Product Description

This is the definitive history of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. In 1915, the Turkish government systematically organized the wholesale slaughter of a complete race, the Armenians. Under the cover of World War-I, through the secret organization of unofficial gangs of Kurds, released prisoners, German officers and Turks who had lost their lands in the war against the Balkans, over 1 million Armenians were murdered, starved, raped and left to die. Following the War, as the Nationalist movement began to rise up from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire, the allies tried to persecute the perpetrators of the genocide, in a series of trials where the term 'crimes against humanity' was first used, Turkey was allowed to hide its recent history. It has remained hidden ever since. As the nation attempts to enter the European Union, the question of 1915 has become ever more important with the arrest of writers such as Orhan Pamuk, and the introduction of Turkey into the EU.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #115600 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 600 pages

Review
"A Shameful Act is the definitive account of the organized destruction of the Ottoman Armenians, written by a brave Turkish scholar who has devoted his life to chronicling the events. No future discussion of the history will be able to ignore this brilliant book." Orhan Pamuk 'Some important Turkish scholarship had attempted an honest admission of the Armenian Genocide.. the principal author in this respect is Akcam.' Christopher Hitchens, Atlantic Monthly 'History owes Akcam a debt of honour for this meticulous and courageous expose of one of the greatest unacknowledged war crimes of the 20th Century. He leaves the reader in no doubt that the Armenian massacres of 1915 were state-sponsored genocide.' Saul David 'His work is breaking new ground' New York Times"

Literary Review
`A detailed, richly-sourced work of record'

About the Author
Tan Akcam is a Turkish historian who was one of the first to term the events of 1915 a 'genocide'. He was imprisoned for his actions, yet escaped and has since been named a 'prisoner of conscience' by Amnesty International. He now teaches at centre for Holocaust and Genocide studies, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

An important book
I am still reading this book, but find it scholarly (copiously referenced),readable, and highly illuminating. One of the problems of reading about mass atrocities is the upleasant 'pornography of evil'. Important as it is that such acts should be documented I find this book helpful because it provides important insight. The author, imprisoned for his historical beliefs in Turkey, understands the need to understand our past to avoid repeating it. In particular generations of Muslim Turks who have been misled about history need sources like this to understand that fact, since the peaceful future of Turkey depends on facing facts. But general readers interested in the role of Turkey and Islam in history and in the modern world will find what I believe to be an excellent guide to an important aspect of these.
7 September 2007: to be revised.

Come on Amazon
I've not read this book yet. ('Rate this item' is a required field)

I understand this tome has been labelled "controversial" - and find it hard to believe this is the reason for the absence of reviews. So come on Amazon - make an effort, read the reviews and paste some up according to whatever criteria you regard as 'fair'. The absence of reviews (to avoid 'controversy'?) of what might may perhaps be a good and important book does a disservice to the author, readers and subject matter.