Bloodied@@ But Unbowed: A Memoir of the Ashur & Arshaluys Yousuf Family

by Alice Nazarian, Arda Darakjian Clark (Editor), Ishkhan Jinbashian (Translator)

In this memoir, author Alice Nazarian tells the story of her parents and family in the shadow of the Armenian/Assyrian Genocide. Her father, Ashur Yousuf, a prominent Assyrian intellectual and professor at Euphrates College in Kharpert, Turkey, became a victim of the Genocide in 1915. Her mother, Arshaluys Yousuf, heroically struggled on after her husbandÕs death, raising their six children while helping educate countless young children in orphanages and schools in the Middle East. The memoir comprises a narrative of the turbulent life of Arshaluys and a section devoted to writings by and about Ashur Yousuf. This English translation, while faithful to the original Armenian, contains some new material and an updated genealogy of the descendants of Ashur and Arshaluys Yousuf.

426 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2018

Reviews

[Ninveh Albazi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloodied, But Unbowed is a memoir split into two parts. The first half of the book sadly illustrates the impact the 1915 Genocide had on Arshaluys, wife of the prominent Assyrian intellectual Ashur Yousif, and her children. The second half of the book discusses Ashur Yousif and a small collection of his writings and poems.

I ordered this book in hopes to learn more about Ashur Yousif (which I have), however I was emotionally drawn to his wife Arshaluys. I knew nothing about her prior to reading the book, and now I feel a strong attachment. After every tragedy and incident that happened to her, my heart started to sink into despair. She was a strong woman who loved her husband dearly and fought through many battles in order to give her children an education.

I am eternally grateful for the translation of this book and the hard work the family put into it.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad and revealing the truths about the difficult times the Assyrians have endured. This book was uplifting in the matter that this women was so strong and wanted the best for her children's future she fought for their happiness.