Fiction

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1920

About the author

Talbot Mundy (born William Lancaster Gribbon) was an English-born American writer of adventure fiction. Based for most of his life in the United States, he also wrote under the pseudonym of Walter Galt. Best known as the author of King of the Khyber Rifles and the Jimgrim series, much of his work was published in pulp magazines.

Reviews

[Paul Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uneven and perhaps even ragged during the first third, The Eye of Zeitoon recovers nicely towards its latter third. Zeitoon reintroduces the four characters Mundy created for The Ivory Trail, an anonymous narrator; the American, Will Yerkes; an Englishman, Fred Oakes; and the English aristocrat, Lord Montdidier. Montdidier, or Monty, is the titular head of this band, although, as in The Ivory Trail, he tends to disappear for long passages of time.

The story itself has moved from East Africa to the Ottoman Empire and an Armenian redoubt in the mountains. Mundy has chosen to publicize the Turkish massacres of the Armenians and glorify their great resistance in Zeitoon, hoping, like the Americans in the novel, to spread word of the Amenian cause to the United States.

All in all, it's another fine adventure tale. And, like all the early Mundy stories, crisp and clean in its storytelling. A few recurring motifs: once again, the novel moves to mountainous high ground, where it resolves itself; it also makes use of an Indian Rajput of military origins who proves his honor and worthiness; it also positions the face of empire in eclipse, especially in the person of Monty, whose fate symbolizes the fast approaching fate of colonial Britain.

[Bish Denham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This almost reads like a factual historical novel as it takes place in the Ottoman Empire right before the start of Italo-Turkish war of 1911. It is about Armenians struggling to be free of ruthless Turks. And, it is about 3 Englishmen an American man and a strong, fearless American woman who accidentally on purpose join the fight on the side of the Armenians. It is dark, tragic, loaded with intrigue, and filled with majestic and beautiful descriptions of the country.

A few samples of the writing
Through the partly open door we could smell everything that ever happened since the beginning of the world.

"How did sunshine come into the garden? By whose leave came the wind?"

Oh, all the world is sick with hate,
And who shall heal it, friend o' mine?
And who is friend? And who shall stand
Since hireling tongue and alien hand
Kill nobleness in all this land?

Dawn broke sweet and calm. For it makes no matter if a nation writhes in agony, or man wreaks hate on man, the wind and the sky will whisper and smile; the scent of wild flowers is not canceled by the stench of tired humanity.