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`Astrologer of Karabagh': A New Novel Released
http://asbarez.com/109920/%E2%80%98astrologer-of-karabagh%E2%80%99-a-new-novel-released/
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
Astrologer of Karabagh
The Astrologer of Karabagh or the Establishment of the Fortress of
Shushi: A Transcaucasian Novel. by Platon P. Zubov.
ARLINGTON, Mass. - The exotic and mysterious Caucasus has always
captured the imagination of writers, artists and travelers. The
Russian Empire's southward expansion `stimulated an incomparably rich
body of literature and an exceptionally lively engagement with
questions of Russian cultural identity.' Alexander Pushkin's poem The
Prisoner of the Caucasus, Leo Tolstoy's Hadji Murat, and works of
other Russian literary luminaries, such as Bestuzhev-Marlinsky,
Mikhail Lermontov and others who dominated the literary Caucasus in
the 1830 and 1840s are among some of the best known.
Written in 1834 by Platon P. Zubov (1796-1857), the early nineteenth
century Russian novelist, The Astrologer of Karabagh, is a fascinating
historical novel. Shrouded in a passionate love story, it is based on
historical developments in eighteenth century Karabagh, which was
engulfed in tumult and transformation. This is the first ever English
edition of Zubov's novel. It has only been translated into Armenian in
1882 by the prominent nineteenth century Armenian novelist Raffi.
Platon P. Zubov was born to one of the prominent families in Russia.
His literary career, beginning in 1834 spans over two decades and
includes twenty-one major pieces. Author of numerous works, including
poetry, songs, quatrains, novels as well as anthologies, is rich
literary legacy also constitutes important source materials, rich in
statistical data, charts and tables, biographies of famous military
generals, geographical descriptions, anthropological sketches and
observations on the lifestyle and culture of the people of the
Caucasus. The Astrologer of Karabagh is perhaps one of his best and
yet less known works.
`The historical novel portrays the historic life-experience of a
people. It recounts within its limits how a people has lived and
toiled. It highlights its customs, traditions and manners; its
intellectual and moral characteristics. In other words, it personifies
the man of times past in its original and primordial shape, which has
evolved over time and become unrecognizable for the present
generation. . . . ' These words by the great nineteenth century
Armenian novelist, Raffi (1835-1888) most accurately speak to the
significance and role of historical facts in nurturing the mind and
enrich the imagination of a novelist. The Astrologer of Karabagh,
though a work of fiction, reflects the realities of a stormy period in
the Caucasus where new values and loyalties replaced the old ones and
transformed the region forever. It provides food for thought on the
power of history in shaping the present.
The Astrologer of Karabagh has been translated from the original 1834
Russian edition by Artashes Emin. With an introduction, annotations
and bibliography of Platon Zubov's major works, it is edited by Ara
Ghazarians, the curator of the Armenian Cultural Foundation. Copies of
The Astrologer of Karabagh are available for sale at the Armenian
Cultural Foundation (781-646-3090). email: [email protected]) and
major Armenian bookstores in the west and east coasts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
http://asbarez.com/109920/%E2%80%98astrologer-of-karabagh%E2%80%99-a-new-novel-released/
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
Astrologer of Karabagh
The Astrologer of Karabagh or the Establishment of the Fortress of
Shushi: A Transcaucasian Novel. by Platon P. Zubov.
ARLINGTON, Mass. - The exotic and mysterious Caucasus has always
captured the imagination of writers, artists and travelers. The
Russian Empire's southward expansion `stimulated an incomparably rich
body of literature and an exceptionally lively engagement with
questions of Russian cultural identity.' Alexander Pushkin's poem The
Prisoner of the Caucasus, Leo Tolstoy's Hadji Murat, and works of
other Russian literary luminaries, such as Bestuzhev-Marlinsky,
Mikhail Lermontov and others who dominated the literary Caucasus in
the 1830 and 1840s are among some of the best known.
Written in 1834 by Platon P. Zubov (1796-1857), the early nineteenth
century Russian novelist, The Astrologer of Karabagh, is a fascinating
historical novel. Shrouded in a passionate love story, it is based on
historical developments in eighteenth century Karabagh, which was
engulfed in tumult and transformation. This is the first ever English
edition of Zubov's novel. It has only been translated into Armenian in
1882 by the prominent nineteenth century Armenian novelist Raffi.
Platon P. Zubov was born to one of the prominent families in Russia.
His literary career, beginning in 1834 spans over two decades and
includes twenty-one major pieces. Author of numerous works, including
poetry, songs, quatrains, novels as well as anthologies, is rich
literary legacy also constitutes important source materials, rich in
statistical data, charts and tables, biographies of famous military
generals, geographical descriptions, anthropological sketches and
observations on the lifestyle and culture of the people of the
Caucasus. The Astrologer of Karabagh is perhaps one of his best and
yet less known works.
`The historical novel portrays the historic life-experience of a
people. It recounts within its limits how a people has lived and
toiled. It highlights its customs, traditions and manners; its
intellectual and moral characteristics. In other words, it personifies
the man of times past in its original and primordial shape, which has
evolved over time and become unrecognizable for the present
generation. . . . ' These words by the great nineteenth century
Armenian novelist, Raffi (1835-1888) most accurately speak to the
significance and role of historical facts in nurturing the mind and
enrich the imagination of a novelist. The Astrologer of Karabagh,
though a work of fiction, reflects the realities of a stormy period in
the Caucasus where new values and loyalties replaced the old ones and
transformed the region forever. It provides food for thought on the
power of history in shaping the present.
The Astrologer of Karabagh has been translated from the original 1834
Russian edition by Artashes Emin. With an introduction, annotations
and bibliography of Platon Zubov's major works, it is edited by Ara
Ghazarians, the curator of the Armenian Cultural Foundation. Copies of
The Astrologer of Karabagh are available for sale at the Armenian
Cultural Foundation (781-646-3090). email: [email protected]) and
major Armenian bookstores in the west and east coasts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress