R. P. Sevadjian - 'In The Shadow Of The Sultan'

Hello Seta, 

I hope this finds you well. I am launching my book 'In The Shadow of the Sultan' on Sunday in Nicosia. 
I wondered if you would like to include it on your blog. look up 'In The Shadow Of The Sultan' on FB.

Happy New Year!

Thanks Seta.

ISBN 978-0-9931339-1-6

Get it from Moufflon

An historical coming of age novel.

INFORMATION SHEET

In The Shadow of The Sultan by
R. P. Sevadjian

This is the story of a boy in his early teens, who leaves his home and journeys 200 miles to his grandmother’s town. He makes the 21 day journey in the company of his beloved dog (Kaylo) and a mule (Vartoug). The story is set in the late summer of 1896, during the height of the Hamidiyan Massacres in Asia Minor. These were a prelude to the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and the story shows that the seeds of Genocide were sown long before then. The story is written in the hope that it will be read by teenagers, young adults and those who have little or no familiarity with Armenian history of the period.

The narrator grows from a happy, pampered boy into a mature youngster who can make hard deci- sions for himself. It is a coming of age story, and a story about irredeemable loss. His old life ends, and he is pushed by events into taking a certain path in his life. Circumstances shape our destiny. This is an adventure story of survival and self-discovery.
Anyone reading this book should be able to visualise themselves as the boy, even though the events take place more than a hundred years ago. The narrator is the embodiment of what it means to be a Western Armenian: forever cast out of his homeland. The point is not laboured, after all it is the same for all displaced persons; the boy’s story could be happening right now in parts of the Near/Middle East.

The politics have been kept to a minimum as a young teenager probably would not have been dis- cussing it in detail. Hopefully, the story will provide an insight to the way of life for Armenians at the time. Details of distances, phases of the moon, days of the week etc. bring the story to life. For- eign words have been footnoted and a glossary provided, as well as a list of personal names and their meanings. There are also short historical notes to guide the reader.

The book has been written as a continuous narrative, without chapter headings. However it clearly falls into two parts: before and after the event that changed the boy’s life.
The maturing of the boy is shown through his actions when he meets various people on his journey; kind people, bad people, helpless people. An elderly adventurer called Baron Garabed, who helps him early in his journey, provides some more background to the story.
The psychological implications of violence - graphically described in the narrative - often results in trauma. This, in certain types of behaviour, is hinted at in the text: a coldness, false bravery, 
survivor's guilt, haunting and recurring nightmares.

Continued overleaf

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. P. Sevadjian is a third generation Diasporan Armenian, whose family left Asia Minor in the 1800s and was scattered across the world, no member remaining in their ancestral homelands.
For further information, please write to intheshadowofthesultan@gmail.com
DISTRIBUTOR

Moufflon Bookshop 38 Sofouli Street 1096 Nicosia, Cyprus Tel. 22 665 155
www.moufflon.com.cy

distribution@moufflon.com.cy

AND AVAILABLE AT ALL BOOKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND.
December 2014.